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. |
Related Greek Symbols
Jewelry
By the Artist -
David
Weiztman and Ka Gold
Jewelry
|
 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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