ALBERT R.

MANN LIBRARY
New York
State Colleges OF

Agriculture and

Home Economics

AT

Cornell University

THE GIFT OF

Prof. Margaret Wylie

Cornell University Library

BL 603.H17
A glossary of important symbols in their

3 1924 014 060 440

The
tine

original of

tliis

book

is in

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in
text.

the United States on the use of the

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014060440

IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
ADELAIDE
S.

HALL

A GLOSSARY OF

IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
IN THEIR HEBREW, PAGAN

AND

CHRISTIAN FORMS

Compiled by
Author
of

ADELAIDE

S.

HALL

"Two Women Abroad"

Academy
of Fine Arts

Curator at the Chicago

Bates

& Guild Company

Boston, Mass.
1912

(.03

353389
Copyright, 1912

Bt Bates & Guild Company

INTRODUCTION
Each year, the stream of travel increases and many
people are brought in contact with ancient terms

and devices with which they are totally unfamiliar. Each year, new classes are formed in the History of Art and thousands of students enter art schools where they copy classic designs which represented in the past the customs and beliefs of powerful and
intelligent people.

In order to thoroughly enjoy historical and reworks or to interpret the exact language of form and color in ancient buildings, it is necessary to be acquainted with the most important emblems, from their origin in the past to the present applicaligious

tion of these terms.

number of symbols Readers and teachers need to be familiar with the popular forms of expression employed by Hebrew, Pagan and Christian, in
Bible contains the largest
in the world. of

The

any history

order to interpret correctly the Scriptures as well as

classic

and romantic and

fiction,

literature.

Architects, sculptors, decorators

of fact

designers of

and illustrators book covers and

plates, smiths

and jewelers are often at a loss to find an object which will lend itself to their design and at the same time typify something or someone that
its

they desire to suggest or memorialize in

plan.

The reasons governing the connection between the larger number of symbols and their meanings are so wrapped in myth and legend that an entire volume The is often necessary to explain a few emblems.

greatest need seems to be

which are the important

signify.

symbols and what do they

fully

Therefore, the compiler of this

manual respect-

submits to all readers, travelers and students, a list of symbols culled from her collection of notes covering a period of nine years' study upon the subIn the ject and an equal number of trips abroad.
verified.

majority of cases the emblem has been personally Also, a selected bibliography of helpful

books for those who desire to make a study of the subject. All of these works may be found either in the libraries of Boston or of Chicago. Adelaide S. Hall.

EXAMPLES
Medium
Architecture and Sculpture.

Place

Temples of Egypt, India, China and Japan. Cathech-als and other early
churches of Europe. Monuments. Tombs. Ornaments. Amulets.

Painting.

Tomb
India.

decorations in Egypt and

or wall hangings in

Kakemonos

China and Japan.

Frescoes, easel pictures illuminated manuscript.

and

Stained glass windows. Heraldic shields and banners. Porcelain and pottery in folk
lore designs.

Weavings and
Embroideries.
Crafts

Tapestry from Babylonian times to the present; rugs, carpets, brocades, tissues, and garments.
in
altar ware, jewelry.

work

chiseling, incising

Coins, medals, seals, ornaments, table ware, and

and carving.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.

2. 3. 4.
5.

6.
7. 8.

The works of James Fergusson, F.R.S. The Gods of the EgyptiansE. A. T. W. Budge. The Grammar of the Lotus ^W. H. Goodyear, M.A. Buddha Dr. Herman Oldenberg. Chmese Ancient Symbolism ^Joseph Edkins, D.D. The Origins of Pictish Symbolism The Earl

of

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Dictionnare des Symboles P. Verneuil.

ffindu

Southesk, K.T.

The Migration of Symbols Goblet d'Alviella. The Buddhist Praying Wheel ^WiUiam Simpson.

MythologyW. J. Wilkins. The Rubdiydt of Omar Khdyydm. The History of Arabia Andrew Crichton. Ancient Arabian Poetry C. J. Lyall, M.A. Symbolism of the East and West Murray-Aynsley. Architecture, Mysticism and Myth W. R. Lethaby.

20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

Ideal Metrology Herman Gaylord. Ceramic Art in Remote Ages J. B. Waring. Demonology Sir Walter Scott. Ko-ji-ki, Translated D. H. Chamberlain. The Canon, with a Preface R. B. Cunninghame. The Night of the GodsJohn O'Neil. The Hymns of the Rig VedaR. T. H. Griffith. Scandinavian Mythology (The Eddas) Grenville Pigott. Horns of Honour F. T. Elworthy. SymboUsm in Art F. E. Hulme. Volsunga Saga, Translated William Morris. The Mabinogian (from Popular Studies in Myth) Ivor

B. John,

M.A.

Landscape Gardening in Japan ^Josiah Conder. Mediaeval German Epics G. T. Dippold, Ph.D. Studies of the Greek Poets John A. Symonds. Artistic Japan Compiled by Bing.

Ornament ^A. W. Pugin. of HeraldryW. Cecil Wade. Christian Art and Symbolism Rev. R. St. John Tyrwhitt. Colour (in Quarterly Papers on Architecture) T. Inman.
Ecclesiastical

The Symbolisms

Early Christian SymboUsmJ. R. Allen, F.S.A. Popular Poetry of the FinnsC. J. Bilson, M.A. The Sibylline OraclesSir John Floyer. The Best Book of AllF. J. Hamilton, D.D. Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Chronicles, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, St. Luke, St. John, Revelation.

TREES
" The festival of the Christmas tree is the survival of tree worship among the Germans. The first care of the missionaries was to cut down the groves of the pagans and to consecrate the spot by the erection of a chapel. One of the last vestiges Fergusson. of a grove is the tree 'Stock am Eisen' in Vienna." The ancients attached the utmost importance to the significance of trees, their poetic and impressive language. We find this when we read the Scriptures, look at our oriental rugs, or examine a Gothic cathedral.

THK TREE OF

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM LIFE OR UNIVERSE TREE

RESIDENCE TREESContinued
Country

PERSIAN

Symbol Cypress

Signification

Residence of Mithra.

Emblem of Zoroaster.

BABYLONIAN
GRECIAN

Palm
Willow

ROMAN
JAPANESE

Myrrh
Icho
or tree

Gingko

Sovereign power. Residence of Istar, the divine mother. Birthplace of Hera, divine mother. Birthplace of Adonis, god of beauty. Sacred emblem of the gods: Eternal life.

GEM BEARING TREES OF PARADISE

EGYPTIAN
EAST INDIAN CHINESE
ASSYRIAN
Golden Sycamore Sacred to Nut as godof

gem fruits

dess of the sky.

and flowers

Gem

bearing tree Sacred to Buddha.

Pearl bearing tree Purity in eternity. of Paradise

Luminous gem The Great Light of the

bearing tree
god.

TREE OF HAPPINESS

MOHAMMEDAN Bearing

all

man-

Paradise:

Joys of the

ner of fruits

Tooba.

CHINESE

"

CALEITOAR TREE Ming Kap " or Time's Monthly tree.

Fifteen buds on right of central

flight.

stem and fifteen on left; one falls

daily

THE PINE TREE

EGYPTIAN AND ASSYRIAN CHINESE JAPANESE
Natural form

Symbolic tree of the

gods.

Longevity. Longevity:

Emblemaffection

atic of spirits of Tak-

asago and Suminoye

Conjugal
and long

life.

THE OAK
Country

Symbol
Natural form

Signification

JUDEAN
GRECIAN

Place of angelic visions.

Emblem of Abraham. Emblem of Zeus, the

fathergod. Majesty.

The

tree

mother

of

the race.

Emblem
Jupiter,

of Dodona grove, the seat of the Oracle.

ROMAN
EARLY BRITISH

Emblem
the

of

father god.

Majesty. Sacred wood of Druidical altar.

THE ASH
SCANDINAVIAN
Natural form

Emblem

of Odin,

the

father god.
ereignty.

Sov-

In connection with the elm they signify creators of the race.

NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN

GRECIAN
Natural form

Veneration of a nature
god.

THE PLANE TREE

Emblem
Love
of Xerxes. of Nature.

THE OLIVE
GRECIAN
Natural form

Emblem
patron

of

Athena, goddess of

warriors. victory.

Symbol of

ROMAN ROMAN
JUDEAN GRECIAN
EAST INDIAN CHINESE
Natural form

Symbol

of peace.

THE POMEGRANATE
Emblem
tion.

of reproduc-

THE CEDAR
Natural form
Incorruptibility.

Emblem

of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of the chase.

Fertility.

Fidelity.

THE LAUREL
Country

Symbol
Natural form

Signification

GRECIAN

Inspiration.

ROMAN

Emblem

Apollo: of Poetry. Antidote of emblem of evil eye:

Dapmie

who

was

changed to a laurel
to escape Apollo.

THE PIPPALA OR BO TREE

EAST INDIAN, Natural CHINESE AND JAPANESE
form

Emblem
dom.

of Buddha, under which he re-

ceived perfect

wis-

THE BAMBOO
CHINESE AND JAPANESE
JAPANESE
Natural form
Longevity.

THE PLUM
Natural form

Emblem

of woman's purity. Nightingale Dwelling Plum

'

'

Tree," the emblem of daughter of Kino Tsurayiiki or a sacrifice rewarded.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

IN

GENERAL

Palm

Martyrdom
Heaven.

to attain

Victory over the flesh. Righteous Christian.

Fig
Fruitfulness.

Good

Oak
Cedar
Willow
Apple

works. Majesty. Strength and endurance.

The Lord's

tree.

Em-

blem of Lebanon. Abandoned. Desperation and grief.

Productiveness.
first

The

sin.

Emblem
TremuLamenta-

of Eve.

Poplar

Sympathy.
lousness.
tion.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN

Country

FORM Continued
Signification

Symbol
Acacia

IN

GENERAL
" '

Friendship.

Aspen
Christian tree Life
of

Emblemof Judas: fear.

ICnowledgeofgoodand evil. Tree of Eden. Tree of St. John's

vision, bearing twelve manner of

fruits for the healing of the nations.

Golden tree of Galahad.

"

Tree

of Jesse

The human
Holy

line or genealogical tree of Jesus.

tree.

Holly

Emblemof
festivi-

Christmas
ties.

Maple

Symbol

of

Canada.

EMBLEMS OF LIGHT
(NATURAL AND FICTITIOUS)
Since the words " Let there be Light " animated the Universe, light has been its most cheri^ed possession. It has been venerated by the ancients by its emblems, the sun, moon and stars. Candidates for leUgious promotion were often kept in darkness for a period of time before being permitted to enjoy the light of the higher plane or office. The Japanese believe that no offering is ever so precious to Buddha as a lamp or a lantern and love to tell a story about their " Hall of the Lamps " on Mt. Eoyasan. It contains ten thousand lamps, which are mainly votive offerings of the rich. One day a storm extinguished all the lights but one, that of a poor widow whose piety had led her to expend for this lamp, the few coppers she possessed. Today, we Christians symbolize our Saviour as the Light of the World.

HEBREW
Country

AISTB

PAGAIT

FORM
Signification

THK SUN
IN GENERAL
Symbol Usual form

The

active nature.

power of

Emblem of Osiris. Ra.

Sovereignty.

Emblem of Assur.
ereignty.

Sov-

Emblem
Power

Might.
of

of Baal.
Moloch.

Emblem

Fierceness of sun's heat.

Emblem

of Mithra. Creation of light. Emblem of Loki. Blessing, fertility.

Emblem Emblem

of Helios, the

light of the universe.

of Apollo as light of divinity.

National

emblem

of

Amaterasu as sun goddess and ancestress of the only dy-

nasty.

Emblem

of

the Emperor as a ruler by divine right.

THE DAWN
Country

HINDU
GRECIAN

Symbol Usual f onn

Signification

Emblem
Blessing.

of

Ushas. The bride.

:

Emblem of Eos
purity.

youth.

ROMAN

Emblem

of Aurora as delicate beauty.

Freshness.

THE MOON
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

passive form of nature. When in crescent form

signifies virginity.

The

EGYPTIAN

Emblem
of

of Thoth, god truth. Hathor, goddess of beauty.

JUDEAN
SYRIAN

Emblem Emblem
desire ness.

of Ashtaroth, goddess of fertility. of

Astarte,
heartless-

goddess of material

and

GRECIAN

Emblem

of Selene as serene loveliness.

ROMAN
CHINESE JAPANESE

Emblem of Diana:
goddess of the chase:
chastity.

Heaven's beauty. Emblem of Susano-o:

The

seed of the siesta (because of previous night watch-

ing).

EARLY MEXICAN

Emblem
ture.

of

Metzli:

goddess of agricul-

THE STARS
ZODIACAL
Orion

Hunter of

beasts.

Gemini

Emblems of Castor and Pollux. Emblems of

brotherly love.
star in

MASONIC

Rayed
circle

Guidance.

Country

Symbol
single stai

Signification
of

GRECIAN
"

I.Alcyone, a River
2.

Heaven.

A group
seven
called
Pleiades

of Opening of navigation.

stars

the

3.

Group called Tearfulness. tiie Hyades

pointed
star

MOHAMMEDAN
*

Six

Emblem of the faith. Emblem of the faith.

formed of two
triangles

Eight pointed star

formed
squares

of

two

THE MILKY WAY

SCANDINAVIAN Usual form
Pathway to
the home gods.
Valhalla, of the

NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN

CHINESE AND JAPANESE

"

Pathway

of ghosts.

THE RAINBOW
Usual form
Bridge of heaven.

THE TORCH

HINDU GRECIAN
JUDEAN AND HINDU IN GENERAL
*

Usual form
"

Active power of nature.

Progress.

FERE
Altar fires
Sacrifice: consecration.

Beacon
Hearth

fires

Communication beHome.
tween men. Loyalty
family.

fires

to

"

Usual form

Votive offerings to the

gods.

"

Lantern
dragon

and Emblem

of Persian Sibyl, who prophesied overcommg evil

by good.

TAPER OR CANDLE
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Emblem

of Libyan Sibyl, who prophesied the sight of the

Saviour.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM THE SUN

Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Usual form

Signification

Emblem of beneficence
and f ruitfulness.

When illuminating Emblem of Virgin Mary as overcoming a woman with

the

her feet
stars

moon under and crowned with

the world.
the
flesh.

The

spirit warring against

THE MOON
IN

GENERAL GENERAL

Usual form

Serene beauty.
siveness.

Pen-

THE STARS
IN
1.

The morning Reward

star

of

"He

that

overcometh."

2.

Star in the East

Emblem
ity.

of the nativ-

3.

Cloud of stars Infinitude.

THE RAINBOW
IN IN

GENERAL
GENERAL

Usual form

Promise.

THE TORCH
Burning
In hand
Christ as the Light of the World.

Emblem
dore.

of St.

Theo-

LAMP
IN

GENERAL

Seven lamps or Sacrament. Consecration. The seven seven branched

candlestick Five lamps burning
primitive churches.

The

five wise virgins.

Five lamps extinct

ENGLISH

Altar candle

The five foolish virgins. One on each side of

cross.

Paschal candle On gospel side of choir.

(Passover)

Proc essional
candle

Carried in procession as the Head.

COLORS
" The men of primeval times did not see colors: only strong colors are seen by a child. No color has any symbolic meaning taken in itseU, but only through association." F. DeUtzach, D.D.

HEBREW AND

COLORSContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL

Red and
Green

black

From life to
Youth.

death.

Victory.
of

ROMAN

Red

Emblem
god
of

Bacchus,

vigor and

wine. Attribute of Pollux, as immortality.

Purple

Royalty.
as
ple."

Noble birth,

"bom to the pur-

Black

Attribute of Castor, as
mortality.

White

Emblem

of Jupiter as chief divinity.

PLANETARY COLORS

CHALDEAN

Golden yellow
Black

Emblem of the sun. Emblem of the moon.

Orange

Emblem
Jupiter.

of Planet of Planet of Planet

Red
Pale yellow

Emblem
Mars.

Emblem
.

Venus.

Blue

Emblem

HUNGARIAN
CHINESE

Red Path
Black

of Planet Mercury. Emblem of Attila's blood stained trail. Emblem of the North. Water.

YeUow
White

Green

of the South. Color of the T.'sing dynasty. Emblem of the West. Metal. Emblem of the East.

Emblem

Red

Wood. The earth.

colors such Masculine colors,

JAPANESE

Warm

as red, purple, orange, etc. Cold colors such as Feminine colors.

blue, pale yellow, grey, etc.

White

Emblem
clan.

of

Minamoto

Red
11

Emblem of Taira clan.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

Country

HERALDIC COLORS
Country

Symbol

Signification

ENGLISH
" "
"

Sable or black Grief. Penitence. Argent or white or Purity. Faith.

silver

"
"
" "

Gules or red Azure or blue Vert or green Purpure or purple Tense or orange Sanguine or blood red

Courage.
Sincerity.

Zeal.

Piety.

Hope. Youth. Rank. Endurance.

Patriotism.
Sacrifice..

13

" Egyptian gods the ordinary student may confine himself to lie study of the divinities, important enough to have made in stone, bronze or pottery rather than those simply sketched upon the walls or mentioned in the inscriptions.
refer to the same divinity, called by different in different localities. In China there are 67 sects all teaching the Christian religion to the natives; all different, yet the same spirit. The Moslems have 99 names for Allah."

NUMBERS

Many names

names

J?.

H. Blanchard.

of one of several sects which first and sixth centuries after Christ. They combined in their belief oriental theology, Greek philosophy and the doctrines of Christianity.

Gnostic was a existed between the

member

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM THE MYSTIC NUMBER THREE

Country

Symbol

Signification
(3)

MEMPHIAN
THEBAN

The Triad
Godhead
Triad Godhead

These are Ptah, Sekhet, Nefer-Tem.

Amem-Ra,
Khonsu.
Osiris, Isis,

Maut,

ABYDAN HINDU
EAST INDIAN, CHINESE AND JAPANESE
IN

Triad Godhead Triad Godhead Triad of Buddha

Horus.

Brahma, Vishnu, Siva. Personality, church,

law.

GENERAL

The

Triscula Triskele
_

or

Which are three curves

joined together, each

by one end and forming a three spoked wheel, representing

fertility.

SCANDINAVIAN
SICILIAN

Triad Godhead

Odin, Thor, Prey.

The

Trinacria or three legs joined at thighs by the

Emblem

of

City

of

Palermo.

MANX
GRECIAN

head of Medusa The three legs of Emblem

the Isle of
thighs

Man
tri-

of Island.

joined at the
Three pointed
Three
sickles

Emblem
god

dent or spear
of

of Poseidon, of the sea.

Good

fortune.

Megara
14

NUMBERS Continued
Country

ROMAN

NUMBERSContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

GNOSTIC

The seven Greek

vowels arranged in cabalistic

JAPANESE

manner to signify The Creator. Seven household Daikoku, the god of

gods
wealth.
Hotei,

Ebisu, the

god of fish and labor.

the god_ of contentment. Bishamon, the god of Fukurokuju, war. the god of longevity. Benten, the goddess
of love.
Juro-jin,

the god of wisdom.

NUMBER EIGHT
EGYPTIAN
EAST INDIAN
Eight oared boat

The Tchetetfet of the Elysian fields or

Heaven. Mystery of the
faith.

The

eight sacred

myths.

Eight

elementary
gods

GRECIAN

Eight gods of the

wind

Boreas of the north, Kaekias of the northeast, ApeUotes of the east, Euros of the
southeast,

Notos

of

the south.

Lips of

the southwest,
2Jephyr of the west.

EAST INDIAN, The eightfold path

AND
ESE

CHINESE
JAPAN-

Right

of

Buddha

faith, right resolve, right speech, right action, right living, right effort,

right thought, right seU-concentration.

NUMBER NINE
GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

Nine muses

1.

Clio as heroic
history.

muse

of

endeavor,

2.

Euterpe as Bacchanalian music; the

flute.

3.
4.

Thalia as comedy. Melpomone as song

and tragedy.
18

NUMBERSContinued
Country

GRECIAN AND """'"

ROMAN

Symbol Nine musesCon" ' tinned

Signification
5.

Terpsichore as choral

dance

and

song.
6.

Erato as erotic poetry and the lyre.

7.

Polyhymnia
Urania of phenomena.
Calliope
poetry.

of in-

spired music.
8.

celestial

9.

of

elo-

quence and epic

NUMBER TEN

ROMAN
EAST INDIAN

The ten Sibyls or

wise

Prophecy,

women
of twelve

NUMBER TWELVE
Groups Twelve orders
vishes.

of Der-

JUDEAN

ROMAN
CHINESE AND JAPANESE

Groups of twelve Groups of twelve

Sons of Jacob. Tables of Roman law.

NUMBER SIXTEEN
Sixteen Arhats or disciples of

Nearing

Nirvana

eternal bliss.

Buddha

NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR
CHINESE
The twenty-four
paragons.
Filial duty.

NUMBER FIFTY-THREE
JAPANESE
Refers to the fiftythree stations on the Tokaido or highway be-

The way

of the noble

path of the empire.

tween Ky5to and Tokio

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

NUMBER TWO
IN GENERAL
As opponent properties

Positive

and

Warp and

negative. woof.

NUMBER THREE
IN

GENERAL

Christian

Triad Father, Son and Holy Godhead Ghost.

17


NUMBER FOUR
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL

The The

four rivers four gospels

Tigris,

Euphrates,

Pison, Gihon.

Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.

pre-

The four winged The evangelists beasts of the ceding.

Apocolypse

NUMBER
IN

FIVE
Alexandria,
tinople,

GENERAL

The

five

Patri-

Constan-

archates of the Greek Catholic

Antioch,.

Jerusalem, Russia.

church

IN

GENERAL

NUMBER SIX The number repre- The

sents

six

attributes of

the

Creator which are Power, Majesty,

Wisdom, Love,
Mercy, Justice.

NUMBER SEVEN
IN

GENERAL

Seven

stars

Angels of the seven churches which are Smjrma, Ephesus, Pergamus, Thyatira,
Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. Emblem of the seven churches preceding. Completeness.

Seven golden
candlesticks

The number
sif

NUMBER NINE
IN GENERAL
Usual form The angelic number. The nine Worthies These are of the GenHector, Alexander, Julius Caesar. Of the Jews Joshua,
tiles

David, Judas Maccabeus. Of the Christians King Arthur, Char-

lemagne, Godfrey of
Bouillon.

The nine fruits

the Spirit

of

Love, Joy, Peace,

Long-sufiEering,
tleness,

Gen-

Goodness,

Faith,

Meekness,

Temperance.
18

NUMBER TWELVE
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL

The number
signifies

The disciples of Christ. The pearls as the gates of the new Jerusalem

IN

GENERAL GENERAL

NUMBER TWENTY-FOUR The number The twenty-four elders

of St. John's vision.

IN

NUMBER FORTY The number Pasting and prayer.

EIGHTY-EIGHT

NUMBER EIGHT HUNDRED Am)

SIBYLLINE
Thenumbersigni- The name and nature
"in 8 units and 8 hundreds "
fies

of Christ.

tens

19

ANIMALS
" The phonetic alphabets of the Phcenidans, Greeks and Romans were originally developed out of the primitive picture writing or hieroglyphics of the Egyptians. The system of an animal symbolism, which was such a prevalent feature of Christian art of the Middle Ages, was derived for the most part from an anonymous treatise on the nature of beasts, (See Ency. originally known by the name of Physiologus." Britt.) /. R. Allen, F.S.A.

HEBREW Asm PAGAN FORM THE LION

Country

Symbol
Natural form

Signification

EGYPTIAN

Kingliness. Emblem of Sef or Yesterday and Tuau or Today.

With htmian, ani- Emblem of deities or mal or bird head kings, denoting
strength.

Lion's head with globe and asp

Emblem

GRECIAN U
ft

Male

lion

Tefnut, of goddess of rain. Majesty.

Pesti-

Female lion Protection. With breasts and Inscrutability. head of a woman lence.
Lion's skin

ROMAN
HEBREW
EAST INDIAN, CHINESE AND JAPANESE PERSIAN

Emblem
god

of Hercules, of strength.

Leo

Zodiacal constellation denoting heat.

temples.

With flaming tails Guardians of Buddha's

Lion with sun

National emblem. Sun as residence of the Lion of Strength and Power.

THE TIGER
CHINESE
Stars outlining Constellation of the tiger form West and Autumn. EAST fINDIAN, Natural or conven- Materiality. The CHINESE AND tional form earth.
6,

JAPANESE
Tiger skin

ROMAN

Emblem of Bacchus as god of wine and

revelry.

20

Country

EGYPTIAN

THE IBIS Symbol Signification Either full form or Emblem of Thoth, god head alone of truth, scribe of
the dead.

FOXES

CHINESE JAPANESE

Natural form Mischief, cunsing. Conventional form Emblem of Inari as goddess of rice as they are her messengers.

THE LEOPARD
IN

GENERAL

Natural or conven- Stealthiness.

tional

form

THE BEAR
RUSSIAN
Natural or conventional

The friend of mankind.

form

THE GOAT

HEBREW

Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation form of Capricorn. SCANDINAVIAN Natural form Emblem of Thor as
divine virility.

GRECIAN
EAST INDIAN
(Parsee)

Full

form or horns Emblem of Pan, the and legs nature god.

THE DOG
Natural form Natural form
Vehicle
souls.

of

departing

IN

GENERAL

Fidelity, science.

obedience,

THE CAT
EGYPTIAN
Full form or head
Salacity.

Emblem

of

Bast. Life giving rays of the sun.

THE RAT
CHINESE
Stars outlining rat Zodiacal constellation.

THE BULL

HEBREW
EGYPTIAN

Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation. form Conventional or Emblem of Ptah as natural form creative power.
with white triangle on forehead of black animal and twenty-eight other marks.
21

THE BULLContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

EAST INDIAN, CHINESE AND JAPANESE GNOSTIC

Conventional form Reincarnation.

Natural form

Emblem

of

Ormuzd

as

creator of Ufe.

THE HORSE
CHINESE
EAST INDIAN
RUSSIAN
Stars outlining Zodiacal
form White horse with The sun.
flaming
constellation.

mane

Natiiral or conventional form

Emblem of marriage, as human homemaking and happiness.

ROMAN

Natural or conventional

Emblem
men.

of

Castor,

form

patron god of horse-

SCANDINAVIAN Natural or conven- Emblem of Prey as the

WELSH
CHINESE
JAPANESE

tional form Gray horse

sun's speed.

Emblem

of Satan

THE DEER
Conventional form Symbol of honor and
success.

Conventional form

Emblem
god
of

of

Juro-jin,

wisdom.

THE ELEPHANT
EAST INDIAN
"

Dark colored

The incarnation
Indra.

of

When

white

Reincarnation
Buddha.

of

DANISH

Natural form

Emblem

of

Denmark,

representing a royal traveler to the East.

THE WOLF SCANDINAVIAN Natural form

Twin wolves

Emblem

of Odin, the. of Geri

sun god.

Emblem
Freki.

and

ROMAN

Female wolf

Emblem of Remus and

Romulus
foster

as mother

their

and

the nourishing guardian of Rome.

22

THE SHEEP
Country

Symbol
skin

Signification

GRECIAN AND Lamb

ROMAN

Emblem
the

of Jason and Order of the Golden Fleece, sigof

nifying the sun.

EGYPTIAN
CHINESE

Ram's head

or full

Emblem

Mendes

HEBREW
EAST INDIAN
PERSIAN

form and of Khnemu. Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation. form of ram Natural form Zodiacal constellation
of Aries.

THE CAMEL
Natural form
Patience,
ing.

long sufferto camp,

Natural form

Comes home

like poet's cares.

THE HARE
CHINESE
The hare moon
hare
in the Signifying untiring industry.

Stars outlining

Constellation.

THE PIG
CHINESE
Stars outlining Zodiacal form
constellation.

THE MONKEY
CHINESE
JAPANESE
Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation. form Natural form Attributes of Koshin and god of roads. These are Mi-Zaru who sees no evil.
Kiki-Zaru

who hears
Iwa-Zaru
evil.

no

evil.

who speaks no

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM THE LION

IN

GENERAL

Natural or conven- Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. tional form

Strength.
Germanicus.
23

Guar-

dianship. Emblem of St. Natalia, St.

THE LIONContinued
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Lion with wings

Signification

Emblem of St. Mark. Cognizance, of

Venice.

Aged

lion

Emblem of St. Jerome who took thorn out

of foot.

Gratitude.

THE TIGER
IN

GENERAL

Natural or conven- Blood thirstiness.

tional

form

THE WOLF
IN

GENERAL
GENERAL

Natural or conven- Rapacity.

tional

Rapine.

form

Hunger.

THE FOX
IN
Natural or conven- Syrnbol of craft. Cuntional form ning. Intemperance.

THE OX
IN

GENERAL

Natural or conventional

form

Emblem of St. Luke, who wrote of the

sacrificial

nature of

Christ.

THE CALF
IN GENERAL
Natural or conventional

Emblem
digal

form

of the ProdiSon's return.

Weaknegs.

THE HORSE
IN

GENERAL
'

White horse

Virginity in

manhood.

The
Red horse
Pale gray horse

conquering
of war.

Christian.

Symbol

"

Dissolution.

THE CAT
IN

GENERAL

Natural or conven- Loveof freedom. Spite.

tional

form

THE LAMB
IN

GENERAL
"

Natural or conventional

Emblem

form

of Christ as possessing the lamb's meekness and gentleness.

Sacrifice.

Lamb

with banner
24

Emblem

of St. Agnes.

THE DEER
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL

Four stags

Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Emblem

of St. Hubert.

Stag with Crucifix between horns

Emblem of St. Eustace

as the zealous Christian hunting for converts.

THE GOAT
IN

GENERAL GENERAL GENERAL

Natural or conven- Dishonor.

tional

Material-

form

ity.

THE APE
IN
Natural or conven- Sin. Malice. Cunning.
tional

form

THE ASS
IN
Natural or conventional

Emblem

of flight into

form

Egypt
Family."

of

"Holy
Entry
in-

to Jerusalem.

Em-

blem of St. Anthony.

Humbleness.

25

FISHES
Christian emblem of the fish was adopted by the early followers of Christ as a secret sign. It may be seen cut in the walls of the catacombs and doubtless served as a finger post to the sanctuary within. It was chosen in Cabalistic fashion by using the Greek word for fish which is composed of the initial letters in the following sentence of that language:

The

" Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Saviotir."

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

Country

Symbol

Signification

EGYPTIAN

The dolphin

Emblem
of the

of Isis, wife

sun god Osiris. Hathor, goddess of beauty. A marriage emblem.

JAPANESE GRECIAN

Reproductiveness.

Symbol

of Aphrodite, of beauty and fectmdity. Poseideon, god of the sea. Apollo, god of the sun. The hero Ulysses as a sea

goddess

traveler.

SCANDINAVIAN
The carp

Emblem Emblem

of Fria, goddess of beauty and fecundity.

of the boy, signifying ambition and success. The

Samurai fish because

indifferent to physical suffering.

JAPANESE

The red

tai

Emblem
offish.

of Ebisu,

god

ROMAN AND
HERALDIC

Cuttle fish

Emblem

of Neptune, god of the sea.

Hippocamp or sea Healing.

horse

HEBREW

Sea lion Sea dog Twin fishes

Symbol of boldness. Symbol of fidelity. The Zodiacal constellation Pisces. Emblem of February.

26

FISHESContinued
Country

HEBREW
CHINESE
JAPANESE

Symbol Crab

Signification

The

constellation

Canof

cer.

Emblem

summer.

The

tortoise

Divination because it carries mystic tablet on back.

Tortoise with flam- Longevity. ing tail

EARLY CHRISTIAN FORM

THE FISH
IN

GENERAL

Conventional
natural form

or

Emblem
fisher of

of Christ.

(See heading.) Emblem of Peter as

men.

Em-

blem
Fish with key in

of Tobias. of St. Benno.

Emblem
Hope

mouth
Fish with anchor
in Christ.
of Jonah.

The whale

Symbol

37

BIRDS
" There are two works which bear the title of ' Edda,' the one in verse, the other in prose. The first may be considered a symbolical work of the Scandinavian mythology; the latter a kind of commentary on the first."

Grenville Pigott.

Edda means great-grandmother. The folklore of the Elder Edda treats of heroic deeds, superstitions and myths. The Younger Edda is a compilation of fables, metaphors and
rhetorical treatises.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

THE EAGLE
Country

Symbol
tional

Signification

EGYPTIAN
ASSYRIAN

Natural or conven- The sun ssrmbol.

form

Natural or conventional

Emblem

of Nisroch.
spirit.

form

ANCIENT
GRECIAN

HEBREW

Natural or conven- The divine

tional

form
Vigilance.

With thunderbolt
in claw

Majesty.

PHRYGIAN

Double headed
Natural or conventional

Double
chief

vision.

ROMAN
GRECIAN

Emblem
The
gions.

form

Roman

of Jupiter, of the gods.

Le-

In connection with Symbol df abduction. Ganymede, the cup bearer of

Zeus

CHINESE
JAPANESE

Natural or conven- Sovereignty.

tional form White eagle

Emblem

of Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor. Divine right

of kings.

THE PHCENK
EGYPTIAN
Bennu, a bird believed
to
its

Immortality.

rise

from
ashes

own
Vehicle of

PERSIAN

Semorg, bird with Prosperity.

head of a woman
28

Mahomet.

THE PH(ENIXContinued
Country

Symbol
peacock and half pheasis half

Signification

CHINESE

Feng Wang, which Zodiacal

ant

constellation Apof the South. pears before a proEmpitious reign. blem of summer. of

JAPANESE

Ho Ho. Half Emblem

pheasant and half peacock
press.

the

Em-

THUNDER BIRDS
PERUVIAN
PERSIAN SABINE RUSSIAN FINNISH
\ /

Probably woodpeckers

Presage of storm.

Guardian of

treasures.

THE STORK CHINESE AND Natural or conven- Longevity. tional form JAPANESE Emblem The cormorant JAPANESE
deity
of
oflferings.

of Kushithe
eight

yatama-no-kami,

THE HAWK
EGYPTIAN
Full form or

head

Emblem

of Horus, son of Osiris, as keenvisioned.

THE VULTURE
EGYPTIAN
EAST INDIAN
Full

form or head

Emblem

of Mut, goddess of the South and the North.

Natural or conven- Scavenger of the earth,

tional

form

THE GOOSE SCANDINAVIAN Natural or conven- Emblem

tional

of Freya, the

ROMAN
JAPANESE

form northern Venus. Natural or conven- Emblem of Juno, as it cackles the sunrise tional form
for her.

Wild geese flying

Manhood.

THE COCK
CHINESE
Stars outlining Zodiacal form
constellation.

THE COCKContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

CHINESE

When on a drum

Symbol

of

peace

as

drum shows

disuse.

Cock's comb and Bravery, prosperity. pheasant's plume together

JAPANESE

When
gate

on

torii

or

Emblem of Amaterasu,
as
it

crows the sun-

rise for her.

THE DUCK
JAPANESE
Pair of Mandarin

ducks

Conjugal affection as they live and die in

pairs.

THE RAVEN
ASSYRIAN
Natural or conven- Messenger of the gods,
tional

SCANDINAVIAN

ROMAN
EGYPTIAN JAPANESE

form " "

Emblem of Woden. Emblem of Apollo.

THE OWL
Full form or head Emblem of Amem-Ra. Natural or conven- Filial ingratitude.
tional

form
of Blodeuwedd, the unfaithful. Emblem of Pallas Athena as goddess of wisdom.

WELSH
GRECIAN

"

Emblem

"

THE CUCKOO
FINNISH
Natural or conventional

Emblem
Tears.

of

Aino.

form

Desolation.

THE SWAN
GRECIAN
Natural or conventional

Emblem

ROMAN

form "

of Aphrodite, goddess of beauty. Emblem of Venus, goddess of beauty.

Leda, mother
Helen.

of

THE DOVE
GRECIAN
Natural or conventional

Emblem
gers.

of

form

prophetic

Dodona as messenof

Emblem

Aphrodite as her
aerial steeds.

Turtle dove
30

Constancy.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AltD MODERN FORM THE EAGLE

Country

Symbol
Natural or conventional

Signification

IN

GENERAL

Emblem
sion.

fonn

of St. John the Revelator as

having

perfect

vi-

Theology. Emblem of U. S. A.

as signifying eternal vigilance.

*

Double headed

Emblem of Holy Roman Empire, Flanders, Austro - Htmgary and Russia.

"

Young eagles ing upward

fly-

The

Ascension.

Eagleplimginginto Regeneration by bapwater to renew tism. youth

THE DOVE
IN

GENERAL

Single, usually fly-

Holy Ghost, or [Spirit.

Peace.
creation.

ing

Moving over waters The

light

Shedding rays of Spiritual blessing.

Perched on
shoulder

Inspiration,

pair

of

turtle Offering

doves

at Presentation in the Temple.

Palm branch
beak

in Victory over death.

each side of a The Eucharist. cup With serpent's tail Combination of

On

wis-

dom and peace.

With olive branch Signifying the
deluge.

THE RAVEN
IN

GENERAL
"

With bread in beak Emblem

Natural or conventional

of Elijah. St.

Benedict.

Melancholy.
bomness.

Stub-

form

THE SWALLOW
IN

GENERAL

Natural form
31

Emblem

of

summer.

THE SPARROW
Country

Symbol
Natural fonn

Signification

IN

GENERAL GENERAL

The traveler. Vandalism.

THE NIGHTINGALE
IN
Natural form

Harmony.

Exclusive-

THE THRUSH
IN GENERAL
IN IN
Natural form
Melodiousness.

THE WREN

GENERAL
GENERAL

Natural form

Modesty.

THE STORK
Natural form

The bearer
born.

of the

new

THE SWAN
IN

GENERAL

Natural or conven- Solitude.

tional

Emblem

form

St. Hubert coln.

of of Lin-

THE COCK
IN

GENERAL

Natural or conventional

Emblem

of Peter,

who

form

denied his Lord.

THE PARTRIDGE
IN

GENERAL

Natural form

Parental affection.

32

INSECTS
FICTITIOUS
The scarab
is

AND NATURAL

a model in pottery or stone of the sacred beetle of the Egyptians. It has been rightly named " A portable historic document," for the flat side of each scarab is engraved with signs, which, when translated, give the history of the owner. These personal seals were buried with tile mummy after decease. As many as three hundred scarabs have been found on one royal mummy. They ceased to be used in 600 B. C.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

THE BEETLE
Country

EGYPTIAN

Symbol Stone or pottery

Signification
1.

Signify

model known as
the scarab, inscribed to
2.

cal

mythologideities or

events.

Names and ranks of

historic personages.

3.

Names
and

of animals plants.
signs.

4.
5.

Funeral

Amulets to protect
wearers.

6.

Signature or

official

7.

mark. Bearing quotations from the Book of

the

Dead and

placed

in the heart cavity of the mummy.

THE LOCUST

JUDEAN
CHINESE

Natural form

Scourge.

Appetite.

THE BAT
Natural or conven- Contentment.
tional

Happi-

form

ness.

Five bats

Wealth, longevity,
health, love of virtue, peaceful end.

THE SCORPION

HEBREW

Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation. Emblem of October. form

83

THE CHAMELEON
Country

Symbol
Natural fonn

Signification

IN GENERAL

Changeableness.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM THE BEE

IN

GENERAL

Nattiral or conven- Industry. tional form Emblem

Diligence. of Napo-

leon and Beethoven.

THE ANT
IN IN

GENERAL

Nattiral

form

Conmiunity

spirit.

THE FLY

GENERAL

Natural form

Pestilence.

THE GNAT
IN GENERAL
IN
Natural form

Torment.

Irritation.

THE SPIDER

GENERAL

When

weaving

Patience.

Subtility.
of Arachn^.

Emblem

THE SNAIL
IN GENERAL
Natural form
Fruitfulness.

FIREFLIES

JAPANESE

Natural form

Ghosts of
riors.

slain

war-

34

THE SERPENT
" Symbolism was the essence of the genius of fhe Egyptian nation."- -Lenormant.
Ophites
in the

^A

Gnostic sect

who

Garden of Eden was the impersonation dom and the Teacher of Men.

believed that the serpent of Divine Wis-

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM THE COBRA

Country

Symbol

Signification

EGYPTIAN
EAST INDIAN

With head

erect, Sovereignty. ringed skin and tive power

Generaof

the

swelling throat

sun.

Seven headed

Emblem

of

Naga.

THE ASP
EGYPTIAN
Head
erect, short Royalty. Divine good-

thick

body

ness and irdmortality.

THE COLUBER
EGYPTIAN
Long body and
head in horizontal position.

Destroyer of souls.

THE SERPENT
CHINESE

GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation. form Fertility. Twin serpents, Emblem of ^sculapius
coiled

about a

founder of medicine.

GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

Symbol of Hermes and Mercury. heads erect Twined as curls Emblem of the Gorgon about a face with Medusa, whose hair staring eyes was changed to serpents.

wand,

with

GRECIAN

Coiled on shield of Athena or at her

feet

Emblem
son,

of her foster

Eriectbonios, whom as a child she kept in a chest with

the serpent of wis-

dom.

POMPEIAN

Natural or conven- Household gods (Lares and Penates), gods tional form
of fertility. 35

THE SERPENT Continued

Country

MEXICAN

Symbol Feathered serpent

Signification

Emblem
coatl,

of QuetzalAztec, "Fair god." Patron of laworder and agriculture.

SCANDINAVIAN

Serpent with
in its

tail

The

Universe.

mouth,

JUDEAN JUDEAN

forming a circle (JSrmungund). Brazen serpent of Healing. Moses' tune

THE ADDER
With one ear to the Prudence. ground and stopping other ear
wiVi her tail

THE SALAMANDER

FRENCH
HERALDIC

Allied to the lizard and frog

Emblem of Francis the first. Immune to fire.

Mesmerism.

THE BASILISK
Crested head, erect Cruelty. and piercing eyes

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM THE SERPENT

IN

GENERAL

Natural or conven- Evil overcome by good

tional

form
Subtility.

Crawling on ground Sin.

With Adam and Knowledge

Eve
and
erect
evil.

of

good

ELIZABETHAN Head
OPHITES

Human

wisdom.

Natural form

Emblem

of Christ as perfect widsom.

THE CROCODILE
IN GENERAL
Natural form
Dissimulation.

36

FABULOUS CREATURES
" With savages, most religions sprang from a desire to propitiate by worship those powers from whom they feared that some injury may be done." Fergusson. Among the descendants of Shem, son of Noah, were the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Arabians and Hebrews, but the

were the only people among those tribes who believed in one God and no lesser deities. Therefore their ritual was less incumbered by fabulous creatures than any of the others.
latter

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM THE DRAGON

Country

Symbol

Signification

CHINESE AND Serpent's bulging JAPANESE

body, Imperial guardian of eyes, the air. Bearer of homed head and the imperial dead to five claws, in Paradise. clouds and generally pursuing the ball of wis-

dom
In water or rising Imperial guardian of above streams, the waters. with above form Threading swamps Imperial guardian of the marshes. or near fields When showing only Dragon of the common people, representing three claws
increasing
ity.

prosper-

CHINESE
JAPANESE

Stars outlining Zodiacal constellation form of the East. Chinese form with Spiritual guardian of
eyes gazing upthe faith.
of

ward

The same
downward

eyes gazing

with Earthly guardian the faith.

EAST INDIAN

ROMAN

Guardian of the faith. Usual form Dragon chained to Symbol of Perseus and Andromeda. a rock

HERALDIC

Hydra

or

seven

Terror.

Destruction.

headed dragon

Winged dragons Guardianship. facing arms

37

THE SPHINX
Country

Symbol

Signification

EGYPTIAN

Body Body Body

of lion

and Strength and

gence.

intelli-

human head
of lion with

Emblem Emblem

of

Horus as

hawk's head
of lion with

guardian of the body

of Osiris.
of

Khnemu,
Secrecy.

ram's head

the maker of stars.

Pestilence.
of

GRECIAN
PERSIAN

Body of lion, breast

and head
a

woman
Andro-Sphinx Bird's body, man's Emblem of the Magian legs and scorGenius of Prophecy.
pion's tail

THE CENTADR
GRECIAN

HEBREW

horse's body Brute force. with a man's shoulders, arms and head horse's body Zodiacal constellation with a man's known as Sagittarshoulders, arms ius, the archer. and head

THE HARPY
GRECIAN
Head and breast of Torment.
a woman, body of a vulture
appetite.

Voracious

THE SIREN
IN

GENERAL

Half woman, half Allurement.

fish

Entan-

glement. Dangerous affection.

ROMAN

Circe, who changed Baleful attraction. captives into Sorcery,

beasts

THE GRIFFIN
GRECIAN
IN
Lion's body, eagle or vulture head

Emblem

of Alexander

the Great.

GENERAL

Lion's body, eagle Invincibility. or vulture head

THE UNICORN
CHINESE
Chilin.
single

Body
horn
38

of Prosperity.

Peace,

antelope with

THE UNICORNContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

JAPANESE

The

Kirin.

Body Virtue.
beauty.

Radiant

of deer with single horn

MOHAMMEDAN

Body

of antelope Chastity. with single horn

EARLY CHRISTIAN Am) MODERN FORM

THE DRAGON
IN

GENERAL

Resembling Chi- Emblem of St. Minese form and chael. St. George. depicted under Evil crushed to earth.
foot

When

chained
staff

Emblem

of St.

John

of

Rheims.

With a

Emblem
garet.

of St.

MarSyl-

When winged
IN

Emblem
vester.

of

St.

GENERAL GENERAL

"The great red

dragon "

Lust,

THE UNICORN
IN

AND

Body

HERALDIC

of a horse, Chastity. tail of a lion, hoofs of a stag,

central
outward

long

horn, protruding

3S

ANGELIC PERSONAGES
" Knowledge of Christian symbolism is requisite for those who study ancient illuminations, sculptures, stained glass and other decorative arts. It is absolutely necessary for the architect and student of mediaeval architecture to have a thorough acquaintance with the art which guided its early masters." W. and G. Audsley.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

ANGELS
Country

Symbol

Signification

JUDEAN

Michael, Gabriel, Celestial Service. Suriel, Raphael,

Tauthaboth,
Eratooth.

EGYPTIAN

AND

The good Genii

Celestial

service.

ASSYRIAN EAST INDIAN

Bearers of water for the tree of Life.

The

Vedic. Charmers
Sanctified
saints,

of the blest.

Apsaris.

BUDDHISTIC

AsB8dhisatvas and Rakan

service

of

MOHAMMEDAN

once mortals. Houri, dark-eyed In the service of the maidens; beblest.

ings which have never

been mortals

ARCHANGELS
Michael
Gabriel
Asrafil Israfel

Conductor. Recording Angel. Herald of the Resurrection.

SCANDINAVIAN

Valkyria

Ministering angels of ValhaUa or Hall of the Blest. Attendants of Odin.

"

The Nomies

Bearers of sacred water to Yggdrasil.

CHINESE
"

The seven wor- Knowledge

thies
ness.

of

happi-

The Genii who live Rulers of

upon air and ride to heaven on the back of a dragon
40

spirits.

EAKLY CHRISTIAN FORM

THE OTNE CHOIRS WHICH ARE

Country

Symbol
1.

Signification

IN

GENERAL

2. 3. 4. 5.
6.

Archangels Angels

Cherubim Seraphim Thrones Dominions

Virtues

Celestial ministry.

7. 8.

Powers

9. Principalities

THE ARCHANGELSPRIMARY
1.

Michael, Cap- Divine likeness. tain of the host

2. Gabriel, annun-

ciation
3. Uriel,

and Divine
Divine

power,
light.

resurrection

leader of

4.

Seraphim Raphael

Divine restorer.

SECONDARY
6. 6.

Zophiel Zadkiel

7. 8. 9.

Hamiel
Camiel

Leaders of choirs.

ZaphMel
of the

The Seraphim are Guardians represented by Throne.

infants'

heads,

surrounded six wings: two upper two lower

crossed

by
the

and
are
Signify adoration protection.

The Cherubim are represented by

infants' heads

and

between two
wings Angels bearing The Dominion of God.
sceptres

Angels bearing Felicity in Heaven. musical instru-

ments
Angels bearing The voice of Deity. trumpets
41

Country

IN

GENERAL
*

Symbol Signification Angels with cen- Prayers.

sers

Angels with gar- In the active service of

ments belted
'
"

Deity.
service only.

Angels without Heavenly

sandals

Cloud or
angels

circle of Spiritual ecstasy.

"

Angels

Loving thoughts.

42

THE HALO AND THE CROWN

" Mithraic (early Persian) bas-reliefs cut on the faces of

on stone tablets, abound in the countries formerly the Western Provinces of the Holy Roman Empire, exist in Germany, still more in France and in England, on the line of the Picts (early tribe) wall and the noted ones at Bath. Insomuch as Bel, the Semitic sun god, was the great divinity of the Druids, it is easy to see what a ready acceptance the worship of his more refined Persian equivalent (Mithra) would find among Celtic races when once introduced by the
rocks, or

Roman

troops and colonists,

many

of

whom were Orientals." C. W.King, M.A.

HEBREW
Country

AKTO PAGAN FORM THE HALO

Signification

Symbol
Circular or trefoil, whether plain or

EAST INDIAN, JAPANESE

The

AND

triad god. The sun's rays. Sanctity.

decorated

CHINESE

JUDEAN

Two rayed

halo of Truth and Justice.

Moses, appearing also as horns

THE CROWN
EGYPTIAN
When composed of Emblem
solar

disk and

of Theban, sun god. Amem-Ra.

two
"

falcon

feathers

Disk with goat Emblem of Isis, signifying life and strength. homs

"

White crown
shaped
cone
like
like

Crown of upper Egypt.

a
of lower

Red crown shaped Crown

a band with a peak

Egypt,

generally worn by Neith, as goddess of

hunting and weaving.

Red and white Double crown

crown, together; one within the other

of

generally worn by Mut, the

Egypt,

Theban divine
mother, as well as other chief gods.


THE CROWN Continued
Country
Signification Symbol Shuticrownof ten Signifies power to divide the heavens double ostrich and enter therein. plumes Atef crown com- Generally worn by Thoth as master of posed of asps,

EGYPTIAN
"

horns and
plumes, circling the white crown of upper Egypt

law.

THE WREATH GRECIAN AND When of cypress Symbol of Pluto, Chief

ROMAN
" "

leaves

of Hades. of

Whenofoak leaves Symbol

Jupiter,
father god.

Zeus or as the

When
leaves

of

pine Symbol

of

Pan

as

Nature's king. When of laurel Symbol of Apollo and leaves the Muse Clio. When of willow Symbol of Hera as a part of her residence leaves
tree.

"

When

of

myrtle Symbol

of the bride.

leaves

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

THE HALO
IN

GENERAL

Known as the Nunbus when circUng the head

only

As Aureola, when
circling

Sanctification.

head

"

Known
figure

and shoulders as the Glory, when circling entire

THE NIMBUS
IN

GENERAL

When circular and Emblem

plain or with

of the First

Person of the Trinity.

three rays or with the Greek

letters

lAm

O Q N
44

THE NIMBUS Continued

Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL
*

When
Lamb

bearing Second
Symbol
only.

Person of the

Greek cross or

Trinity.

When

or rays square

of distinction

THE CROWN
IN

GENERAL
"
"

Usual form

Symbol of the Virgin Mary.

AKHien at feet of Signifying noble birth. Saints

When worn on the Emblem

head
birth.

of

royal

"

When

held in the Symbol of the Virtues,

right

hand

When

of thorns

Emblem
fixion.

of the cruci-

The Delphic

Sibyl, who prophesied the suffering of

the Saviour.

THE CORONA
IN

GENERAL

Crown
sions

of lights The Resurrection. used in churches on special occa-

IN

THE GARLAND OR CHAPLET The crown GENERAL As a circlet

Wreath
"

of beauty. of poetry.

When used
motif
ration
in

as a continuous
deco-

Exuberance
Joy.

of

life.

Mirth.

THE MITRE
IN

GENERAL

The two pomts of a The Old and

bishop's crown or mitre, which is usually of cloth

New

Testaments.

studded with
gems

DUCAL CROWN

ENGLISH

Designed in straw- Companionship with

berry leaves
43

royalty.

THE CROSS AND THE

MONOGRAM
these outward fonns early Christians were inspired with feelings of devotion and love and in the absence of books derived from them their chief knowledge of objects made sacred by usage. To the unlearned they spoke a clear and intelligible language; that they were full of poetry, no one who will endeavor to interpret them can doubt." Louisa Twining.

"

By

" The cross, the

priestly robes

and symbols are

all

anterior to the Christian era

by thousands

of years." Alexander Wilder, M.D.

HEBREW AND PAGAW

THE CROSSContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

ROMAN

"

Sign of omission (as when placed upon houses where child was to be spared during the Massacre of the Innocents.) Emblem of Hellespontine Sibyl.

CRUX ANSATA OR KEY OF LIFE

ANKH
EGYPTIAN

The tau surmounted by

circle of eternity in elliptical form

Immortality.
life.

Eternal

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

Country

Symbol
cross

Signification
tree."

IN

GENERAL

The original or tree "The accursed

Humiliation.

THE CROSS
IN

GENERAL

With equal arms

Greek cross
color

+
of red 47

Christianity. Greek cross.

The

Symbol

of crucians.

the

Rosi-

plars.

The TemRed Cross

Society.

THE CROSSContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN GENERAL

With

vertical

arm The

Crucifixion.

The

extended above
horizontal

Latin cross.

arm

With double hori- Emblem bishop. zontal arms

With

t t
triple

of

an arch-

hori-

Emblem

of the Pope,

zontal

arms

In form of letter X Martyrdom.

tire or St.

ENGLISH

Composed
crosses

f X
48

The^ sal-

Andrew's

cross (as this saint

was

martyred

on

this form.)

of four

Known
bury

as the Cantercross,

hammer-like

THE CROSSContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification
of Christ

RUSSIAN

The Latin cross Emblem

with one half of
St.
St.

and
first

Andrew, the

Andrew's

cross strapped across lower portion of upright

Christian missionary to Russia. The Slavonic cross.

IN

GENERAL

Of equal arms Emblem

shaped like
fishes' tails

masons.

FreeThe eight Beatitudes. The

of
Maltese cross.

The Latin cross

m
arms

with vertical arm pointed at base in order to fix in the ground

Latin cross with three balls at end
of

Signifying the Soldiers of the Cross. The Crusaders' cross.

Either Greek or Heraldic

cross

called

Batonn^.

+
40

THE CROSS Continued

Country

Symbol

Signification

IN GENERAL

Either Greek or Heraldic device called Latin form with Pomm. one ball or apple at the ends

Composed

tau crosses

of four Heraldic device called cross potent.

ffl
Composed of cross Known as the Jem-

potent and
Greek cross

salem cross.

Either Greek or Heraldic device called Latin form with cross Fleur^. three leaves at
point

CELTIC

Latin

^ +
t
50

cross with Immortality.

circle of eternity

THE CROSS Continued

Country

Symbol
Latin cross worn on the breast

Signification

IN

GENERAL
*

The

Pectoral cross.

Latin cross placed Pilgrims' prayers. at wayside or well

"

Latin cross made with receptacle in centre to hold sacred bread

Latin cross with receptacle to hold
relics of saints

The Monstrance,

sig-

nifying the Eucharist or Communion.

The Reliquary, Sacred

Memories.

Latin cross afSzed

to

The Rood cross.

Faith.

a loft or beam

or screen

ENGLISH
* *
* *

Public crosses

The heart

of the town.

Roadside crosses

Right of sanctuary.
rights.

Boundary crosses Limited

Preaching crosses Age of

Memorial crosses Sacred ground.

faith.

Grave crosses

Immortality
Christ.

through

The

processional Jurisdiction.

cross

when

borne before a bishop

51

TWO MONOGRAMS
Country

Symbols

Signification

IN

GENERAL

The

letter

com-

Monogram
Saviour.
of

of

the
cross

bined with letter

The

X or the first two

letters of the

Greek word
Christ

for

Constantine or the portentious sign which he saw in the heavens. The precious sign or portent.

I.

H.

S. Initials of

sentence "Jesus

Monogram of the Saviour. The Precious

Emblem.

Homenum

Sal-

vator" (Jesus Saviour of men)

62

DEMONS, SATYRS AND

NYMPHS
lover of the Bible is a philosopher of the highest class: for that word by its derivation signifies a lover of wisdom, from the Greek word ' phUos,' lover, and ' sophia,' wisdom. From these premises it is clear that a desire to relegate to the limbo of imtaught ' questions ' any branch of the religious study, finds no support from the Scriptures. The word devil occurs more than fifty times in the New Testament. The Cinghalese religion consists almost entirely of devil worship. In Ceylon, the fear of the devil is allowed full scope. In Christendom, iSie fear certainly exists and perhaps a certain degree of reverence, but the form of worship is lacking. This implies indirect or negative worship."

"A

E. Tiirney.

HEBREW

Ain>

PAGAN FORM

DEMONSContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

SCANDINAVIAN Erictho
The Galdrankinna

Sorcery in the forest.

Interference
fairs of

with afthe heart.

CHINESE
JAPANESE

With man's form Evil

influence.

though abnormal

Emma

o, chief of

Regent of Hades and

demoniacal scribe.
leaders.

ten devils

in

Hades
Oni or attendant False
such as bewitched foxes and badgers
devils,

The Tengu, long Demoniacal swordsnosed goblins manship.

ORKNEY
ISLANDS ENGLISH AND
IRISH

The Skow

or devil Kidnapper of churchgoers.

Will-o-the-Wisp Jack-o-Lantheni

False lights that lure the unwary.

ENGLISH AND The Banshee

IRISH

Messenger of fatalities.

ENGLISH AND The Elves (evil)

IRISH

Sylvan
makers.

mischief-

GERMAN
SCOTTISH

Wicked

elves

and Glee

in mischief.

Gnomes
Haxa, the druidess The
Sorceress.

SATYRS AND FAUNS

GRECIAN
SCOTTISH

Man's body, goat's horns, tail and

hoofs

Lasciviousness.
elry.

Rev-

Ourisk or the Highland satyr

Freebooting.

NYMPHS

GREEK AND

Feminine wood
creatures, consorts of satyrs

License;

lawlessness;

ROMAN

the light-footed;
beautiful

but soul-

si

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

DEMONS
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Mehistopheles Prince of Darkness

Lucifer

Signification

Ferocity, Sorcery,
Lust, Lunacy, Tyr-

Satan Adversary

anny, Egotism, Rebellion, Deceit.

The Wicked One

"

Beelzebub A devil. Judas

Iscariot

Disloyalty.

(John 6:70)
"

The Possessed

"

"

Necromancy. (Luke 9:39) The son of the devil Heritage. (John 8:44) The demon cup as The cup of sorcery.
defined
(1 Cor. 10:21)

WITCHES
IN

GENERAL

The witch of Endor Phantasy,

for evU.

Foresight

6S

GEOMETRICAL FORMS
" Every ornament to deserve the name, must posse,ss an appropriate meaning and be introduced witii an intelligent purpose. The symbolic association of each ornament must be understood; otiierwise things beautiful in themselves will be rendered absurd by their application." A. W. Pugin.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

THE CIRCLE
Country

Symbol
the sun or dish

Signification

EGYPTIAN

Whenrepresentmg Eternity.

moon
on a Sacred bread used as
altar offerings.

When placed

ASSYRIAN

When winged and

enclosing figure

Immortality.

ofAssur,thesun god

EAST INDIAN

Three circles
joined together

Signify Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the preserver and Siva the destroyer.

SCANDINAVIAN

Circle
ter

with one

Emblem

dot in the cen-

of Preya, goddess of beauty.

of

With three dots Symbol

in the center

the triad

god.

EGYPTIAN

As

solid circle or

Emblem

of Osiris, the

globe with wings

of

aspiration,

horns of strength

sun god and Judge of the Dead, Antidote to evil.

ROMAN

and serpents of wisdom Full formorcrescent

Emblem
Emblem

of Diana, goddess of himting.

of the faith.

MOHAMMEDAN

Crescent and star

National arms of Turkish Empire.

THE WHEEL
EGYPTIAN
BUDDHISTIC
Natural or conven- The sun.
tional

form

The Chakra
56

Wheel

of

law and

prayer,

THE SQUARE
Country

CHINESE AND JAPANESE

Symbol Usual form

Signification

The

earth.

When placed with- Heaven and earth.

in a circle

Usual fonn CHALDEAN AND JUDEAN

The

perfect plan.

form or

ROMAN

When
the

referring

Roman

toEmblern
city

of ancient

which was

Quadrata or ancient symbol

stone

builded square.

MOHAMMEDAN

Whenreferringto
the Caaba or sacred square stone and temp 1 e of the

Emblem of the faith.

Prophet
Mecca.

at

LINE

CHINESE AND When vertical JAPANESE

Signifies the

masculine

in nature.

When
EGYPTIAN

horizontal Signifies the feminine in nature. or curved

Zigzag
Zig zag

Water. The Nile river.

Life's course.

NORMAN
HERALDIC
EGYPTIAN,

When

invected or Land.

ingrailed (scalloped)

Meandering
fret, etc.

lines Continuity of

life.

GRECIAN AND

suchastheDoric
as a Continuity of
life.

ROMAN

CHINESE AND When used chain JAPANESE

cturved line

Ogee or double Balance and

support.

IN

GENERAL

When

in the form of a labyrinth

Emblem
mystical
cial

of

ancient grove or
Sacrifi-

woodland.
temple.

EGYPTIAN
SCANDINAVIAN

THE TRIANGLE When used as em- Signifies

intelligence,

matter and cosmos. blem of Osiris, Isis and Horus Emblem of the triad Usual form
god.
57

THE TRIANGLEContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

EAST INDIAN

When pointing up- Emblem of Siva as god

ward
of
fire.

pointing Emblem of Vishnu as downward god of water. Both forms inter- Creation of fire and
secting

When

water.

JUDEAN
"

With unequal sides The Almighty. and two Hebrew

letters of

Jehointer-

vah's name.

Double and
secting

The seal of Solomon. The positive and

negative
attributes of creation.

THE RECTANGLE
EGYPTIAN,

GRECIAN AND MEXICAN

Whenusedasbase Sacred form

for

of

the

tombs and

faith.

altars.

THE PENTAGON
IN GENERAL

When
five

used as a Divination.
or sided object

pentagram

andthepentacle
or five pointed
star

THE HEPTAGON
EAST INDIAN

figure of seven Brahma's palace or sides and seven the divine abode. angles, as

THE OCTAGON
CHINESE

figure of eight sides and eight angles, containing the eight trigrams or mystical

The path
^

of

life,

lines intro-

duced by an
ancient sage, and the design

known Pakwa

as

le

JAPANESE

Usual form

Emblem

of heaven's palace of eight sides. Residence of goddess on Fuji mountain.

58

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

THE CIRCLE
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Usual form

Signification

Eternity. Masonic

boundary
duty.

line of

When above head Sanctity. In crescent form Dominion,

when beneath
feet of Virgin

THE SQUARE
IN GENERAL

of four sides and four angles

figure

The

Christian.

New

The Jerusalem,

When placed within

Honesty. Eternity of Ufe.

circle

KNOTS AND ENLACEMENTS

(When
endless)

EARLY CELTS JUDEAN

ITALIAN

Love of God. Runic knot Wisdom. Solomon's knot True lover's knot Fidelity. Enlacement in any Emblem of the Comancine builders. form

The joy of
living.

Christian

THE HEXAGON
IN

GENERAL

sides and
angles

figure with six six

The

attributes of the Creator.

THE HEPTAGON
IN GENERAL

figure of seven

The seven

churches.

sides and seven angles

Seven angels. Seven k.mps. Seven seals.

THE OCTAGON
IN

GENERAL

Regenerafigure of eight Baptism. tion. (Creation in sides and eight

angles

seven days, the

eighth

represents

recreation.)

THE DECAGON
IN

GENERAL

sides angles

figure of ten Signifying the Disciples, omitting Peter and ten and Judas, the one who denied and the one who betrayed.
59

THE DODECAGON
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL

A figure

of twelve Signifying the twelve sides and twelve Disciples.

THE WHEEL
IN

GENERAL

When winged and Symbol

of fire and with eyes in wings

of the thrones or one of the choirs of angels.

60

ARCHITECTURAL FORMS
History informs us that one of the ancient symbols of the Universe was a cave. The Zoroastrian sect in Persia were among the people who painted upon these caves emblems of
natwre's forces.

The Ammonites were worshipers

of Jupiter in Libya.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM THE MENHIR AND DOLMEN

Country

Symbol

Signification
altars.

DRUIDICAL

Upright stones Sun

raised as altars

JUDEAN

Emblem

of Jacob who raised altar stone to

the one God.

Beth-el.

The

THE COLUMN OR PILLAR

EGYPTIAN
"

Column with
tal

lotus

Emblem

of the faith.

or papyrus capi-

When

signifying

Emblem of Nut, Neith,

the sky goddess, as

pillars of

heaven

GRECIAN

representing her arms and limbs. The Doric column. Signifies primitive

coltmm with

force.

plain

cushion

covered by an abacus or square tablet for its

capital
"

The

A
"

Ionic column. Signifying the influcolumn with ence of education upon primitiveforce. four volutes for
its capital

The Corinthian
column. A column with acanthus leaves and

Signifying the begin-

ning of degeneracy
in primitive force.

volutes
capital

for its

IN

GENERAL

A column used
singly as

Disti'nction
minion.

Do-

monument
any
style
61

a in

THE COLUMN OR PILLARContinued

Country

VENETIAN

When

Symbol used as a gondola hitcliing post and decorated with coat of arms belonging to family owning the post

Signification

Emblem of distinction.

When striped with Emblem of the barber,

red and white

who, in ancient times was a surgeon

and used this sign of a bandaged limb.

THE GATE
EGYPTIAN
JAPANESE
The Pylon
Entrance to the sanctuary.
evil.

Barriers to

Torii or perch for

the fowl which announced the sunrise

Emblem of Amaterasu the sun goddess. Emblem of Inari, the

goddess of
Protection.
rice.

IN GENERAL

In various forms

Safety.
Judicial

Commerce,
assembly.

THE ARCH
PERSIAN AND
PICTISH
In temples or on

The

arch of the sun.

ROMAN

tomb sculptures Used singly as a

Victory.

Dominion.

monument
Employed in buildings
Hospitality.

THE PAVEMENT

JUDEAN

The palace floor of Emblem of the sea.

Solomon Mosaic floors in The movement and churches and color of the sea.
palaces

ROMAN AND
VENETIAN

THE DOME AND CENTRE

EARLY PERSIAN

IN GENERAL

The dome The Omphalos

Vedic omphalos

or

The canopy of heaven. The centre of the

earth. Iran.

naveL (The origin of the dome.)

SymboliOf

EAST INDIAN

Signifying Yama, dwelling on the centre of the earth.

62

THE DOME AND CENTRE Continued

Country

GRECIAN AND ARABIAN CHINESE

Symbol Signification Centre of dweUing Stability. or hearth Centre or apex, the Emblem of Shung-ti, single stone of the chief of all the thestepped temgods.
ple

MOKI INDIAN

The Bowl.

(Architectural form.)

Emblem

of the of heaven.

dome

ROOF AND CEILING

IN

GENERAL

Usual form of roof

Canopy

of

heaven.

Protection. Safety. Hospitality.

EGYPTIAN

Decoration of ceil- The elements.

ings.

WhenrepNut

resenting figure
of goddess

or the sky bend-

ing over the earth god Seb

and
Shu

supported
air

by the

god

STEPS OR STAIRS

CHALDEAN,
CHINESE,

When

erected singly or in

Signifying rising stages

of

mankind toward
or

JAPANESE

AND

groups

heaven
place.

highest

MEXICAN
THE WALL

IN

GENERAL

Single or double

Barrier. Safety. Prosperity. Distinction.

THE BRIDGE
CHINESE AND JAPANESE
*

In any form

The way

of the gods.

When bowed

MOHAMMEDAN

Bridge of heaven or rainbow. When of a hair's Bridge of Paradise which only the breadth
righteous to cross.
63

are

able

THE TOWER
Country

EGYPTIAN

Signification Symbol Tat or measuring The steps to heaven. tower of the Nile.

Nilometer.

FEUDAL EUROPEAN

Tall, slender

windowless at base
generally

and Protection of the church treasures.

Watching.

THE PYRAMIB
EGYPTIAN
Monumental buri- Fire of the gods. Residence of the al places of kings
dead.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM THE COLUMN

IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Aspiration

of the

Christian. The morally strong. The

Straightforward.

THE ARCH
IN GENERAL
Usual form

The beneficence of God. The hospitality of

Christian faith.

THE DOME
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Love

of

God.

RUSSIAN

Cluster of five domes

Signifying the Metropolitan and his four bishops.

THE DOOR
ENGLISH
IN
The Western Door Emblem
Church When open
of of Christ. of

GENERAL GENERAL
"

Emblem

welcome.

Generosity.

IN

THE GATE When golden or

pearly

Signifies

entrance entrance

to to

heaven.
Signifies

When of brass

Hades.

IN

THE TOWER OR STEEPLE GENERAL Usual form Purity.

Aspiration.

Emblem of St. Barbara who was called

the "Ivory tower of purity."
64

STEPS OR STAIRS
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Usual fonn

Signification

Pilgrimage. Pathway of the seeker after

spiritual knowledge.

GARGOYLES
IN

GENERAL

When represented
by grotesque forms

Evil spirits kept on the outside of the church. Scare devils to ward oflE evil
spirits.

DIVISIONS
(Early Christian Churches)

IN

GENERAL
"

The bema or centre The Holy

Heaven.

of Holies or

Sanctity.

The chorus or ap- Holy place proach to the tion.

centre

or proba-

"

The narthex
ple to

or Penitence.

Approach,

porch to the tem-

commemporch
of

orate
ple

Solomon's tem-

65

MILITARY EMBLEMS
" The decorative beauty of heraldry, far from being that of form and color alone was always an imagmative one depending much on the symbolic meaning of its designs."

G. W.

Eve.

HEBREW
Country

Airo PAGAN FORM THE SPEAR OR LANCE

THE WINGED HELMET

Country

Symbol

Signification

ROMAN, SCANDINAVIAN
THE SWORD
IN

The messenger.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

GENERAL

Flaming sword

Usual form

Divine wrath. Emblem of Zophiel. Angel of the garden of Eden. Symbol of St. Paul as
the Christian soldier.

When
hand

piercing Emblem of St. Thomas

of Canterbury. at feet
of

"
"

When
saint

Emblem
talon.

of

St.

Pan-

When showing
acute point

Signifies justice. Signifies religion. Signifies

* *

When obtuse point

When
point

blunted

mercy.
Al-

When held upright Consecration.

legiance.

SPEAR OR LANCE
IN

GENERAL

Usual or conven- Symbol of St. Michael, tional form St. George, St. Phillip. European
Sibyl

who prophe-

sied the flight into

Egypt.

THE ARROW
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Emblem of St. Sebastian who was martyred by arrows.

Emblem THE DAGGER

IN

of the hunter and of Cupid.

GENERAL

Misere-corde or Protection against the small dagger foe. used by ancient

monks

THE SLING
IN

GENERAL

Pocket with string

for holding and slinging stones
67

Emblem

of David who became the king,

THE BANNER
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Usual fonn

Signification

The

Christian's

vic-

tory over the flesh.

Triumph. Place.
Title.

Lineage.

IN

GENERAL

ARMOUR "The whole

armour"

Protection of God.

The Spurs The Hehnet

Emblem
hood.

of

Knight-

Signifies courage.

THE SHIELD
HERALDIC, ENGLISH
1.

When
like

exhibit- Protection. ing chevron or

band
2.

The

shaped a gable chief or Guardianship.

straight

band

passing across

upper third of
shield
3.

The fess

or Patriotism. band crossing

centre of shield horizontally

4.

The pale

or Valor. band crossing

shield in centre vertically

6.

The bend
onally

or Knightly

service.

band crossing shield diag6.

The

pile,

sharp Tenacity.

pointed, wedge

shaped
vertically
7.

band

crossing shield

The bend sinis- Royal

ter or

descent.

band

crossing from
left hand upper

comer of shield to right hand lower comer

GEMS
say white ' or ' purple ' in any ordinary line of poetry, they evoke emotions so exclusively that I cannot say why they move me, but if I say them in the same mood, in the same breath with such obviously intellectual symbols as a cross or a crown of thorns, I thiii^ of purity and sovereignty. W. B. Yeats.

"HI

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

THE SARD
Country

Symbol

Signification
Isis.

EGYPTIAN

One

layer of the Blood of

Stone of

onyx, red

usually

August.

CHINESE

JADE A hard soapy. Emblem

sometimes fibrous stone
formed by the
drippings
in

of

the

Emperor.

Virtue.

from

mountain lakes

Turkestan
rivers in

which are usually salt water.

Near

Burmah

THE HELIOTROPE
(See Bloodstone)

BABYLONIAN

Usual form

Divination. Sacred
stone
of the gods. Invulnerability.

THE JASPER

EARLY
PERSIAN

Crypto-crystalline

quartz

Stone of Mithra, god of truth. Stone of

friendship.

THE SAPPHIRE

EARLY
PERSIAN

Blue corundum
"

The

sacred stone.

GRECIAN
EAST INDIAN

"

Stone of Apollo and September. Light of the gods.

Prosperity.

GEMS OF AARON'S BREAST PLATE

Country

Symbol
1.

Signification

JUDEAN

Sardius, Topaz, Divination.

2.

Carbuncle Emerald, Sapphire, Dia-

mond
3.

Ligure,

Agate,

4.

Amethyst Beryl, Onyx,

Jasper

6.

The Urim and

Thummim

or jewels of light

and perfection (species unknown)

THE ABRAXUS GEMS

GNOSTIC
Sard, Jasper, Sacred gems
Amethyst
of the divine creator known as "Abraxus," a fabulous creature

with a man's body,

a lion or cock's head and serpents for legs.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

THE DIAMOND
IN

GENERAL

Pure carbon

Sanctity.

Perfection. Pride. Intelligence, Stone of Apnl.

Fortitude.

THE RUBY
IN

GENERAL

Red corundum

Divine
love.

zeal.

Human

Stone of July.

THE EMERALD
IN

GENERAL

green beryl

The

victorjr

flesh.

The

over the Spring. Hope. stone of May.

THE SAPPHIRE
IN

GENERAL

Blue corundum

Heavenly truth.
cerity.

Sin-

Stone of

September.
70

THE PEARL
Country

Symbol
bivalve covering
g^rain of sand which has en-

Signification

IN GENERAL

The secretions of a Innocence.

Tears.

Purity,

Stone of St. Margaret.

tered the shell

THE TOPAZ
IN GENERAL

heavy

silicate, Fidelity.

Fruitfulness.

mainly aliunina
of yellow hue

Stone of November.

THE AMETHYST
IN

GENERAL

A quartz of a violet
blue color, probably caused by peroxide of iron

Sympathy,
tion.

AbnegaStone

Peace.

of February.

IN GENERAL

THE GARNET A hard red crystal Deep aSection.

of January.

Stone

THE CARBUNCLE
IN GENERAL

precious garnet Martyrdom. cut in rotmded

form

IN GENERAL

THE CRYSTAL A symmetrical Simplicity.

solid,

Truthful-

usually

ness.

transparent,
stone

THE TURQUOISE
IN GENERAL
An opaque
bluish

Sincere

aSection.

green stone

Stone of December.

TURQUOISE MATRIX
IN

GENERAL

Or mother
the

stone Sincere

which contains

affection. Stone of December,

gem
Ancient emblem
good luck.
October.

THE OPAL
IN GENERAL An
oxid of silicon. in layers containing water, which takes on prismatic hues
71

of

Stone of

THE AGATE
Country

Symbol

Signification

IN

GENERAL

A mottled

opaque, Long life and health. hard stone of Stone of June. Taryiug shades of browns, greys and dull red

IN

GENERAL

"

THE CAT'S EYE A quartz with fi- Platonic affection.

br ous
sions"
inclu-

THE CARNELIAN
IN

GENERAL

chalcedony

of

Emblem of distinction.

deep, clear red.

mixed with
white

Sometimes

THE CHRYSOBERYL
IN GENERAL
Yellowish green or

Emblem of patience.

emerald green hard stone

IN

THE BLOOD STONE OR HELIOTROPE GENERAL A fibrous green Mourning. Stone

stone streaked with red, with a
stone
ians.

of

March. Sacred
of

Babylon-

kidney
surface

shaped

THE JASPER
IN

GENERAL GENERAL

crypto-crystalline quartz

Pride.
Second

Wisdom.
sight.

THE CORAL
IN

The

skeleton

of Signifies

marriage,
fortune.

a tiny

animal

Good

known as the
coral polp

LAPIS LAZULI

IN

GENERAL

A massive oriental
stone of rich

Nobility.

ultra-marine
blue

THE MOONSTONE
IN

GENERAL

A feldspar containing reflected

lights of grey

Thoughtfulness.

and blue
72

THE ONYX
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Signification stone in two Reciprocity,

layers of color

THE SARDONYX
IN GENERAL
Three
color

layers

of

Conjugal

fidelity.

THE LABRADORITE
IN GENERAL
Spar from Labrador

Sub tility.
beauty.

Hidden

IN GENERAL

THE CHRYSOLITE A silicate of mag- Unrequited love,

nesium and iron of yellow hue

AMBER
INJGENERAL
The gum of extinct Tears of the Heliades, who were turned into pine trees
trees

amber

which dropped tears on the Greek coast, where

the body of their brother Phaeton was

washed ashore.

THE FOUNDATION STONES OF THE NEW JERUSALEM

The Jasper, Sapphire,
Chalcedony,

Em-

erald, Sardonyx, Sardius, Chrysolite,

Beryl, Topaz,

Chrysoprase,
Jacinth,

Amethyst

78

FRUITS
" It is by no means true that the ancient systems of mythology have ceased to exist; they have only been diffused and transformed." Gubernatis. The Rig Vega claims to be the oldest Bible in existence. It is composed of hjrmns which passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. The locality of tibe Garden of Eden is claimed by East India.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

THE POMEGRANATE
Country

Symbol
Natural f onn

EGYPTIAN
PERSIAN,

GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

PLANTS AND BLOSSOMS

"I

am a pure lotus, issue of the field of the sun."

Egyptian Book of the Dead Budge. " If tfaou be bom in a poor man's hovel, but hast wisdom, then thou art like the lotus flower growing out of the mud."

A Buddhist Precept.
Signification

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM

THE LOTUS
Country

Symbol

EGYPTIAN
BUDDHISTIC

As

self-fructifying

Emblem

of Hapi, god of the Nile. Emblem of Isis.

Natural or conven- Sacred standard of the tionalform gods. Universal Matrix or mother.

Emblem

of

Buddha,

as the enlightened, and the "Jewel in the Lotus."

THE PAPYRUS
EGYPTIAN
When
on sceptre
Sacred standard of youth, vigor and
learning.

PERSIAN

HINDU

HOMA AND SOMA PLANTS AND The extracted Elixir of the gods, givjuice

taken

which as

is

ing eternal

life.

beverage

THE TREE PEONY

CHINESE
JAPANESE
Natural or conven- Royal flower.
tional

form

Emblem of

dignity.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE

JAPANESE

THE REED
Natural form
Learning.

PLUM BLOSSOMS
Natural or conventional

Womanly purity. Emblem of winter.

form

JAPANESE

CHERRY BLOSSOMS Natural or conven- Womanly beauty.

tional

form
76

Emblem

of spring.

THE AZALEA
Country

Symbol
Natural form

Signification

JAPANESE JAPANESE

The

garden beauty. Flower of April.

THE WISTARIA
Natural form

Vine of Happiness. "Plant of a thousand years."

THE PAULOWNIA
JAPANESE
JAPANESE
JAPANESE
a

Natural form

Emblem
peror.

of the EmRectitude.

THE MAGNOLIA
Natural form

Flower of May.

THE mis
When purple When not purple
Signifies

mourning.
of June.

The

betrothal flower.

Emblem

THE MORNING GLORY

JAPANESE
JAPANESE
Natural form

Flower of July.

THE CHRYSANTHEMUM
Natural form

The

Imperial

pride.

Flower of October.

THE TEA PLANT AND FLOWER

JAPANESE
Natural form

Rank and

riches,

THE ROSE

MOHAMMEDAN

Natural form

Emblem
of Iran.

of

MohamFlower

med's eyes.

THE TULIP

MOHAMMEDAN Natural form

THE VINE
GRECIAN
Natural form

Ardent

affection.

Emblem Emblem

of Dionysus, of

god of wine.
Bacchus,

ROMAN
PERSIAN

god of wine. Joy of living. Wisdom

of materiality.

CARNATION
PERSIAN
Natural form
77

Emblem

of Persia.

THE ALMOND FLOWER

Country

THE EGLANTINE
Country

Symbol
Natural fonn

Signification
Signifies poetry.

IN

GENERAL

gance;

"to

Elethe

manner bom."

THE HELIOTROPE
IN

GENERAL

Natixral f onn

Devotion.
Strength
ness.

Zeal.
sweet-

in

THE
IN

HIBISCirS
Frailty. Conservativeness.

GENERAL

Natural form

THE HYACINTH
IN

GENERAL GENERAL

Natural form

High

estate.

Pride.

Exclusiveness.

THE JONQUa
IN
Natural form
Vanity. Imprudence. Uncontrolled affection.

THE HYDRANGEA
IN

GENERAL GENERAL
GENERAL GENERAL

Natural form

Coldness.

Frigidity.

Massive beauty.

THE VIOLET
IN
Natural form

Modesty.
Loyalty.

Sweetness.

THE LILAC
IN IN
Natural form
First emotions of love.

THE MAGNOLIA
Natural form
Dignity.
bility.

Respecta-

THE MARGUERITE
IN IN
IN IN

GENERAL
GENERAL

Natural form

Preference in love.

THE SNOW DROP

Natural form
Purity of heart.

THE FORGET-ME-NOT

GENERAL GENERAL

Natural form

True

love.

THE IVY
Natural form
79

Longevity.

Depend-

ence. Despondency.

THE CLEMATIS
Country

Symbol
Natural fonn

Signification

IN

GENERAL

Gladness.
flight.

Upward

THE BALSAM
IN GENERAL
Natural form

The zealous benefactor.

The Samaritan
flower.

ORANGE BLOSSOMS
IN GENERAL
Natural form
Fruitfulness. Exuberance. Flower of the bride.

THE MARIGOLD
IN

GENERAL

Natural form

Emblem of the Virgin as Mary's gold.

Worth.

THE CORN FLOWER

GERMAN

Natural form

National flower of
Prussia. Emblem of Queen Louise.

THE SHAMROCK
IRISH
Natural form

National

flower of Ireland. Emblem of St. Patrick. The triad leaf.

THE THISTLE
SCOTCH
Natural form

Flower of Scotland. Guardian of the race.

THE HEATHER
SCOTCH
Natural form

Flower of the Scottish clans. Sympathy.

Allegiance.

THE EDELWEISS
SWISS
Natural form

Flower of the Alps.

Chastity.

THE GRAPE VINE

IN GENERAL
Natural form

Emblem
said,

of Jesus

who
the

"I

am

vine."
80

THE WHEAT
Country

Symbol
Natural form

Signification
StafiE

IN GENERAL
"

of perity.

life.

Pros-

The

ears of wheat

Emblem
Body

of

Ruth as

model of constancy.
"

Stack of wheat

of Christ.

81

UNCLASSIFIED SYMBOLS
" A symbol is either representative, indicates a thing and makes you think of it, as a bunch of grapes over a house

door indicating wine, is called a public house sign; or it is vicarious, as a five pound note stands for five sovereigns. The bunch of grapes reminds you of the juice of the vine but you can't drink it. The piece of paper passes vicariously for five pieces of gold and you can spend it." Rev. R. St. John Tyrwhitt.

HEBREW AND PAGAN FORM THE SISTRUM

Country

Symbol

Signification

EGYPTIAN

An instrument used by priestesses

during

Chastity.

shaped
half

ritual, like a

circle

drawn
at the

together

end and crossed by loose bars of

metal which jingle

when shaken.
This is fastened to a handle which is shaped like the

Tau

cross

JAPANESE

Instrument

used

Virtue and piety.

by priestesses in
the Shinto ritual. It has the form of a wand

encircled by
small bells and

shaken to attract the attention of the gods.

is

THE HAND

JUDEAN

Natural form

Might. Justice. yThe Almighty.

;

With

first

three Was, Is and

Is to Come.

fingers extended

and thumb and

little

finger

closed on the
palm
82

THE HANDContinued
Country

Symbol

Signification

BUDDHISTIC

One finger and Perfect action of

thumb touching
thought with his perfect plan.

MOHAMMEDAN

each other UsuaUy held upright,

Emblem of Mohamfingers med. Signifying

and thumb extended

power

.Of his

daughter, Fatima, sigrufying prosperity and long life.

to vanquished.

ROMAN
"

Thumbs of Vestals Mercy

turned up

CHINESE AND
JAPANESE

Thumbs of Vestals Death to vanquished. turned down (In the arena.) A many handed Mercy. Contempladeity called tion. Ewaimon

THE TRIPOD
GRECIAN
Usual form

Emblem

of Delphic Oracle. The three mysteries.

THE ARK

JUDEAN

Usual form

Signifies

the
of

deluge.

Emblem

Noah.
of the

The covenant

Jews with Jehovah.

WATER
EGYPTIAN
Nattual or hiero- The passive principle.
glyphic form

The Nile. Fertility. The river Styx which

leads to Hades.
Signifies humility.
fall Signifies

CHINESE JAPANESE

Water

fall

Primary water

the masculine

principle.

The

secondary Feminine principle.

fall

water

THE VEIL
PHCENICIAN
IN GENERAL
Usual form

Emblem of Tanit,
dess of beauty.

god-

Dotted with stars

Emblem Emblem

of Night.

THE UMBRELLA
EGYPTIAN
CHINESE
When
held
over
the head
of honorable distinction.

When held
the head

over Protection
throne.

of

the

THE STAFF
Country

AITO

ROD
Signification

Symbol
attached to a rod

BUDDHISTIC

With jingling rings Kindness.

and carried by
the pilgrims: to disperse insects and small animals without injuring

Mercy.

them

GRECIAN

BABYLONIAN

ROMAN

or staff Sceptre of Dionysus, twined with ivy god of fertility. and tipped with a pine cone Hazel guiding rods Divination. Wand tipped by a Emblem of Jove. The globe which is Roman Legions.

Thyrsus

surmounted by an eagle

Budded staS

Emblem

of HeUespontine Sibyl.
irresistible

JAPANESE

Tokko

or one The

power

EGYPTIAN
"
'

spoke of wheel of prayer. of the law Staff in the shape Sovereignty. of a crook

The

lotus sceptre Virility.

The papyrus
sceptre

Eternal youth,

SCANDINAVIAN Staff

with

circle,

The

sun's rays.

Di-

used as sceptre

vine light.

THE HAMMER
GRECIAN
Usual form

Emblem of Hephaestus,
the divine forger.
of

SCANDINAVIAN When shaped like Emblem

a Tau cross

Thor as

god

of

thunder and

Ughtning.

JAPANESE

Usual form

Daikoku

as god of wealth which is taken from the earth.

THE CLUB

HINDU

Usual form

Emblem
Ssmibol

of of

Yama

as

Judge of the Unseen.

ROMAN

When knotted
84

Hercules,

god of strength.

THE CLUB Continued

Country

CHINESE AND JAPANESE

Symbol Signification Club or mace with Divine office,

he'art

shaped

head resembling
the sacred fun-

gus which grows

at

the

foot of

Buddha's tree

WHIP OR SCOURGE
EGYPTIAN
"

Club or stick with Sovereignty by

lashes

force.

The club shaped as Emblem

a
flail

of

guardian

diety of agriculture.

THE BOOK GRECIAN AND When sealed

ROMAN

Chastity.

GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

Either closed or

Emblem
Sibyl
sied

of

Cumaean

open

who prophe-

and wrote the of civil and religious Rome.

laws

THE BALL

EGYPTIAN
CHINESE AND JAPANESE

Usual form

Emblem

of

the

sun

and the moon.

The omnipotent pearl of wisdom or Hoshuno-tama.

THE FAN
JAPANESE
*

War fan
of three sticks

Signal ensign.
of
sii

Tea ceremony fan The charm

plicity.

THE BUCKET, BAG OR BASKET Which holds sane- Divine refreshment. EGYPTIAN
tified

water for

the tree of life and the souls of

PERSIAN

EARTH AND WATER When used to- Subjection

gether as offerings
86

to the

crown.

THE RING
Country

TEUTONIC

Symbol Usual f onu

Signification

Emblem

of

promise.

Emblem

of the Rhine daughters of

the Nibelungenlied.

THE GOHEI
JAPANESE
Paper strips repre- The
sentiug cloth
fruit of the loom, Sacred oflEering to Shinto gods.

THFllIRROR
PH(ENICIAN
Usual form

Emblem Emblem
as

of Istar, godof

dess of beauty.

JAPANESE

When in
temple

a Shinto

Amaterasu

leading goddess of the Shinto faith,

signifying truth.

GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

Usual form

Emblem of truth.

EGYPTIAN

AND

THE FEET A winged foot Emblem of Serapis, the

crustog a butterfly

GRECIAN

Greek deity, which was the Egyptian bull Apis, wor-

shipped after
death, in Greece.

his

EAST INDIAN

Footprints showing triscula or swastica

Emblem
vice.

of

Buddha's

pilgrimage and ser-

FIRE

EGYPTIAN PERSIAN JAPANESE

In the abstract

The

active principle.

Life of the soul.

Emblem

GRECIAN

of Fudo, as signifying fire of wisdom. Symbol of Prometheus,

who
fire

stole

celestial
it

and gave

to

manldnd.

SCANDINAVIAN
IN GENERAL

Residence of Muspel, genius of fire.

CIRCLE OF FIRE
Usual form
"

Inviolability.
tity.

Chas-

Magic.
of Brunhilde.

TEUTONIC

Symbol

THE PIPES
Country

GRECIAN AND

ROMAN

Symbol Usual form

Signification

Emblem
deities,

of

woodland
of
of

who evoked
Symbol

the

harmony

Nature. Pan.

ANCIENT The bagpipes SCOTCH AND

CELTS

The

voice of the clans.

THE CUP OR BEAKER

EGYPTIAN

AND

ASSYRIAN

THE TOMB OR TOMB STONE

Country

ANCIENT
TRIBES

Symbol Usual form

Signification

Residence of the dead. Finger post of the

soul.

JAPANESE

Sotoba or tomb The five elements: stone of the ether, air, fire, Fujiwara dan water, earth.

THE VASE
EGYPTIAN GRECIAN
Three large vases Signifies the Nile river. Amphoraorvaseof Blessing of wine or grain. two handles Hydiia, a pitcher Blessing of water.
vase

THE EYE
EGYPTIAN
*

One eye

Emblem

of Osiris, the

sun god.

Two

eyes, one Emblem of Horus as the night and day and the perfect white
black, the other
grain.

ASSYRIAN

Natural form

Emblem

of

the

sun

and moon.

THE DEW
ORIENTAL
Usual form

Emblem

of Fragility.

delicacy.

SCANDINAVIAN The honey dew

Emblem
sil

of goddess Servitur, who drops

honey from Yggdraor

tree

of

life

upon those deserving benefaction.

THE BELL

BURMESE

Temple wind

bells

Music

of the gods.

CHINESE AND Evening beUs JAPANESE

PICTISH
Usual form

temple Prayers to the gods.

THE COMB
The
sun's rays.

Em-

blem of Venus.

THE
EGYPTIAN
Usual form

SAIL

The

breath.

88

THE LADDER
Country

JUDEAN EGYPTIAN

Symbol Usual form

"

Signification

Emblem Emblem

of Jacob.

of Set who climbs to Heaven's

palace.

THE LOOM
IN

GENERAL

Usual f onn
"

Industry.

GRECIAN
JAPANESE

Emblem

of Penelope the faithful.

RICE BALES
Usual fonn

Emblem
god

of Daikoku, of wealth and

THE BOAT

EGYPTIAN

Usual fonn

Signifies

bark of the

sun.

the takes souls across the river Styx to Hades. Bark of the Elysian
Fields.

Bark of Charon boatman who

THE HORN

JUDEAN BABYLONIAN
GRECIAN

On head of Moses On head of Bel, the

god Usual form
chief

Truth and Justice.

Material strength.

Emblem

of Bacchus. Alexander the Great

SCANDINAVIAN

called the "Two horned power." Hospitality. Measure

of joy.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

JUDEAN
GRECIAN
EGYPTIAN

The harp

Contemplation. Symbol of David, who charmed the king. National instrument

of poetic song.

The Lyre
"

HEBREW
EGYPTIAN
The

Harmony of the gods. The constellation Vega

the lyre.

lute

Emblem
Hetep

of Nefer^lord of joy.

EARLY FRENCH

Emblem

of the Trou-

AND SPANISH

badour.

THE CLOUD
Country

CHINESE PERSIAN

Symbol Cloud banks

Rising

Signification

Immortality.

smoke

Joys of the weed.

Retrospection.

JUDEAN

Frankincense Emblem
clouds
Japhet.

of race of

Myrrh clouds

Sacred to race of

Ham.

THE APRON
EGYPTIAN
CHINESE
Usual form
Royalty.

THE PADLOCK
When worn
amulet
as an Long
life.

Prosperity.

90

UNCLASSIFIED OBJECTS
" By outward forms early Christians were inspired with feelings of devotion and love and in the absence of books, derived from them their chief knowledge of sacred things. To the tmleamed, they spoke a clear and inteUigible language that they were full of meaning and poetry, no one who will endeavor to interpret them can doubt." Louisa Twining.

EARLY CHRISTIAN AND MODERN FORM

THE STAFF AND ROD

Country

Symbol
Pastoral staff
(Crozier)

Signification

IN

GENERAL

Religious jurisdiction.
Signifies the

With gourd

Archangel Raphael as a polgrim.

Usual form

Emblem of old age.

Represented by The staff of Ufe.

bread

With

leaves and Symbol of St. Christopher, patron of dates

travelers.

The rod
Flowering rod

Symbol

who

of the Creator comforts.

of Aaron, the

Symbol
priest,

and Joseph, the successful suitor.

THE HAND
IN GENERAL

When in clouds

The first Person

Trinity.
first

of the

When

holding The

Person of the

lightning bolts or emitting rays of Ught

Trinity.

Usual form

Emblem
fin-

of the Tibertine Sibyl.

With

first

two

The

Trinity.

thumb extended and

gers and
third

and fourth closed on palm

91

THE HEART
Country

Symbol
tional

Signification

IN

GENERAL
"

Natural or conven- Piety, Love,

form

When

pierced

by Charity.

THE ANCHOR
IN GENERAL
Usual form

Hope.

Emblem

of St.

Nicholas, patron of Russia.

THE SCALES
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Justice. Symbol of St. Michael as Captain of the Heavenly

Hosts.

IN GENERAL IN GENERAL

THE CENSER When burning Piety

before men.

EMBLEMS OF THE PASSION

Cross, nails, The Crucifixion,
thorns, hammer, reed, scourge, purse and dice

WINGS
IN

GENERAL

Bat's wings

Emblem
lation.

of Lucifer.

When

spread

Aspiration.

Trans-

Usual form

Protection. Ambition.

Astronomy.

Night.

IN

GENERAL

THE HAIR When flowing Symbol of Mary Magdalen as the penitent.

When coveringlike Symbol

a garment

of St. Agnes, when persecuted, prayed for clothing. The glory of a woman.

who,

WATER
IN GENERAL
In a font The Jordan river
<-.

Signifies baptism.

-it

When

gushing Emblem of Moses.

92

from a rock

THE WEB
Country

IN GENERAL

Symbol Usual form

Signification

Destiny. Energy. Industry of the Christian at work about his Father's business.

THE UMBRELLA
ITALIAN
Whenheld over the Honor,
head of a dignitary
Position.

THE SNOOD

ANCIENT SCOTCH

A band

of cloth, Signifies virginity.

/

ribbon or metal,
entirely circling

the head

THE SHELL
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Pilgrimage.
St. elder.

Emblem
the

of

James

THE SHIP
IN GENERAL
"

When

held in the Signifies the Church,

hand
Usual form

The greyhound
sea.

of the

THE RIVER
IN GENERAL IN GENERAL
Usual form
Signifies life.

THE KNIFE
Sacrificial knife

Symbol of Zadkiel, who stayed the hand of Abraham. Emblem of St. Bartholomew,

strument
martyrdom.

the inof his

THE GRIDIRON
IN GENERAL
Usual form

Emblem
rence,

ment dom.
93

of St. Lawthe instruof his martyr-

THE RING
Country

Symbol
of

Signification

IN GENERAL

When held in hand Symbol

representa-

of St. Catherine in her mystical

tions of the
Christ Child
"

marriage with
Christ.

Usual form

The symbol
riage.

of

mar-

SKULL AND CROSS BONES

IN GENERAL IN GENERAL
Usual form
Brevity of

human

life.

THE ORGAN
Usual form

Symbol

of St. Cecelia,

legendary inventor of the organ.

THE CORNUCOPU
IN GENERAL IN GENERAL
Usual form

Abundance.
vest.

The har-

THE CUP When covered

with a wafer Cup with serpent

The

Eucharist.

Symbol

of St. John, indicating immunity from poison.

Shedding rays of The Holy Grail or cup

light

containing the blood of Christ, caught at the Crucifixion, by

Joseph of
thaea.

Arima-

Usual form

Symbol
dict.

of

St. BeneSt. Donato.

With handles pass from hand

to hand,

Bitterness. Sorrow. Joy. Happiness. to Brotherly love,

known

as " The loving cup "

THE HORN
IN GENERAL
Usual form

Emblem of Roland, the Paladin of

Ch a rlemagne
Plenty.

The

corner of the front of an altar

left

hand

The gospel horn,

94

THE HORNContinued
Country

IN

GENERAL

Symbol Signification Therighthandcor- The epistle horn. ner of the front of an altar. " The little end of Loss. Grief. the horn "

THE BEE HIVE

IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Symbol and

of St. Bernard Ambrose. St.

Industry.

System.

THE GARMENT
IN

GENERAL

When
IN

Mantle or cloak Charity. dividing Symbol of with a beggar

St.

Martin.

MONASTIC HABITS

GENERAL

Black cassock and Order of the Jesuits. square cap White habit, black Order of the Domini-

mantle with
hood Dark brown
white mantle

cans.

habit, Order of the Carmelites.

Brown
habit,

or gray Order of the Franciscans.

fastened about waist with a knotted rope

THE APRON
IN

GENERAL
GENERAL

Usual form

Service. Masonic emblem of ancient craft.

THE FACE
IN
Face or head ofanEmblem of St. angel or cherub Matthew, who wrote
the

genealogy

of

Christ.

FUR
IN GENERAL

HERALDIC, ENGLISH

Emblem Ermine Pean or black and Honour.

yellow
mixed Ermine
furs,

of royalty.

HERALDIC, ENGLISH

Honour.

HERALDIC ENGLISH

Vair or blue and Honour,

white
mixed

furs,
95

THE NAPKIN
Country

Symbol
portrait of

Signification
of St.

IN GENERAL

When showing Emblem

Jesus
ica,

Veronthe

who wiped

perspiration from the Saviour's face, when He was carrying the cross. (Legendary.)

IN

THE BOX OR VASE OR DISH GENERAL When of alabaster Emblem

"

of Mary Magdalen. Dish holding eyes Emblem of Santa Lucia, who removed
her eyes and sent them to a presumptuous suitor. (Legendary.)

TIME
IN GENERAL
The hour glass The scythe The sun
dial

Measuring of time.

The instrument
time.

of

Nature's clock.

THE CRADLE
IN

GENERAL

Usual form

Emblem
who

The Samian_
Nativity.

of Nativity. Sibyl,

prophesied the

THE KEY
IN

GENERAL
"

Keys held hand

in the

Symbol of St. Peter as holding keys of

heaven.
St.

When

at girdle

Martha the house-

keeper.

THE TABLET
IN

GENERAL
"

When

of stone

Signifies the

Ten Com-

mandments.

When
with

connected Signifies geometry.

compass

and square

IN

THE HAMMER AND CHISEL GENERAL Usual form Signifies sculpture and
the crafts.
96

PALETTE AND BRUSHES

Coutttry

IN GENERAL
IN

Symbol Usual form

Signification
Signifies painting.

SCROLL

GENERAL

With pencil or quill pen

Scroll with harp

Signifies literature.

Signifies music.

THE BELL
IN

GENERAL

Usual form The vesper bell

The

preacher.

Evening prayer.
Dissolution. years.

The passing
Curfew
bell

bell

Tolling

Forced retirement.

THE ROCK
IN GENERAL
Usual form

Emblem
Truth.

of

Peter.

THE BALL
IN GENERAL
Usual form

Emblem
las.

of St. Nicho-

Three balls
Balls

Emblem
broker.

of

pawn

Cognizance of the Medici banking

house of Tuscany.

THE GLOBE
IN

GENERAL
a

Usual form

Rhetoric.

With

cross

Emblem of church and

state. Dominion. Ruler by divine right.

ENGLISH
IN GENERAL

Globe with dove

THE BOOK
When When
With
closed

Knowledge.
Perfect Imowledge. Emblem of Uriel
light of

open

roll

as

knowledge.

97

INDEX
Classified Objects

CHAPTERS
1.

2.
4.

Trees Light

CHAPTEBS 12. Halo

13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

6
10
14

Cross

3. C!olor

Demons
Geometrical Forms
Architectural Forms Military Emblems

Numbers
Animals
Fish Bttds
Serpents

43 46 53 56
61

5.
6. 7.

8. Insects 9.

20 26 28 33
35

Gems
Fruits Plants and Blossoms Unclassified Objects.

10. Fabulous Creatiu-es 11. Angelic Personages

37 40

66 69 74 76 82-91

GENERAL INDEX
A.

Acacia

1-5

Adder Agate
Alcyone

Almond Flower Amber

Amethyst Anchor

36 72 8 78 73
71

Aspen. Ass Ax....

B.
Ball

25 66

Balsam

Bamboo
Banner Bat Bat's Wings Bear Bee Bee Hive
Beetle
Bell

27-92 Andro-Sphinx 38 Angels Bearing Sceptres 41 Angels Bearing Trumpets. 41 Angels Bearing Musical Instruments 41 Angels Bearing Censers. 42 Angels Belted 42 Angels Without Sandals 42 Angels in a Circle Enclosed 42 Ant 34 Ape 25 4-74-75 Apple Apron 90-95 62-64 Arch Archangels 40 Archbishop's Cross 48 Ark 83 Armour 66-68 66-67 Arrow
.

Bema
Black Bloodstone Blue

Boat
Bddhisattvas

Book Box
Bridges Bright Yellow

85-97 80 4 68 33 92 21 34 95 33 88-97 65 10-11-12-13 72 10-11-12-13 89 40 85-97 96 63

12

Brushes

Bucket

BuU
Butterfly

Ash Asp

1-3 36
98

97 85 21 86

C.

Calendar Tree
Calf

Cross of Constantine

Camel
Candle Carnation Camelian Carbuncle Carp

24 23 8
77 72 71 26 21-24 72 3-4 63 50 92 38 57 76 34 41 96 65 77 72 73 56-59-86 80 95 90 84 35 29-32
11

Crown Crown

of Roses

Crozier Crusader's Cross

Crux Ansata
Crystal

52 43-45 78 91 49 47
71

Cuckoo

Cat
Cat's

Cup
Cuttle Fish Cypress

Eye

30 87-94 26
1-2

Cedar
Ceilings Celtic Cross

D. Dagger

Censer Centaur

Dawn
Decagon Deer

Chain Cherry Blossoms Chameleon Cherubim

'.

Demons

Dew
Diamond
Dodecagon

Chisel

Chorus

Dog
Dolmen
Dolphin

67 7 59 22-25 53 88 70 60 21
61

Chrysanthemum
Chrysoberyl
Chrysolite Circle

Dome
Door
Doric Column

26 62-64 64
61

Clematis

Cloak Cloud Club Cobra

Dove
Dragon

Duck Dull YeUow

E.

30-31 8-37-39 30 12 28-31 85 80 87 79 16 22 70 59 59 88 53

Cock
Cold Colors

Colimm
Coluber

Comb
Coral Corinthian Column

61-64 35 88 72
61 29

Eagle Earth and Water Edelweiss

Egg
Eglantine Eight

Cormorant

Elephant

Com Flower
Cornucopia

Corona Crab
Cradle Crescent Crested Helmet Crocodile Cross Cross Batonn6 Cross Fleur6 Cross Pomm6 Cross Potent

80 94 45 27
96 56 66

Emerald
Endless Knots

Enlacements

Eye
Evil Genii
F.

36 46 49 50 50 50
99

85 54 Fifty-three 17 Fig 4 8-86 Fire Fire-flies 34 Fish with Key in Mouth.. 27

Fan

Faims

Five Five Trees of Indra

Flail

15-18
1

Hibiscus

Fleur de

lis

Fly
Footprints Forget-me-not

Forty

Four Fox
Fret

Fur
G. Gargoyle Garland Garnet

85 78 34 86 79 19 15-18 21-24 57 95
I.

Holly

Honey Dew Horn

Horse

Hour Glass
Houri Hyacinth

59 79 5 88 89-94 22-24 96

40 79
8 79 21 2 61 77-78 79

Hyades Hydrangea
Ibis

65 45
71

Icho or Gingko Tree Ionic Colimin

Iris

Gate

62-64
Trees
of

Gem

Ivy
J.

Bearing Paradise

2
7

Gemini
Genii

Jade
Jasper
Javelins

Geranium Gingko Globe Gnat Goat Gohei Gold

Good Genii
Goose Grapes Grape Vine Greek Cross Green
Gridiron
GriflSn.

40-53 78 2 97 34 21-25 86 10-12 40 20

76

Jerusalem Cross Jonquil

69 69-72 66 50 79
96 96 47 93 59

K. Keys Keys

Key

at Girdle of Life

Knife

Knots
L.

80 47-49 10-11-12-13 93 38
92 43-^4 84-96 82-91 23
89

Labyrinth Ladder

Lamb Lamb
Lamps
Lance

57 89 24 23 9 66-67 8 72 48 4 21 79 78 20-23 33 89 76 89 89

Skin or the Golden

Fleece

H. Hair Halo

Hammer
Hand
Hare Harp

Lanterns Lapis Lazuh Latin Cross Laurel

Leopard
Lilac Lily

Harpy

Hawk
Heart Heather
Heliotrope Flower Heliotrope Gem

Helmet Heptagon

38 29 92 80 79 69-72 66-67-68 58-59

100

Lion Locust

Loom
Lotus Lute Lyre

M. Magnolia
Maple
Maltese Cross

77-79
5

Paulowina

Pavement
Peach Pear
Peari Pectoral Cross

Mantle
Marguerite Marigold

Mask
Meander Medusa Menhir Milky Way
Mirror Mitre Monastic Dress

49 95 79 80 87 57
14r-53

77 62 74-75 75
71 51

Pentagon
Phoenix Pig
Pillar
.

61

8 86 45 95
23 52 72 7-9 77

Monkey Monograms
Moonstone

Pine Pine Cones Pipes Pippala Plane Planetary Colors

Pleiades

58 28 23 61 1-2 84 87 4 3
11

Moon
Morning Glory

Plum Plum Blossoms

Pomegranate
Poplar

Myirh
N. Napkin
Narcissus

2-90
96 78 65 32 44 16-18 40 54

Poppy
Purple

Narthex
Nightingale

Pyramid
Q.

4 76 3-75 4 78 10-11-12 64 74
8-9 40 23 21 30-31 58 10-11-12-13 47
11

Nimbus
Nine
Nornies

Quince

R. Rainbow

Nymphs
O.

Rakan

Ram
Rat Raven
Rectangle

Oak
Octagon Ogee

3-t 58-59 57
3 31 62 73 71 11-13
.

Olive Olive Branch (dove with)

Omphalos

Onyx
Opal Orange Orange Blossoms Organ
Orion

Red Red Cross Red Path Red Rose RedTai Reed

ReUquary Cross
Residence Tree Rice Bales

78 26 76
51
1

80 94
7

Ring
River

Owl

Ox
P.

30 24 90
97 1-2-4 76 48 32
101

Rod Rood
Roof Rose

89 86-94 93 84-91

Cross

SI
63 77-78 70

Padlock
Palette

Pahn
Papyrus Papal Cross
Partridge

Ruby
S.

Sail

Salamander

88 36

Sapphire Sard Sardonyic Satyrs

Scales Scarlet

69-70 69 73 54 92
12 33 33 85 97 96 26 26 26 41 35 15-18 80 23 93 93 68 14 61 38 82 18 17 94 49 67 34 93 79 88 32

Swan
Swastica

Sword Sycamore
T.
Tablet Tai

30-32 46-86 66-67 1-2

Scarab Scorpion Scourge

Scroll

Taper Tamarisk

96 26 8
1

Scythe Sea'Horse Sea Dog Sea Lion Seraphim Serpent Seven

Tau
Tea Plant Ten
Thistle

46 77
17

80
1

Thom
Three Thrush
Tiger
.

14^17 32
20-24'

Shamrock
Sheep

SheU
Ship
Shield
Sickles Single Column

Tokko Topaz
Torch
Torii Tortoise

84 71 8-9

Tower
Tree of Life Tree of Jesse Tree Peony
Triad,
" "
" " "

30-62 27 64
1-5 5 76 14 14 14 14 14 14

Siren

Sistrum
Six Sixteen Skull and Crossbones Slavonic Cross Sling Snails

Theban

Memphian
Heliopolian

Hindu

Snood Snowdrop
Sotoba Sparrow Spear Sphinx
Spider Spurs

Buddhistic Scandinavian Triangle Trident Trinacria

14r-66-67

Tripod
Triskele Triscula

38 34
68 57-59 81
84r-91

Square Stack of Wheat

Staff

Tulip Turquoise Turtle Doves

Twelve
Twenty-four

Stag Star in Circle

Stars Steeple

Steps Stork

Sun
Swallow

25 7 7-9 64 15-63-65 29-32 6-9 31

102

Twin Fish

Two
Typhon
U. UmbreUa
Universe Tree

57 14-15 14 83 14 14-86 77 71 30-31 17-19 17-19 26 17 53

83-93
1

Unicom.

38-39

V. Valkyria

Vase
Vedic Asparis
Veil

Vine
Violet (Flower)

Vulture

40 88-96 40 83 77 12-79 29
63
11

White Elephant White Rose Willow Wild Geese Flying.

Wmgs. r
Winged Foot Wishing Thorn
Wistaria

22 78 2-t 29 92 86
1

W. Wall

Warm Colors
Water

Witch Wolf

of

Endor

Web
Whale Wheat Ears Wheel

Whip
White

83-92 93 27 78-81 '... 56-60 85 10-11-12-13

Wood
Wren

Pecker

Wreath
Y. Yellow
Z.

77 55 22-24 29 32 44
11-12
57

Zig-zag

103