Swastika - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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stika - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika[2013-04-10 11:58:44]

SwastikaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Swastika (disambiguation).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Pleasehelp improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2012)

The swastika () (Sanskrit: ) is an equilateral cross with four arms

bent at 90 degrees. The earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-

shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, Ancient

Indiaas well as Classical Antiquity. Swastikas have also been used in

various other ancient civilizations around the world. It remains widely

used in Indian religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism, and

J ainism, primarily as a tantric symbol to evoke shaktior the sacred

symbol of auspiciousness. The word "swastika" comes from the

Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good" or "auspicious," "asti" meaning

"to be," and "ka" as a suffix. The swastika literally means "to be good".

Or another translation can be made: "swa" is "higher self", "asti"meaning "being", and "ka" as a suffix, so the translation can be

interpreted as "being with higher self".

In East Asia, the swastika is a Chinese character, defined by Kangxi Dictionary, published in 1716

as "synonym ofmyriad, used mostly in Buddhist classic texts",[1] by extension, the word later

evolved to represent eternity and Buddhism.

The symbol has a long history in Europe reaching back to antiquity. In modern times, following a

brief surge ofpopularity as a good luck symbol in Western culture, a swastika was adopted as a

symbol of the Nazi PartyofGermanyin 1920, who used the swastika as a symbol of the Aryanra

After Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, a right-facing 45 rotated swastika was incorporated into

the Nazi party flag, which was made the state flag of Germany during Nazism. Hence, the swastikhas become strongly associated with Nazism and related ideologies such as fascismand white

supremacismin the Western world, and is now largely stigmatizedthere due to the changed

connotationsof the symbol. Notably, it has been outlawed in Germany and other countries if used

a symbol of Nazism. Many modern political extremists and Neo-Nazi groups such as the Russian

National Unityuse stylized swastikas or similar symbols.

Contents [hide]

1 Name

2 Geometry

3 Origin hypotheses

4 Archaeological record5 Historical use in the East

5.1 J ainism

5.2 Hinduism

5.3 Buddhism

5.4 East Asian traditions

5.5 Armenia

5.6 Iran

5.7 Ural

6 Native American traditions

Right-facing swastika inthe decorative form, used t

evoke sacred force
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7 African Traditions

8 Historical use in the West

8.1 Antiquity

8.1.1 Greco-Roman antiquity

8.1.2 Celtic antiquity

8.1.3 Germanic antiquity

8.1.4 Illyrian antiquity

8.2 Pre-Christian Europe and folk culture

8.2.1 Baltic

8.2.2 Slavic

8.2.3 Sami

8.3 Medieval and early modern Europe

9 Western use in the early 20th century

9.1 Ireland

9.2 Finland

9.2.1 Folklore

9.2.2 Swedish-origin swastika in military

9.3 Latvia

10 As the symbol of Nazism

11 Post-WW II stigmatization in Western countries

11.1 Germany

11.2 European Union

11.3 Legislation in other European countries

11.4 Latin America

11.5 Media

11.6 Satirical use

11.7 Controversies over Asian products

12 Contemporary use in Asia

12.1 South Asia

12.2 East Asia

12.3 Central Asia13 New religious movements

14 See also

15 References

16 Bibliography

17 External links

The word swastika came from the Sanskrit word, meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in

particular a mark made on persons and things to denote auspiciousness, or any piece of luck or w

being.It is composed ofsu- meaning "good, well" and asti "to be". Suasti thus means "well-being." The

suffix -ka either forms a diminutive or intensifies the verbal meaning, and suastika might thus be

translated literally as "that which is associated with well-being," corresponding to "lucky charm" or

"thing that is auspicious."[2] The word in this sense is first used in the Harivamsa. The Ramayana

does have the word, but in an unrelated sense of "one who utters words of eulogy".

The most traditional form of the swastika's symbolization in J ainism is that the four arms of the

swastika remind us that during the cycles of birth and death we may be born into any one of the fo

destinies: heavenly beings, human beings, animal beings, (including birds, bugs, and plants) and

hellish beings. Our aim should be the liberation and not the rebirth. To show how we can do this, t

[eName
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swastika reminds us that we should become the pillars of the four fold J ain Sangh, then only can w

achieve liberation. The four pillars of the J ain Sangh are sdhus, sdhvis, shrvaks, and shrviks

This means that first, we should strive to be a true shrvaks or shrviks, and when we can

overcome our social attachments, we should renounce the worldly life and follow the path of a sd

or sdhvi to be liberated.

The most traditional form of the swastika's symbolization in Hinduism is that the symbol represent

the purusharthas: dharma (that which makes a human a human), artha (wealth), kama (desire), an

moksha (liberation). All four are needed for a full life. However, two (artha and kama) are limited a

can give only limited joy. They are the two closed arms of the swastika. The other two are unlimiteand are the open arms of the swastika.

The Mahabharata has the word in the sense of "the crossing of the arms or hands on the breast".

Both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana also use the word in the sense of "a dish of a particular

form" and "a kind of cake". The word does not occur in Vedic Sanskrit. As noted by Monier-William

in his Sanskrit-English dictionary, according to Alexander Cunningham, its shape represents a

monogram formed by interlacing of the letters of the auspicious words su-ast (svasti) written in

Ashokan characters.[3]

The Sanskrit term has been in use in English since 1871, replacing gammadion

(from Greek). Alternative historical English spellings of the Sanskrit

phonological words with different meanings to include suastika, swastica, andsvastica.

Other names for the shape are:

crooked cross, hook cross or angled cross (Hebrew: , German:

Hakenkreuz).

cross cramponned,~nne, or ~nny, in heraldry, as each arm resembles a

Cramponor angle-iron (German: Winkelmakreuz).

fylfot, chiefly in heraldry and architecture. The term is coined in the 19th

century based on a misunderstanding of a Renaissance manuscript.

gammadion, tetragammadion (Greek: ), or cross gammadion

(Latin:crux gammata; French: croix gamme), as each arm resembles theGreek letter (gamma).

tetraskelion (Greek: ), literally meaning "four legged", especially

when composed of four conjoined legs (compare triskelion (Greek:

)).

The Tibetan swastika () is known as g.yung drung

The Buddhist sign has been standardized as a Chinese character (pinyin: wn) and as such

entered various other East Asian languages such as J apanese where the symbol is called

(manji). The swastika is included as part of the Chinese script in the form of the character ""

(pinyin:wn) and has Unicode encodings U+534D (left-facing) and U+5350 (right-facing);[4]

the latter has a mapping in the original Big5 character set,[5]

but the former does not (although it'Big5+[6]). In Unicode 5.2, four swastika symbols were added to theTibetan block: U+0FD5 (right

facing), U+0FD6 (left-facing), U+0FD7 (right-facing with dots) and U+0FD8 (left-facing with dots)

Geometrically, the swastika can be regarded as an irregular icosagon or 20-sided polygon. The

proportions of the Nazi swastika were fixed based on a 5 5 diagonal grid. [7]

Characteristic is the 90 rotational symmetry and chirality, hence the absence of reflectional

symmetry, and the existence of two versions of swastikas that are each other's mirror image.

Hindu child withhead shaven andred Svastikapainted on it.Upanayanais a

very popularHindu-tradition, aSamskara orSanskar(consecration).

[eGeometry
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The mirror-image forms are often described as:

clockwise and anti-clockwise;

left-facing and right-facing;

left-hand and right-hand.

"Left-facing" and "right-facing" are used mostly consistently

referring to the upper arm of an upright swastika facing either to

the viewer's left () or right (). The other two descriptions are

ambiguous as it is unclear whether they refer to the arms as

leading or being dragged or whether their bending is viewedoutward or inward. However, "clockwise" usually refers to the "right-facing" swastika. The terms ar

used inconsistently in modern times, which is confusing and may obfuscate an important point, tha

the rotation of the swastika may have symbolic relevance, although ancient vedic scripts describe t

symbolic relevance of clock motion and counter clock motion.[citation needed] Less ambiguous terms

might be "clockwise-pointing" and "counterclockwise-pointing."

Nazi ensigns had a through and through image, so both versions were present, one on each side

but the Nazi flag on land was right-facing on both sides and at a 45 and 90 angle. [8]

The name "sauwastika" is sometimes given to the left-facing form of the swastika ().[9]

Among the earliest cultures utilizing swastika is the neolithic

Vina culture of South-East Europe (see Vina symbols). More

extensive use of the Swastika can be traced to Ancient India,

during the Indus Valley Civilization.

The swastika is a repeating design, created by the edges of

the reeds in a square basket-weave. Other theories attempt to

establish a connection via cultural diffusion or an explanation

along the lines ofCarl Jung's collective unconscious.

The genesis of the swastika symbol is often treated inconjunction with cross symbols in general, such as the sun

cross of pagan Bronze Age religion. Beyond its certain presence in the "proto-writing" symbol

systems emerging in the Neolithic,[10] nothing certain is known about the symbol's origin. There a

nevertheless a number of speculative hypotheses. One hypothesis is that the cross symbols and t

swastika share a common origin in simply symbolizing the sun. Another hypothesis is that the 4 ar

of the cross represent 4 aspects of nature - the sun, wind, water, soil. Some have said the 4 arms

cross are four seasons, where the division for 90-degree sections correspond to the solstices and

equinoxes. The Hindus represent it as the Universe in our own spiral galaxy in the fore finger of Lo

Vishnu. This carries most significance in establishing the creation of the Universe and the arms as

'kal' or time, a calendar that is seen to be more advanced than the lunar calendar (symbolized by t

lunar crescent common to Islam) where the seasons drift from calendar year to calendar year. Theluni-solar solution for correcting season drift was to intercalate an extra month in certain years to

restore the lunar cycle to the solar-season cycle. The Star of David is thought to originate as a

symbol of that calendar system, where the two overlapping triangles are seen to form a partition o

12 sections around the perimeter with a 13th section in the middle, representing the 12 and

sometimes 13 months to a year. As such, the Christian cross, J ewish hexagram star and the Mus

crescent moon are seen to have their origins in different views regarding which calendar system is

preferred for marking holy days. Groups in higher latitudes experience the seasons more strongly,

offering more advantage to the calendar represented by the swastika/cross. (Note relation to the s

cross.)

A right-facing swastika might bedescribed as "clockwise" or "countclockwise".

[eOrigin hypotheses

Swastika Seals from the IndusValley Civilizationpreserved at theBritish Museum.
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Carl Saganin his book Comet (1985) reproduces Han period

Chinese manuscript (the Book of Silk, 2nd century BC) that

shows comet tail varieties: most are variations on simple

comet tails, but the last shows the comet nucleus with four

bent arms extending from it, recalling a swastika. Sagan

suggests that in antiquity a comet could have approached so

close to Earth that the jets of gas streaming from it, bent by

the comet's rotation, became visible, leading to the adoption of

the swastika as a symbol across the world.[11] Bob Kobres in

Comets and the Bronze Age Collapse (1992) contends that

the swastika like comet on the Han Dynasty silk comet atlas

was labeled a "long tailed pheasant star" (Di-Xing) because of

its resemblance to a bird's foot or track. Kobres goes on

to suggest an association of mythological birds and comets

also outside China.

In Life's Other Secret (1999), Ian Stewart suggests the

ubiquitous swastika pattern arises when parallel waves of

neural activity sweep across the visual cortexduring states of

altered consciousness, producing a swirling swastika-like

image, due to the way quadrants in the field of vision aremapped to opposite areas in the brain.[12]

Alexander Cunninghamsuggested that the Buddhist use of the

shape arose from a combination ofBrahmicharacters

abbreviating the words su ast.[3]

The earliest swastika known has been found fromMezine,

Ukraine. It is carved on late paleolithic figurine of mammoth

ivory, being dated as early as about 10,000 BC. It has

been suggested this swastika is a stylized picture of a

stork in flight.[14]

In India, Bronze Age swastika symbols were found at

Lothal and Harappa, Pakistanon Indus Valleyseals.[15] In

England, neolithic or Bronze Age stone carvings of the

symbol have been found on Ilkley Moor.

Swastikas have also been found on pottery in

archaeological digs in Africa, in the area ofKushand on

pottery at the J ebel Barkal temples,[16] in Iron Age designs

of the northern Caucasus (Koban culture), and in Neolithic

Chinain the Majiabang,[17]Dawenkouand Xiaoheyan

cultures.[18] Other Iron Age attestations of the swastika

can be associated with Indo-European cultures such as

the Indo-Iranians,Celts,Greeks,Germanics and Slavs.

The swastika is also seen in Egypt during the Coptic period. Textile number T.231-1923 held at th

V&A Museum in London includes small swastikas in its design. This piece was found at Qau-el-

Kebir, near Asyut, and is dated between AD300-600.

The Tierwirbel (the German for "animal whorl" or "whirl of animals"[19]) is a characteristic motive in

Bronze Age Central Asia, the Eurasian Steppe, and later also in Iron Age Scythianand European

Ancient Roman mosaics ofLa

Olmeda, Spain.

Mosaic swastika in excavatedByzantine(?) church in Shavei Tzion(Israel)

[eArchaeological record

TheSamarra bowl, at the

Pergamonmuseum, Berlin. The swastika the center of the design is areconstruction.[13]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Saganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Saganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Han_Dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Silkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Silkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comethttp://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/bronze.htmlhttp://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/GH_talons.jpghttp://books.google.com/books?id=zHgQcMFTSwsC&dq=swastika%20chicken%20tracks&pg=PA421#v=onepage&q=swastika%20chicken%20tracks&f=falsehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Stewart_(mathematician)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_cortexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_cortexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Cunninghamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Cunninghamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C4%81hm%C4%AB_scripthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C4%81hm%C4%AB_scripthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harappahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkley_Moorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koban_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majiabang_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawenkou_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawenkou_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Europeanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_(Germanic_Iron_Age)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Olmedahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Olmedahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Olmedahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavei_Tzionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samarrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamonmuseumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamonmuseumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamonmuseumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samarrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samarra_bowl.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavei_Tzionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ShaveyZion1.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Olmedahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Olmedahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Roman_Mosaics_Villa_Romana_La_Olmeda_007_Pedrosa_De_La_Vega_-_Salda%C3%B1a_(Palencia).JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Steppehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_(Germanic_Iron_Age)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Europeanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawenkou_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majiabang_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koban_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkley_Moorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harappahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C4%81hm%C4%AB_scripthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Cunninghamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_cortexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Stewart_(mathematician)http://books.google.com/books?id=zHgQcMFTSwsC&dq=swastika%20chicken%20tracks&pg=PA421#v=onepage&q=swastika%20chicken%20tracks&f=falsehttp://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/GH_talons.jpghttp://abob.libs.uga.edu/bobk/bronze.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Silkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Han_Dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan


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(Baltic[20] and Germanic) culture, showing rotational symmetric arrangement of an animal motive,

often four birds' heads. Even wider diffusion of this "Asiatic" theme has been proposed, to the Pac

and even North America (especially Moundville).[21]

The swastika is a historical sacred symbol both to evoke 'Shakti' in tantric rituals and evoke the go

for blessings in Indian religions. It first appears in the archaeological record here around[22] 2500

in the Indus Valley Civilization. It also appears in the Bronze and Iron Age cultures around the Bla

Sea and the Caspian Sea. In all these cultures the swastika symbol does not appear to occupy an

marked position or significance, but appears as just one form of a series of similar symbols of vary

complexity. In the Zoroastrian religion of Persia, the swastika was a symbol of the revolving sun,

infinity, or continuing creation.[23][24][25] It rose to importance in Buddhismduring the Mauryan

Empireand in Hinduism with the decline of Buddhism in India during the Gupta Empire. With the

spread of Buddhism, the Buddhist swastika reached Tibet and China. The symbol was also

introduced to Balinese Hinduismby Hindukings. The use of the swastika by the Bn faith ofTibet

well as later syncretic religions, such as Cao Dai of Vietnam and Falun Gong of China, can also b

traced to Buddhist influence.

J ainism gives even more prominence to the swastika as a tantra than Hinduism does. It is a symb

of the seventhTirthankara,Suparshvanath. In the Svetambara tradition, it is also one of the symb

of the ashtamangala. All derasars and holy books must contain the swastika and ceremonies typic

begin and end with creating a swastika mark several times with rice around the altar. J ains use ric

to make a swastika in front of statues in a temple. J ains then put an offering on this swastika, usu

a ripe or dried fruit, a sweet (Hindi: , Mih), or a coin or currency note.

The swastika is recognized as a Hindu symbol in most parts of the

world. In Hinduism, the swastika is at times in certain sects considered

a symbolic representation ofGanesha. In Hindu rites, Ganesha isoffered first offerings in every pooja. The swastika is made with

Sindoorduring Hindu religious rites.

Among the Hindus ofBengal, it is common to see the name "swastika"

(Bengali: shostik) applied to a slightly different symbol, which has the

same significance as the common swastika, and both symbols are

used as auspicious signs. This symbol looks something like a stick

figure of a human being.[26] Right-facing swastika in the decorative

Hindu form is used to evoke "shakti".

Buddhismoriginated in the 5th century BC and spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the 3

century BC (Maurya Empire). Known as a "yungdrung"[27] in ancient Tibet, it was a graphical

representation of eternity.[28]

The paired swastika symbols are included, at least since the Liao

Dynasty, as part of the Chinese writing system ( and) and are

variant characters for or (wn in Mandarin, man in Korean,

Cantonese and J apanese, vn in Vietnamese) meaning "all" or

[eHistorical use in the East

[eJainism

Swastika on the doorstepof an apartment inMaharashtra, India.

[edit]Hinduism

[eBuddhism

[eEast Asian traditions
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"eternity" (lit. myriad). The swastika marks the beginning of many

Buddhist scriptures. In East Asian countries, the left-facing characte

often used as symbol for Buddhism and marks the site of a Buddhis

temple on maps.

In Chinese and Japanese the swastika is also a homonym of the

number 10,000, and is commonly used to represent the whole of

Creation, e.g. 'the myriad things' in the Dao De J ing. During the

ChineseTang Dynasty, Empress Wu Zetian (684-704) decreed that

the swastika would also be used as an alternative symbol of the Sun

In J apan, the swastika is called manji.

Since the Middle Ages, it has been used

as a coat of arms by various J apanese families such asTsugaru clan,

Hachisuka clan or around 60 clans that belong toTokugawa clan.[29]

OnJ apanese maps, a swastika (left-facing and horizontal) is used to

mark the location of a Buddhist temple. The right-facing manji is often

referred to as the gyaku manji (, lit. "reverse manji") or migi manji

(, lit. "right manji"), and can also be called kagi jji(literally "hook

cross").

In Chinese andJ apaneseart, the swastika is often found as part of a

repeating pattern. One common pattern, called sayagata in J apanese,

comprises left- and right-facing swastikas joined by lines.[30] As the

negative space between the lines has a distinctive shape, the sayagata pattern is sometimes calle

the "key fret" motif in English.

As a pottery graph of unknown provision and meaning the swastka-like sign is known in Chinese

Neolithic culture (2400-2000 BCE, Liu wan , Qinghaiprovince).

In Armenia sawstika is called "vardan", "arevakhach" and "ker khach" and is the ancient symbol of

eternal light (i.e. God). Swastikas in Armeniawere founded on petroglyphs. Among the oldest

petroglyphs is the seventh letter of the Armenian alphabet - "E" (which means "is" or "to be") -

depicted as half-swastika.

Swastikas can also be seen on

early Medieval churches and

fortresses, including the

principal tower in Armenia's

historical capital city ofAni. Thesame symbol can be found on

Armenian carpets, cross-stones

(khachkar) and in medieval

manuscripts.

In Iran, a golden necklace of three swastikas found in Marlik, Gilan province Iran, dates back to fir

millennium BC. There is a Swastika on the hip of a lion in the Golden cup of Hasanlu(1200 BC) a

the Golden Cup of Kelardasht[31]

Manji sign on Saisen boxin Buddhist temple Sens-ji,Asakusa, Tait, Tokyo,J apan.

Hachisuka family crest iscalled Hachisuka Manji

(?).

[eArmenia

The swastika mark on the tower ofArmenian fortress Ani (10th centuryAD)

Iranian necklace

[edit]Iran
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In the South Ural Mountains the swastika motif is found in archaeological barrows associated with

early Metal Age culture known as Bashkir.

The swastika motif was used by some Native

American groups. It has been found in

excavations ofMississippian-era sites in theOhioand Mississippi Rivervalleys. It is

frequently used as a motif on objects

associated with the Southeastern Ceremonial

Complex (S.E.C.C.). It was also widely used

by many southwestern tribes, most notably the Navajo. Among

various tribes, the swastika carried different meanings. To the Hopi

it represented the wandering Hopi clan; to the Navajo it was one

symbol for a whirling log (tsil no'oli), a sacred image representing a

legend that was used in healing rituals.[32] A brightly colored First

Nations saddle featuring swastika designs is on display at the

Royal Saskatchewan Museumin Canada.[33]

A swastika shape is a symbol in the culture of the Kuna people ofKuna Yala, Panama. In Kuna

tradition it symbolizes the octopus that created the world, its tentacles pointing to the four cardinal

points.[34]

In February 1925 the Kuna revolted vigorously against Panamanian suppression of their culture, a

in 1930 they assumed autonomy. The flag they adopted at that time is based on the swastika shap

and remains the official flag of Kuna Yala. A number of variations on the flag have been used ove

the years: red top and bottom bands instead of orange were previously used, and in 1942 a ring

(representing the traditional Kuna nose-ring) was added to the center of the flag to distance it from

the symbol of the Nazi party.[35]

The swastika is also a motif used by certain African groups. One of the

oldest recorded uses of the swastika is in the adinkra artwork of the Akan

people in Ghana. Referred to as nkotimsefuopua The swastika was used in

akan goldweightsas early as 1400. In 1927, Scottish anthropologist Robert

Sutherland Rattray noted servants in Ashanti Empire wearing the image on

their dresses.

In Bronze Age Europe, the "Sun cross" (a

three- or four-armed hooked cross in a circle)

appears frequently, often interpreted as a

solar symbol. Swastika shapes have been

found on numerous artifacts from Iron Age

Europe (ArmenianArevakhach), Greco-

Roman, Illyrian, Etruscan, Baltic, Celtic,

Germanic, Slavic and GeorgianBorjgali). This prehistoric use

seems to be reflected in the appearance of the symbol in various

folk cultures of Europe.

[eUral

[eNative American traditions

S.E.C.C.

Chilocco Indian AgriculturalSchoolbasketball team in 1909

[eAfrican Traditions

Swastikagoldweights fromGhana[edit]Historical use in the West

A borjgaliSwastika on a Greek silverstater coin fromCorinth, 6thcentury BC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashkirshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashkirshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Ceremonial_Complex#Motifshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Ceremonial_Complex#Motifshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Ceremonial_Complex#Motifshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Nationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whirling_log&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Saskatchewan_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Saskatchewan_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_(people)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_Yalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_Yalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adinkrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_goldweightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_goldweightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sutherland_Rattrayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sutherland_Rattrayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arevakhachhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Romanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Romanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Romanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruscan_civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borjgalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilocco_Indian_Agricultural_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilocco_Indian_Agricultural_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilocco_Indian_Agricultural_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borjgalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Corinthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Corinthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greek_Silver_Stater_of_Corinth.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borjgalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BORJGALI.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BORJGALI.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GhanaSwastika.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilocco_Indian_Agricultural_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilocco_Indian_Agricultural_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Native_American_basketball_team_crop.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chromesun_4_uktenas_design.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chromesun_4_uktenas_design.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borjgalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruscan_civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Romanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Romanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arevakhachhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sutherland_Rattrayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sutherland_Rattrayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_goldweightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adinkrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_Yalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_(people)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Saskatchewan_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whirling_log&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Nationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Ceremonial_Complex#Motifshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Ceremonial_Complex#Motifshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashkirshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural_Mountains


9/23



Ancient Greek architectural, clothing and coin designs are replete

with single or interlinking swastika motifs. There are also found gold

plate fibulae from the 8th century BC decorated with an engraved

swastika.[36] Related symbols in classical Western architecture

include the cross, the three-legged triskele or triskelion and the

rounded lauburu. The swastika symbol is also known in these

contexts by a number of names, especially gammadion,[37] or

rather the tetra-gammadion. The name gammadion comes from the

fact that it can be seen as being made up of four Greek gamma ()

letters. Ancient Greek priestesses would tattoo the symbol, along

with the tetraskelion, on their bodies. Ancient Greek architectural

designs are replete with the interlinking symbol.

In alchemy, the gammadion was used to symbolise the four

cardinal corners of the world and the guardianship of this world.

In Greco-Roman art and architecture, and in Romanesqueand

Gothic artin the West, isolated swastikas are relatively rare, and

the swastika is more commonly found as a repeated element in a

border or tessellation. The swastika often represented perpetual

motion, reflecting the design of a rotating windmill or watermill. A

meander of connected swastikas makes up the large band that

surrounds the AugustanAra Pacis. A design of interlocking

swastikas is one of several tessellations on the floor of the

cathedral ofAmiens, France.[38] A border of linked swastikas was

a common Roman architectural motif,[39] and can be seen in more

recent buildings as a neoclassical element. A swastika border is

one form ofmeander, and the individual swastikas in such a borderare sometimes called Greek keys. There have also been swastikas

found on the floors ofPompeii.[40]

The bronze frontspiece of a ritual pre-Christian (c. 350-50 BC)

shield found in the River Thamesnear Battersea Bridge (hence

"Battersea Shield") is embossed with 27 swastikas in bronze and

red enamel.[41] An Ogham stone found in Anglish, Co Kerry,

Ireland (CIIC141) was modified into an early Christian gravestone,

and was decorated with a cross patteand two swastikas.[42] The

Book of Kells(ca. 800) contains swastika-shaped ornamentation. Atthe Northern edge ofIlkley Moor in West Yorkshire, there is a

swastika-shaped pattern engraved in a stone known as the

Swastika Stone.[43] The figure in the foreground of the picture is a

20th century replica; the original carving can be seen a little farther

away, at left of center.

Main article: Swastika (Germanic Iron Age)

The swastika shape (also called a fylfot) appears on various

[eAntiquity

Bronze Age Mycenaean"doll"with human, solar andtetragammadion (swastika)symbols. Louvre Museum

Greek helmet with swastikamarks on the top part (circled),350-325 BC fromTaranto, founat Herculanum. Cabinet desMdailles, Paris.

Two sauwastikas (opposite-facing swastikas) on an ancienGreek Kantharos, Attica, ca. 78BC.

[edit]Greco-Roman antiquity

[edit]Celtic antiquity

[edit]Germanic antiquity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibula_(brooch)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskelionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauburuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammadionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_in_Ancient_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesque_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesque_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara_Pacishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara_Pacishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessellationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Shieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Shieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oghamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co_Kerryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co_Kerryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIIChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIIChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_patt%C3%A9ehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_patt%C3%A9ehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkley_Moorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Yorkshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Yorkshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_Stonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_(Germanic_Iron_Age)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fylfothttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculanumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_des_M%C3%A9dailleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_des_M%C3%A9dailleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauwastikahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kantharoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=17http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=18http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=18http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kantharoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauwastikahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Geometric_kantharos_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_8501.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_des_M%C3%A9dailleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_des_M%C3%A9dailleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculanumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GreekHelmetSwastika_marked.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycenaean_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swastika_symbol_in_ancient_greek_doll.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swastika&action=edit&section=16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fylfothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_(Germanic_Iron_Age)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_Stonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Yorkshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkley_Moorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_patt%C3%A9ehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIIChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co_Kerryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oghamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Shieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Bridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amienshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessellationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ara_Pacishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesque_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_in_Ancient_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammadionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauburuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskelionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibula_(brooch)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek


10/23



Germanic Migration Period and Viking Age artifacts, such as the

3rd century Vrlse Fibula from Zealand, Denmark, the Gothic

spearhead from Brest-Litovsk, today in Belarus, the 9th century

Snoldelev Stone from Rams, Denmark, and numerous Migration

Period bracteates drawn left-facing or right-facing.[44]

The paganAnglo-Saxonship burial atSutton Hoo, England,

contained numerous items bearing the swastika, now housed in the

collection of the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and

Anthropology.[45] The Swastika is clearly marked on a hilt and

sword belt found at Bifrons in Kent, in a grave of about the 6th

century.

Hilda Ellis Davidson theorized that the swastika symbol was

associated withThor, possibly representing his hammer Mjolnir -

symbolic of thunder - and possibly being connected to the Bronze

Age sun cross.[45] Davidson cites "many examples" of the swastika

symbol from Anglo-Saxon graves of the pagan period, withparticular prominence on cremation urns from the cemeteries of

East Anglia.[45] Some of the swastikas on the items, on display at

the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, are

depicted with such care and art that, according to Davidson, it must

have possessed special significance as a funerary symbol.[45] The

runic inscription on the 8th-century Sb sword has been taken as

evidence of the swastika as a symbol of Thor in Norse paganism.

Swastika was wide spread among the Illyrians, symbolizing the

Sun. The Sun cult was the main Illyrian cult, and the Sun was

represented by a swastika in clockwise motion, and it stood for the

movement of the Sun.[46]

See also:Auseklis

The swastika is one of the most common symbols used throughout Baltic art. In Latvianthe symbo

is known as either Ugunskrusts, the "Fire cross" (rotating counter-clockwise), or Prkonkrusts, the

"Thunder cross" (rotating clock-wise), and was mainly associated with Prkons, the god of Thundeand justice. It was also occasionally related to the Sun, as well as Dievs (the god of creation), Laim

(the goddess of destiny and fate). It was believed that the god of Thunder (Prkons) was the only

god which was feared by the devil. The swastika is featured on many distaffs, dowry chests, cloths

and other artisanal items.

Currently, Slavic neo-pagansand neo-Nazis frequently use the standard and eight-pointed

("kolovrat") swastika. They believe that swastika and kolovrat are ancient Slavic pagan

symbols.[47][48][49][50][51]

Etruscan pendant withswastika symbols, Bolsena, Ita700-650 BC. Louvre Museum

A comb with a swastika foundin Nydam Mose, Denmark.

Swastika symbols on the

Church of Christ Pantocrator(13th-14th century) in Nesebar

[edit]Illyrian antiquity

[ePre-Christian Europe and folk culture

[eBaltic

[eSlavic
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11/23



An object very much like a hammer or a double axe is depicted among the magical symbols on th

drums ofSamishamans, used in their religious ceremonies before Christianity was established. Th

name of the Sami thunder god was Horagalles, thought to be derived from "Old Man Thor" (rr

karl). Sometimes on the drums, a male figure with a hammer-like object in either hand is shown, a

sometimes it is more like a cross with crooked ends, or a swastika.[45]

In Christianity, the swastika is used as a hooked version ofthe Christian Cross, the symbol of Christ's victory over

death. Some Christian churches built in the Romanesque

and Gothic eras are decorated with swastikas, carrying

over earlier Roman designs. Swastikas are prominently

displayed in a mosaic in the St. Sophia church ofKiev,

Ukraine dating from the 12th century. They also appear as

a repeating ornamental motif on a tomb in the Basilica of

St. Ambrose in Milan.

A ceilingpainted in 1910 in the church of St Laurent in

Grenoblehas many swastikas. It can be visited todaybecause the church became the archaeological museum of

the city. A proposed direct link between it and a swastika

floor mosaic in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens,

which was built on top of a pagan site at Amiens, France

in the 13th century, is considered unlikely. The stole worn

by a priest in the 1445 painting of the Seven Sacraments

by Roger van der Weyden presents the swastika form

simply as one way of depicting the cross. Swastikas also

appear on the vestments on the effigy of Bishop William Edington(d. 1366) in Winchester Cathed

In the Polish First Republic the symbol of the swastika was

also popular with the nobility. According to chronicles, the Rus'

prince Oleg, who in the 9th century attacked Constantinople,

nailed his shield (which had a large red swastika painted on it)

to the city's gates.[49] Several noble houses, e.g. Boreyko,

Borzym, and Radziechowski from Ruthenia, also had

Swastikas as their coat of arms. The family reached its

greatness in the 14th and 15th centuries and its crest can be

seen in many heraldry books produced at that time. The

Swastika was also a heraldic symbol, for example on the

Boreyko coat of arms, used by noblemen in Poland and

Ukraine. In the 19th century the swastika was one of theRussian empire's symbols; it was even placed in coins as a

background to the Russian eagle.[50][51]

An unusual swastika, composed of the Hebrew letters Aleph

and Resh, appears in the 18th century Kabbalistic work "Parashat Eliezer" by Rabbi Eliezer Fischl

Strizhov, a commentary on the medieval European J ewish eschatological book "Karnayim", ascrib

to Rabbi Aharon of Kardina. The symbol is enclosed by a circle and surrounded by a cyclic hymn

Aramaic. The hymn, which refers explicitly to the power of the Sun, as well as the shape of the

symbol, shows strong solar symbolism. According to the book, this mandala-like symbol is meant

help a mystic to contemplate on the cyclic nature and structure of the Universe. The letters are the

[eSami

[eMedieval and early modern Europe

A ceiling painted with small swastikas inGrenoble Archaeological Museum

A swastika composed of Hebrew

letters as a mystical symbol from theJ ewishKabbalisticwork "ParashatEliezer."
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initial and final characters of the Hebrew word, , or "light".[citation needed]

Freemasonsalso gave the swastika symbol importance. In medieval Northern European Runic Scr

a counter-clockwise swastika denotes the letter 'G,' and could stand for the important Freemason

terms God, Great Architect of the Universe, or Geometry.[52]

Main article: Western use of the swastika in the early 20th century

In the Western world, the symbol experienced a resurgencefollowing the archaeological work in the late 19th century of

Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered the symbol in the site of

ancientTroyand associated it with the ancient migrations ofProto-

Indo-Europeans, whose proto-language was not incidentally termed

"Proto-Germanisch" by German language historians. He connected

it with similar shapes found on ancient pots in Germany, and

theorized that the swastika was a "significant religious symbol of

our remote ancestors", linking Germanic, Greek and Indo-Iranian

cultures.[53][54] By the early 20th century, it was used worldwide

and was regarded as a symbol of good luck and success.

The work of Schliemann soon became intertwined with the vlkischmovements, for which the swastika was a symbol of the "Aryan

race", a concept that came to be equated by theorists such as

Alfred Rosenbergwith a Nordicmaster raceoriginating in northern

Europe. Since its adoption by the Nazi Party ofAdolf Hitler, the

swastika has been associated with Nazism, fascism, racism (white

supremacy), the Axis powers in World War II, and the Holocaust in

much of the West. The swastika remains a core symbol ofNeo-

Nazi groups, and is used regularly by activist groups.

The Benedictine choir school at Lambach Abbey, Upper Austria,

which Hitler attended for several months as a boy, had a swastikachiseled into the monastery portal and also the wall above the

spring grotto in the courtyard by 1868. Their origin was the

personal coat of arms of AbbotTheoderich Hagnof the monastery

in Lambach, which bore a golden swastika with slanted points on a

blue field.[55] The Lambach swastika is probably of Medieval origin.

The Danish brewery company Carlsberg Groupused the swastika

as a logo[56] from the 19th Century until the middle of the 1930s

when it was discontinued because of association with the Nazi

Party in neighbouring Germany. However, the swastika carved on elephants at the entrance gates

the company's headquarters in Copenhagen in 1901 can still be seen today.

[57]

The Swastika Laundry was a laundry founded in 1912, located on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge,

district ofDublin, Ireland. In the fifties Heinrich Bllcame across a van belonging to the company

while he was staying in Ireland, leading to some awkward moments before he could realize the

company was older than Nazism and totally unrelated to it. The chimney of the boiler-house of the

laundry still stands, but the laundry has been redeveloped.[58][59]

[eWestern use in the early 20th century

The aviatrix Matilde Moisant(1878-1964) wearing a swastikmedallion in 1912; the symbolwas popular as a good luckcharm with early aviators.

Carlsberg's Elephant Tower.

[eIreland

[eFinland
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In Finland the swastika was often used in traditional folk art products, as a decoration or magical

symbol on textiles and wood. The swastika was also used by the Finnish Air Force until 1945, but

still used in air force flags.

The tursaansydn is used by scouts in some instances[60] and a student organization.[61] The

village of Tursa uses the tursaansydn as a kind of a certificate of authenticity on products made

there.[62] Traditional textiles are still being made with swastikas as parts of traditional ornaments.

The Finnish Air Force uses the swastika as an emblem, introduced in 1918.

The type of swastika adopted by the air-force was the symbol of luck for the

Swedish count Eric von Rosen.

The swastika was also used by the women's paramilitary organization Lotta

Svrd, which was banned in 1944 in accordance with the Moscow Armistice

between Finland and the alliedSoviet Union and Britain.

The President of Finland is the grand master of the Order of the White Rose.

According to the protocol, the president shall wear the Grand Cross of the

White Rose with collar on formal occasions. The original design

of the collar, decorated with 9 swastikas, dates from 1918, andwas designed by the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The Grand

Cross with the swastika collar has been awarded 41 times to

foreign heads of state. To avoid misunderstandings, the

swastika decorations were replaced by fir crosses at the

decision of president Urho Kekkonen in 1963 after it became

known that the President of FranceCharles De Gaulle was

uncomfortable with the swastika collar.

Also a design by Gallen-Kallela from 1918, the Cross of Liberty

has a swastika pattern in its arms. The Cross of Liberty is

depicted in the upper left corner of the standard of the Presidentof Finland.[63]

In December 2007, a silver replica of the WWII period Finnish

air defence's relief ring decorated with a swastika became available as a part of a charity

campaign.[64]

The original war time idea was that the public swap their precious metal rings for the State air

defence's relief ring, made of iron.

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