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