Greek Symbols and their related meanings
The Minotaur In Greek mythology, the
Minotaur was a creature that was part man and part bull.[1] It dwelt at the center of the
Labyrinth, which was an elaborate maze-like construction[2] built for King Minos of Crete
and designed by the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus who were ordered to build it to
hold the Minotaur. The historical site of Knossos is usually identified as the site of the
labyrinth. The Minotaur was eventually killed by Theseus.
"Minotaur" is Greek for "Bull of Minos." The bull was known in Crete
as Asterion, a name shared with Minos's foster father. |
Labrys is the term for a doubleheaded
axe, known to the Classical Greeks as pelekys or sagaris, and to the Romans as a bipennis.
The labrys symbolism is found in Minoan, Thracian, Greek, and Byzantine religion,
mythology, and art, dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards. The labrys also appears in
African religious symbolism and mythology (see Shango).
The labrys was formerly a symbol of Greek fascism. Today it is sometimes used as a symbol
of Hellenic Neopaganism. As an LGBT symbol it represents lesbianism and female or
matriarchal power. |
The
Mano Fico The mano fico, also called figa, is an Italian amulet of ancient
origin. Examples have been found from the Roman era, and it was also used by the
Etruscans. Mano means "hand" and fico or figa means "fig," with the
idiomatic slang connotation of a woman's genitals. (An English slang equivalent might as
well be "vagina hand.") It represents a hand gesture in which the thumb is
thrust between the curled index and middle fingers in obvious imitation of hetorsexual
intercourse. |
The asclepius wand, or asclepius rod is is an
ancient Greek symbol associated with astrology and with healing the sick through medicine.
The rod of Asclepius symbolizes the healing arts by combining the serpent, which
in shedding its skin is a symbol of rebirth and fertility, with the staff, a symbol of
authority befitting the god of Medicine. The snake wrapped around the staff is widely
claimed to be a species of rat snake, Elaphe longissima, also known as the Aesculapian or
Asclepian snake. It is native to southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, and some central
European spa regions, apparently brought there by Romans for their healing properties. |
The Solar Cross or Sun Cross features a circle around
a cross, the solar cross has many variations including the one on this page. It is an
ancient symbol; carvings of which were found in 1980 on the bases of Bronze-age burial
urns at Southworth Hall Barrow, Croft, Cheshire, England and the urns date back to circa
1440 BC. This symbol has been used throughout history by different religions, groups and
families (as a Japanese samurai family crest), eventually working its way into Christian
iconography. |
Fasces, a plurale tantum, from the Latin word
fascis, symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through
unity".[2]
The traditional Roman fasces consisted of a bundle of white birch rods, tied together with
a red leather ribbon into a cylinder, and often including a bronze axe (or sometimes two)
amongst the rods, with the blade(s) on the side, projecting from the bundle.
It was used as a symbol of the Roman Republic in many circumstances, including being
carried in processions, much the way a flag might be carried today.
|
The Omphalos - An omphalos is an ancient
religious stone artifact, or baetylus. In Greek, the word omphalos means "navel"
(compare the name of Queen Omphale). According to the ancient Greeks, Zeus sent out two
eagles to fly across the world to meet at its center, the "navel" of the world.
Omphalos stones used to denote this point were erected in several areas surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea; the most famous of those was at the oracle in Delphi. |
The Gorgon In Greek
mythology, a so called gorgon, transl. gorgo or gorgon, "terrible" or, according
to some, "loud-roaring" was a vicious female monster with sharp fangs who was a
protective deity from early religious concepts. Her power was so strong that anyone
attempting to look upon her would be turned to stone; therefore, such images were put upon
items from temples to wine kraters for protection. The Gorgon wore a belt of serpents that
intertwined as a clasp, confronting each other. There were three of them: Medusa, Stheno
and Euryale. Only Medusa was mortal, the other two are immortal. |
The labyrinth In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (Greek
labyrinthos) was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary
artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the
Minotaur, a creature that was half man and half bull and was eventually killed by the
Athenian hero Theseus. Daedalus had made the Labyrinth so cunningly that he himself could
barely escape it after he built it. Theseus was aided by Ariadne, who provided him with a
fateful thread, literally the "clew", or "clue", to wind his way back
again. |
The bowl of Hygeia The Bowl of Hygeia symbol is
the most widely recognized international symbol of pharmacy. In Greek mythology, Hygeia
was the daughter and assistant of Aesculapius (sometimes spelled Asklepios), the God of
Medicine and Healing. Hygeia's classical symbol was a bowl containing a medicinal potion
with the serpent of Wisdom (or guardianship) partaking it. This is the same serpent of
Wisdom, which appears on the caduceus, the staff of Aesculapius, which is the symbol of
medicine. |
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