Signs and Symbols - SemioticSigns.com
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Signs and Symbols - SemioticSigns.com
T F {E C O h { PH.ETE ,E E N C YC L O P ED IA OF SIGNS-SYMBOLS l dent if ic at ioann d a n a l y s iosf t he visualvocabulary t hat f ormu l a te s our t hought sa n d d i c ta te so ur react ionst o t he world aroun d u s .; *.,::.ii - .:..f..:_l_ o An inter pr eta ti on of the unconscious co desand secr etlanguages that shapeour m os tanc i ent em otions . Over1600vis ual symbols, inclu di ng photogr aphs , ar t fine paintings andli ne illustr ations w i,th author itative in - depth comm entardefi y , ni ti ons andexplanati ons M,A,RKO' CONN ELL AND R.AJEAIR.EY TH E CO MPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA O F' SIGNSOSn{BOLS that formulates of the visualvocabulary andanalysis ldentification to the worldaroundu s ou r t h o u g htsandd ictatesour reactions MARK O'CONNELL AND RAJE AIREY I.^"^.^ I ugntvtss INTRODTJCTION The rvord 'slmbol" rs denved from the ancient tirec k s r m ballein.m e. r nr ngt ( ) t hr o\ r to B c l h e r .l t 5 rrrmal Thrs book rs ' L figuratir-euse onglnated ln ihe custom o[ nnmrrrlr .^.th . . . . , . i l'_-q n s t'Ln a t n J v e e c o n s cl o u sJr r . . . . . - '. . . . .,_nnrr..rrl unconsclous meanrng for humans. but as w'e are roored in narure. hre r k r nu . r . ' l. r ' t r hl, , rr . r m t r k t he c on c l u s r o no f a we will se. [i1at there mar- be cleeperconnecllons betw"eennatural coniracr or agreement.each party to the 1 dya, hr . , ". . ' "1, 11. . , - i. onc of r he b r o k c n -n phenomena and the sr,mbols that are meanrngful to us. ni...p< <.) rhrt t^ hcn lhru r.ennvcned the 1r 'L l I v l l l tq nrr' ac could be litted togetherlrke a pgsaw'The pieces. -: :l 3 l l'> ' d l l-u I "-L >\ i l l u u r r ,l s c ,tn i en ,ts mi l aanq r re a r L f' orr w n y o t n l c rs ln c r e n d a r . o r c o n s e n s u sr.e a l r t vr h e ; r r n b o l s o f i h e d r e a m o r sp L n l each of rvhich rdentrfledone of the peopLe worlds can help us to nav-rgatethe psvchospirltual terrarn of non, o n q i n s l t qr a : )r l r ' ( r r n 'i : t n d d r e : l m l t g u r e . a r e u nd cr sto o dr o invcrh'ed.rvere knoun as symbola. so that a gutde us or compensatefor some part of our wholeness as yet <rml r ol J'1 I > L' ..' h' - r lllllt) n,r t,r nlt J! J r ,' nr r qpnlq iom ethins r ' .r \mathr ns U t 'r ! ( r " . '6 llllSJlrtE al s . hr r r rn i nr r i r hl a pa r' r hr r r s need( d t o r c hr c v ec om ple t i o no r u n l j r c J T h e s r g n r f i c a n cuef s u c h s l m b o l s a n d s r g n sfu n d a m e n r a l l l r]cnrnrlc *-r-' nn ,rrrr frepd.rm _ _ *- " | L '-' ' LLL(tLi 'rU -'-tgSPUl'- tu 'LU The rbilitv to grve meanlng to srgnsand s,vrnbolsled to the wholeness.\\'hether consciouslvor possibrhtvof communrcationand reflection,and has enabled unconsclousl)'.the sr.mbol carnes lhe senseoI human beings to pass dor,r.ntheir hrstories,mythologies and i ,)rn inr worldviervs b,u-means of storytelhng, art and the wntten word. J ". . . , . . b th rn rh" r hinu< irrm tns.r h.r , rl rtc n2rl\ r ,) .r pr r r rq a u hol e s r a:t" r lh:d.< n[ mp?nrno "''* ' ' " b accrue to produce a complex idea. A Bo v ET he ancien t Eg y ptianankhis an ea rly m a n r leslalron ol tne cro s ssymbol. rrj ck; .,tpnn,rstrrr rl ^e arr\rn,.> ,rf : nrrri crrl r ''*'"-'b"r- .\ . ign. O n t hr . _, iherhand. m av bc u n d e r s i o O o lhal s t andsI or . . r r por nt st o . .ls s lr m c hlng f :r uns :n,l s r r h,,l c h:r r a nl ev ed r . nr e r el ner t i n fr rrt h c ri n, o rrr ..5 n "", sclentilic understanding of the u'orld and have helped us to r l aVal ,r n r nc r eas r ns l r , .r m nl ex teehnol os r es r dr r nc rn u I rn m the rnvention of pnmitrve tools to computers and spacecraft.Rehgious ;om c lhlng c ls c t n I m \ \ r e llr c r x l u ar .\ s t g n e x L s t s a n d s p r n r u a lt r r d r t L o n sh a r r u s e , -sl r m b o l r s m i o h e l p o n 'h e f Lr-ofl\ pv rnformJrion.rbouta speci[lcobJcctor journev towards an understanding and experienceoi the dinne rdea. r.r'hrlea sr,:mboltends to tngger a seriesof perceptrons,beLrefs and tou'ards "nght linng" In ps,v-chology', approacheshave been lnrl cmn ilon ai rcspo ns esFor c x am ple.ds J s i. { n.t he r , v o r d r r e e ' d a r e l c n r d . h t ' , r ; a l m h , t l r S m l J n u r k l g u a r d s 1 [s r l r u n m o r t n f means a parlicular type of plant that develops a permanent wood,v mrnd. bodv and nature. As a structure \L1lh a trunk and branches. roots and Leaves. svm bo l. f he rrec me r .hr r e m J nv m c J nlnBs r. t aJ n r epr e s e n t A B O UT T HI S B O O K t'rurtfulnessand the bount,v of nature, endurance and longevrtv or This book explores the use and pow'er of srrnbols. whether thel as a Chnstran s,r.rnbolri can refer the web oi lamrly reLatronshrps, to the cross,and rn man,vtraditionsit representsrhe 'tree of hfe' are exploited [or rndivrdua] or socrai well-being, or tow-ards world w.ith the w.orld of splnt. thar links Lheer.'ery,day Nerther srgnsnor s,,mbols have intnnsic meanrng. The same tree dinsrve or manipula[lve ends. lt rs drnded into three sectlons. Part One provrdesan overr,ieu'o[ the uses, meaning and clevelopmentof signsand symbolsas seen lrom a number of can be descnbed b,v manl' ditferent rvords rn different languages. different perspectives:histoncal, cross-cultural,sociologlcaland rnJ irs meanrngs.is a sr.mbolrrc formed through human Par. h,r'ol.roksat the applrcaLrons ps\-chologrcal. of s)mbois rn int c ru ctro nurth rr. B( r t hir gns and s r m bt r lshr v e bc eom ep a r t o I many areasof lile. and rncludeschaprerson culture and human social and culturaL identrtl..changing and evolving as we communication. abstractsl.rnbols.m,vth and the cosmos. plants do. Thev are vehicLestor rnformationand meantng,operatlngon and anlmaLs,the human hfe cycle. and the earth Finall)'.Part manl- different levels - the universal and particular. intellectual Three. the referencedirectory contains more than l,t-r00 signs and and emotronal,spatraland temporal.spintual and matertal.Thev slmboLs. each with its or.r'nideograph and a bnef explanation of its are a \ ;a! of makrng senseoi expenence. lf we could not classifv the rvorld using s1-rnbohccodes ancl structures we q,ould be meaningand application. ovcnvhclmed br senson Jat.r.\\e need r u'av of descnl'lngilhar r e a c l e r sr n t e r e s il n t h i s p r o i o u n d a n d c o m p l e x s u b .1 e ct. promprlng happensto us in order to understandit. .\s n 'clI as b cin g a n es s c nu: lpar t of hum an s oc r c l\ .; i g n s a n d it rs hoped thar the infbrmatron in this book w.rll sttmulate them to look be1'ondthe superficial meaning of everydav ob1ecrs and ideas to arrive at a greater understanding of rhe wa1'sin rvhich sl,mboLsappear rn narure.and mav reter to pre-consclous so much of dariy life, and the rvav lve communrcate with each informauon. as rn the caseof smoke signifving a fire nearbr'.or other, ls informed bv the richness of srgnsand slmbols. B f C e n t r aAl m e r i c a , T h e symbolwasadopted by RudolfSteinerand is associated with S t e i n e r 's anthroposophy. J 1 G 7- t AThe f irst letterof usedto the alphabet, signifythe best,first. VV\/\ vvv\rv vvv\ * Jffi ffi #r A r nThe elem ent . Kabbalis t ic s ign. / / Acrrve TNTELLECT Unknownorig in,also oneof the sig nsfor water. 1t, .: ffi "-r & Alconol A l c h e m i s t i sc i g n . At nThe elem entO. ld chemistrysymbol. # Axorul rroso adinkra G hanaian s y m bolm ea n i n g understanding and agreement. Aorrxnanene Most importantof the Ghanaia ad n inkra symbols,signifying the importance of playinga le ad ingro le. Alcxenv, the art of. The sun signis at the by centre,surrounded the fourelemental triangles, crowned wit ht he Ch r i s t i a n cross,andthen plac edin a ci r c l e representing the eternalor spiritual dim ens ion . v Alcoxol Early c h e m i c asl i g n . ti ll Axoeer Ghanaian ad.inkra symbol m eaning v igilanc e and wariness. The akobenis a hornused to sounda baitlecry. ll & H fr -:i : +j:K Aoort Hebrewword meanin g a lordwho is not God. Alcxemv, the art of, variation. Usedin the this sign 17thcentury, wascreatedunderthe influenceof Pythagorean geometrymysticism. A L e M e r cA l c h e m i s t i c s i g nf o r d i s t i l l a t i o n f laskor still.Also usedin early chemistry. { F6. AenopuaneSpiritual andthe aspiration, of transcendence humanIimitations. Axoxornu "Leg of t he hen",G hanaian adink r as y m bol meaningmercy, lnspiredby nurturing. the hen'shabitof treadingon herchicks withouthurtingthem, beinga protectivebut alsocorrectiveparent, Alpxn The f irst letter of the Greek alphabet,associated w i t h b e g i n n i n g s. L i n k e dw i th Go d , w h o i s sa i dto b e th e a l p h aa n d o m e g at h e b e g i n n i n ga n d t h e e n d .Al so o n cea secretsignof the C h r i s ti a nfa i th . Alttra Typographical signusedin printed texts,meaning the b e g i n n i nogf a n e w train of thought. A l pnec c a The f i x ed star, used as a K abbali s ti c magi c al amul et s eal . l_L_ Ar-r-rs well Ground to air emergency code. ,u '.=i '.? AleoaeeThe f ixed star,usedin Kabbalistic magical amuletseals. AleolThe f ixedstar, usedin some mysticist Kabbalistic contextson magical a m u l e st e a l s . a Ar-uwt Alchemistic sign. Ar-ruoroAn importantsymbolwith paganandChrisiian rootsassociated with purityandvirginbirth. Its juicewas with associated s e m e ni n t h e a n c i e n t w o r l d .B i b l i c a l traditionsaysthat Aaron'spriestly statuswasshownby h i s r o db l o s s o m i n g andproducing almonds. Westernart oftenshowsMaryand Jesusenclosedin an almond-shaped aureoIe. Alcueuv, the ari of, v ar iat ion.T h si sy m b o l on is alsoengraved rockfacesdating from 1000gc in Uxmal, ffiffitr &nM A ul l eam A l chem i s ti c s i gn, Amllgemlttot A l chemist icsig n. Ampenslto Typographical sign m e aning" and ". traditions,heavenly creaturesin Jewish, Chr is t ianandls lam ic traditions, thoughtto be evolvedfrom Semiticand Egyptian wingeddeities.Seen as messengers, warriors,guardians or protectors. Aennoolrr Signof the goddess, Arr Hardwork, organized community. Theanthillis a symbolof industrious life inTibetan Buddhism; in partsof Af rica it is associated withf ertilityand creativity. ArtanesThe fixed star,Kabbalistic m agic alam ule st e a l . 88 Anrerope In Africa associated withthe moonandfecundity; for the Bambara ( M ali)t he anim aw l as sent by the creator godto teachhumans agriculture. A p n r c o r In C h i n a , the apricotis a symbol for a beautifulwoman; plum t h e J a p a ne se (ume)is sometimes calledan apricot. ArrruorY Alchemistic, also usedin medicine. AtrtvrlIn Polynesia andpartsoiAfrica, associated withthe f e m a l ep r i n c i p l e and fertility;in Scottish folklore,linkedwith magicalpowersof the blacksmith. Aeua neera Alchemistic signfor "king's water". Aeelr Symbolof b l i s s ,e s p e c i a l l y sexual;emblemof love,marriage, spring, youth,fertilityand immortality. Linked withthe forbidden fruit of the Gardenof Edenandso a Christiansymbolof temptationand o r i g i n asl i n . \ Arrr tuclean Aeua neera A l chemistsign ic f or king'swater, variation. . ' . '/ .t/ ' Aeuanrus Zodiac srgn. CAM PAIGNThE emblemof the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, made up of the semaphore signsfor the letters "N" and"D". o Aee Respected in ancientEgypt,Africa, I n d i aa n dC h i n ab, u t distrustedin the Christiantradition, whereit is a symbolof viceandlust. Appnoxruarew EQUAL TO Mathematical sign. G j & # AeolloThis symbol of the god is basedon the shapeof the lyre, whichwasApollo's instrument. o A ns u nRunef or A Arerl Symbol of di vi n e will in s e v e r a l Arrr-ctocxwrsr setnal Dynamic symbolof lile force, cosmicandearthly. Arrm llr aThe anim al kingdom, lSthcentury. Arl ncxrsm Syno nym Arxn A crosstopped for the political with a loop;ancient movement, Egyptiansymbolof immortallife.Later adoptedas a Ch ris t ians y m bolby the EgyptianCoptic Church. Arcxon In early Christianity, a secret signfor the cross; hope,salvation. Also a symbolof the sea;of steadfastness and safety;andof the self. ff Aarrxnon Planet, mysticalKabbalistic signfor the first Olympicspirit # fl ff ff ff ff f, g Hindugod ss y m b o l i z e t heirc om p l e x i tayn d power.An upraised armcan suggest ARnow, wAvYSea eithera threator a bles s ing. T haer ma l s o currenIS. hasprotective connotations. D-+ Ancx Triumphand victory;grandhuman achievements. Arom, lesscommon variationthanabove. Anserrc Alchemistic s i g n ,v a r i a t i o n . A nt es Zodiacs ign, In Annow, wEAPoN lslamstandsfor the wrathof Allah,in C h r i s t i a n i ti yo r anddeath. martyrdom Bundledor brokenin N a t i v eA m e r i c a n symbolism, arrows standfor peace. AncrunusThefixed star,Kabbalistic ma g i am c ulet s eal. Aax or rxe Coverlnr Oneof the symbolsof the J ewis hf ait h, ac hes t that wasGod'spledge of divineprotection. The arkwaskeptin anothersymbolof J udais mt ,he Tabernacle. Anuoun ln medieval armour Europe, symbolized the knightlyvirtuesof protection, courage, honourandstrength; symbolof warrior c las sin Ch i n aa n d Japan. Auot Corporate emblemof the car manufacturers, symbolof unityand togetherness. AssThe god,later oss,runefor rapidsor waterfall. Ass SeeDonkey Ansrntc Alchemistic sign. Anes Signof the god. TE. + ^-. AunocnTheruneUr, signforauroch. AnnowAs d ir e ctio n alsi gn. Anx on BoATA symbolof salvation andpreservation foundin the mythology of peoples all aroundthe world. I n Chr is t ianittyhe ar k stands{or the Church, for Maryor for Christ; Annow/ennow Heno in s ec ulars y m bolis m Penetration - by light, death,loveor it is a symbolof the perception. Linkedto Earthadriftin space. sun symbolsandthe piercingdartsof love. > Anrs Signof the god, variation. Asrrarsx signfor Typographical Anssrtc Alchemistic footnote. s i g n ,v a r i a t i o n . Auruur Old t im esign. Germ anic o 3 AnsenrcAlchemistic sign,variation. Arom Also uranium, nuclearreactor(on m a p s ) n, u c l e a r research, nuclear physics. A V AurumnOld t im esign, Germ anic variati on. Anm Symbolof power the andstrength; manyarmsgivento Annow, CURVED Anc ients i g nf o u n di n prehistoric caveart in WesternEuroPe. f e m i n i n ep r i n c i p l e , Marks alsoprotective. the passingof time andproclaimsgood news,warnsof danger a n dt o l l sf o r d e a t h . an dspir it ualt r ut h; Japanesesymbolol truth anddevotion. Axe Almostuniversal symbolof decisive powerandauthority. Associatedwith the creativeforceof the Linked thunderbolt. with ancientsun and stormgods.Usedto invokethunderand rain in WestAf rica; symbolof the unionof f a miliesin Ch ine se marriage. Barana Freudian ph al lics y m bol. Bnr Associatedwith death,symbolof fear andsuperstition, linkedwith witchcraft andt he oc c ulti n Westernfolklore.In Africaandancient Greeceit wasa symbolof perspicuity. Cansignifymadness. Under wor ld div i n i t yi n CentralAmericanand Brazilianmythology. BEARDlmportant aspectof male symbolism, representing dignity, sovereignty, virility andwisdom.Signof a k i n g ;i n a n c i e nE t gypt beardless rulers, includinw g omenr weredepictedwith falsebeardsto proclaimtheirstatus. ^d Basttsx A medieval symbolof lustand disease. Baoeen Linkedwith p l a yfulnessin Ch ina ; i n Celt ictradition with slyness,deceit. Bnll Symbolof game s;in c h ildhood China,associated with the sunandthe yinlyangsymbol. Barx Associated with bathingandthus with purification,both spiritualandphysical. 3? Bnsxer Womb sym bol;in t he Americas,stories aboutbasketsand are basket-making relatedto women, Berls Symbolof fecundity, usedas lov ec har m sin I n d i a and-to wardoff evil spiritsin Japan. Brrn Emblemof masculine courage andprimeval force; whileshe-bears symbolize careand warmth- although Junglinkedthemwith aspectsof dangerous In the unconscious, Chr is t ianandlsl a m i c traditionsthe bearis cruelandlustful. 9z Bess cr-erMusic notation. Brmeoo Chinese symbolof resilience, longevity, happiness -, - BtonnzenoWarning, USA. \# Bgtt on etnote Femalechastity, m a r i t afli d e l i t yo r Magic seductiveness. girdlesappearin myth a s e m b l e m so f strengthandbecame a symbolof honourin England. The rope girdlesof monks a l l u d et o t h e scourging of Christ. T h e H i n d ug i r d l ei s a n e m b l e mo f t h e c y c l e s of time. Ber/erexrveSociety, industryandworking together;honeybees arealsolinkedwith romanticlovein European, Chinese a n dH i n d ut r a d i t i o n s . Beesarelinkedwith deathandthe in otherworld Eurooean folklore. Beonc Runefor B. BerxonThe planet; mysticalKabbalistic Btt-lThe voicethat proclaims the truth, signfor the second e s p e c i a l liyn O l y m p i cs p i r i t . B u d d h i s tH, i n d u , l s l a m i ca n dC h r i s t i a n t r a d i t i o n sI .n C h i n ai t ' symbolizes obedience andcosmicharmony. S m a l lt i n k l i n gb e l l s can represenl happiness andsexual pleasure. Wornon Hebrewdressesas a signof virginity. Linkedwiththe B r n c x B e neifci a l , protective, sacredto Germanicgods. Cosmictreeof CentralAsia.In shamanicrites it symbolized human ascentto the spirit woflo. Btnos Symbolof the h u m a ns o ul , representing goodness andjoy, standingfor wisdom, i n t e l l i g e nce a n dth e swift powerof thought.Aboriginal storiessuggesithey bearinformation. ln Westernart birdscan symbolize air and touch. Btnrx cglnr Elizabethan England, '17thcentury. T H E C o M L E T E E N C YC L o E D A o SIGNS&WMBOLS fdentification and analysis of the visualvocabulary that formulates our thoughtsanddictatesour reactions to the world aroundus A fascinating guide to hundreds of symbols,signs and ideographs,illustrated with photographs,artworks, diagramsand drawings, and presentedwith authoritative text, commentary and definitions aJ Lavish illustration reflectshow signs and symbolshave been interpreted and representedthrough thousandsof yearsof aft, mythology and religion, from the Babvloniansand Sumeriansto the modern world An erudite, accessibletext."pt"i.rr, decodesand categ orizesthesigns, including in-depth analysisof some of the most important symbols of all, such as the wheel, the cross,the gateway,the rainbour,the dragon and the sun Contains a directory of over 1000 i[rrrtr"tions of iconographic symbols,in addition to hundreds of colour imagesfeaturing theseprimal metaphors ISBN-13: 978-1-84477-668-9 ISBN-10: 1-821477-668-9 |ilililili