Symbolic
Pictures from ancient times
This
section of our symbols website features images that have been symbolic
in the ancient past. Seeing these symbolic images immediately evokes
emotions or thoughts in relation to the image.
These
symbolic images come to us in the forms of paintings, stone carvings,
artifacts, etc. Here
are some of the most popular symbolic images from ancient history.
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Wandjina
petroglyphs from Kimberley, Australia.
About 5,000 years old and may represent alien beings.
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15th
Century
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Rome
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A
disk shaped object is shining beams of light down on John the Baptist
and Jesus - Fitzwilliam Musuem, Cambridge, England - Painted in 1710 by
Flemish artist Aert De Gelder. It depicts a classic, hovering, silvery,
saucer shaped UFO shining beams of light down on John the Baptist and
Jesus. What could have inspired the artist to combine these two
subjects?
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This
painting is called "The Madonna with
Saint Giovannino". It was painted
in the 15th century by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449-1494) and hangs as
part of the Loeser collection in the Palazzo Vecchio. Above Mary's
right shoulder is a disk shaped object. Below is a blow up of this
section and a man and his dog can clearly be seen looking up at the
object.
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 The
All Seeing Eye - The Eye of Providence (or the all-seeing eye of
God)
is a symbol showing an eye often surrounded by rays of light or a glory
and usually enclosed by a triangle. It is sometimes interpreted as
representing the eye of God watching over humankind (or divine
providence).
In the modern era,
the most notable depiction of the eye is the reverse of the Great Seal
of the United States, which appears on the United States one-dollar
bill.
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 Tutankhamun
- is a symbolic image of
Egypt, it is well known throughout the entire world, and it symbolized
Egypt and it`s majestic and royal allure. |
 The
Mona Lisa - Mona Lisa is a
16th-century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo di
ser Piero da Vinci during the Renaissance in Florence, Italy. It is
symbolic of beautiful artwork, and it is known worldwide.
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 Nefertiti
- is well known throughout
the world, as being a great queen, she is symbolic of Egyptian Royalty.
Nefertiti (ca. 1370 BC – ca. 1330 BC) was the Great Royal
Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were
known for a religious revolution, in which they started to worship one
god only. This was Aten, or the sun disc.
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 IHS symbol - The IHS is a monogram
of the
name of Jesus Christ. From the third century the names of our Saviour
are sometimes shortened, particularly in Christian inscriptions (IH and
XP, for Jesus and Christus). In the next century the "sigla" (chi-rho)
occurs not only as an abbreviation but also as a symbol. From the
beginning, however, in Christian inscriptions the nomina sacra, or
names of Jesus Christ, were shortened by contraction, thus IC and XC or
IHS and XPS for Iesous Christos. |
 Atom
Symbol - The international symbol for the atom, depicting three
well-defined electron orbits around a nucleus. This symbolic image is
known throughout the world. |
 Crucifix - cross with a
representation of
Jesus' body hanging from it. The crucifix is one of the most ultimate
symbolic images that appears in our daily lives. It is primarily used
in Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches (where
the figure is painted), and it emphasizes Christ's sacrifice - his
death by crucifixion. |
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 The Trihsula is a trident spear that
is
the emblem of the god Shiva. The weapon symbolizes empire and the
irresistible force of transcendental reality.
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 Plutonium
- is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical
symbol Pu and atomic number 94. The plutonium symbol is symbolic of
radioactivity, and to many it is a symbol that stands for the
destruction of the environment. |
 Tree
of Life - The tree of life is symbolic of Adam and Eve, and also
with
the fact that all life on earth is related has been used in science,
religion, philosophy, and mythology. |
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More Symbols:
African Symbols
Astrology Symbols
Healing Symbols
Jewish Symbols
Love Symbols
Masonic Symbols
Norse Symbols
Sacred Symbols
Sumerian Symbols
Tarot Symbols
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