Ancient Symbols
 Because of its importance in navigation, the anchor was regarded in ancient times as a symbol of safety. The Christians adopted the anchor as a symbol of hope for future existence. |
 Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one winding path, but without divisions or branches, which moves inevitably toward the maze's center and then outwards again—used to contemplate the descent into Mother Earth and reemergence by many spiritual traditions. |
 In Egypt, Ankh meant “life” and “hand mirror,” derived from the Mirror of Hathor. Pharaohs and Egyptian deities were shown carrying the ankh as a symbol of the promise of eternal life. It also represented the union of Isis and Osiris, which mystically caused the Nile’s annual floods. |
 In the ancient Greek Olympics, victors were crowned with a wreath made of laurel leaves. Associated with the Sun God, Apollo, the laurel tree is also known for its medicinal virtues. The laurel crown is identified with achieving victory, success, and excellence. |
 A caduceus, or wand of Hermes, was an ancient astrological symbol of commerce. Many medical groups adopted the twin serpent caduceus of Hermes or Mercury as a medical symbol during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. |
 The highly energetic eightfold path of enlightened effort. The inspirational quickening of the spirit |
 One of Ireland’s unique treasures, the “Claddagh” symbolizes Love, Friendship, and loyalty. The Claddagh Ring belongs to a widespread group of finger rings called Fede or “Faith rings, " dating from Roman times. |
 Identified with the Knights of Malta, originally called the Order of Knights Hospitaller (white or silver on black background), and the Knights Templar (red on white), also called the “Rosy Cross.” Today it is used by Firemen, skateboarders, and motorcycle enthusiasts. |
 Death’s Head, the skull, has been given definite religious meaning in many cultures. Hindus wear it to remember that you must die. In Mexico, it symbolizes the Day of the Dead. To the Celts, it was the seat of the soul. To Christians, it represents Golgotha, the place of the skull where Christ was crucified. |
 Usually regarded as a type of morris dance. Revived in England from more ancient traditions, the swords are interlinked into a woven knot, known as a lock or nut, which is strong enough to be held up by one of the dancers. |
 
In Egypt, the symbol of the sacred Eye of Horus protected against many evils. The two eyes represented two ways of seeing: the sun (rt) and the moon(left). |
 The Vikings, also called Norsemen or Northmen, were members of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized vast areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century. During the Viking period, they sailed the seas in their longships and raided cities and towns along the coasts of Europe—earning them the name Vikings, meaning “pirate.” |
 This particular talisman is derived from one of the Western Neolithic sculptures and petroglyphs of the Great Mother. In many early cultures, she was the prime deity, and she often had three aspects associated with the moon's cycles: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. |
 In the Hindu Upanishads, the sound of Ohm is called the supreme syllable, the Mother Mantra, from which all the sounds that brought the universe into being arose. It is called the universal logos of oriental creation, the word that first brought forth the diversity of the material world. |
 The Hand of Fatima (also appearing in Jewish lore as the Hand of Miriam) is an ancient talisman to avert the evil eye and appears in several stylized forms. In Muslim traditions, the Hand is associated with Fatima, the daughter of the prophet Muhammad. |
 The pentacle or pentagram is a very ancient symbol whose meanings have been given as life and health. Alchemists used it as a symbol of the cosmos, with the figure of a man placed within a circle. They can still be found decorating older churches in Europe. |
 The harp dates back to Egypt in 4000 B.C. and has religious associations as a musical instrument. It has been the emblem of Ireland in medieval Scotland and Ireland since the 13th century. On this medallion, the harp is surrounded by the musical score from “Greensleeves.” |
 Paleolithic man was utterly dependent upon the animals he hunted. The shamans of the tribe would become shapeshifters to commune with the animals and invoke their aid. This figure may have been found on the walls of an ancient initiation cave in France. |
 The I Ching is a philosophy and divinatory system using unique coins, founded upon a combination of Chinese Confucianism and Taoism. The eight trigrams of elemental relationships surround the union of opposites, symbolized by the yin/yang symbol. |
 Longships were boats used by the Vikings and Saxons, and they were the epitome of Viking power and material possessions. The Scandinavians often left petroglyphs of ships in places they visited. They sometimes buried or burned their dead in their boats, thus carrying the deceased to the Other Shores. |
 The Skull and crossbones symbol was first used as a battle flag for the Knights Templar. The name “Jolly Roger” is thought to have come from joli rouge (pretty red), a French description of the bloody banner flown by early privateers. |
 In Hinduism and Buddhism, a yantra is a visual meditation device. One important yantra is the Sri Yantra, or the Great Yantra, formed of interlocking triangles. Upward-pointing triangles represent the male attribute, and downward pointing represents the female power. Meditate on the mystical union. |
 Knights Templar (French: Ordre du Temple or Templiers) Among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders. The organization existed for about two centuries in the Middle Ages, is tied closely to the Crusades, and later to an organization connected to wealth, hidden artifacts, secret knowledge & initiations. |
 The cross of the monastic/military order is known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, more commonly as the Knights Templar. See also Maltese Cross (above) |
 Thor was the Nordic God of thunder and lightning. Thor’s hammer brought lightning and thunder. Thor’s hammers as talismans were revered as sacred relics and power sources, particularly for warriors about to enter the battlefield and for brides on their wedding. |
 From Newgrange in Ireland, representing the Triple Goddess and renewal of the sun at the winter solstice. Pre-Celtic, Prehistoric Ireland. |
 The ancient symbol for protection while traveling. Elements of its design are common to the rose compass. |
 For the ancient Egyptians, the scarab rolled the sun across the sky. Stone-carved scarabs were used as magical amulets to aid their wearer with the power of eternal renewal of life. Flanked with falcon’s wings, heart scarabs were funerary talismans to protect the heart for its new life. |
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The Vegvísír A vegvísir (Icelandic for "Wayfinder," lit. 'way shower') is an Icelandic magical stave intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weather. The symbol is attested in the Huld Manuscript, collected in Iceland by Geir Vigfusson in Akureyri in 1860, and has no earlier attestations. |