The early Stoic philosopher Hierocles depicted the idea of oikeiosis through his concentric circles of identity: the innermost circle represented the individual; the surrounding circles stood for immediate family, extended family, local group, citizens, countrymen and humanity, in this order.

The symbol of concentric rings embodies at once a view of the triadic structure of the cosmos and the reality of the blood-water exchange that maintains a balance between creative and destructive forces.