The power of a symbol or an icon bears more weight than its equivalent in words or text.
A well designed symbol or logo can speak volumes about, for example, a company’s values,
heritage, and objectives.
All throughout history mankind has been exposed and has been creating symbols and iconography
for over millennia.
From prehistoric cave paintings that tell stories to emojis used to convey thought instrad
of using words, they all have been an integral part of our development as a species as well
as our civilizations.
And like our species, symbols and icons have evolved and – unfortunately for many of
them – have lost their true meaning and what they truly stand for.
In today’s video, we are exploring 10 iconic and popular symbols in history that have now
lost their true meaning.
10.
THE CADUCEUS
Often seen in medical facilities or as part of a logo of a medical organization, the Caduceus
has been synonymous with doctors and health workers around the world.
Known also as the Staff of the Greek God Hermes, it is often depicted as a winged rod entwined
by two serpents.
Unfortunately for Hermes’ staff, it has been employed in the wrong context since Hermes
has no association with health or healing.
It was the Greek God Asclepius who is the deity for medicine and healing.
He also bore a staff that only had one coiled snake and no wings.
The confusion came from the honest mistake of a US Army Medical Corps officer who mixed
the two symbols up.
Because of this, the Caduceus has been interpreted as the symbol for healing and medicine in
the United States where, in other parts of the world, it is a symbol of commerce since
Hermes was the patron of merchants and tradespeople.
9.
FLEUR DE LIS
One of the most recognizable symbols in history and popular culture, the Fleur de Lis has
been part of almost every visual medium you can think of.
From architecture to interior design, to letter envelopes, it is certainly one that has endured
the ravages of time and history.
In its original form, the Fleur de Lis was a modification of the Gaulish lily that represented
the Virgin Juno and was used widely by goddess worshippers in the ancient times.
Today, however, the stylized motif – the one we are most familiar with – is used
to represent French Royalty as well as the nobility.
It has also been employed in fashion and modern art as well as popular culture; avenues that
have, unfortunately, drastically diluted the true symbolic representation of the icon.
8.
THE BLUETOOTH ICON
You would think that something as ubiquitous as the Bluetooth icon on your phone has no
ancient origin but that’s where we are greatly mistaken.
The technology was first invented and introduced to the public by the Swedish telecom company
Ericsson.
Since then, it has been a great part of our digitally connected lives.
The symbol itself was composed of two parts: the H rune called Hagall and the B rune called
Bjarkan, letters that echo back to the country’s Viking past.
Incidentally, it was also the symbol of Denmark’s first Viking king, Harald Blatand.
And, in a not-so-peculiar-twist-of-coincidence, “Blatand” roughly translated from Swedish
as “Bluetooth”.
The Bluetooth symbol is, perhaps, one of the ancient icons that have retained a large part
of its meaning despite the fact that many of us take the technology for granted.
During the lifetime of Harald Blatand during the 10th Century AD, he was exalted as the
king who managed to unite – or, in terms of the technology, “connect” – all the
Danish tribes and take over Norway, where he ruled as King until his death.
If you really think about it, how Bluetooth technology connects people is not at all far-fetched
from the origin of the symbol and why the Swedes made the right choice to represent
the technology.
7.
THE ALL SEEING EYE The symbol of the All Seeing Eye is used throughout
different beliefs and religions but is most strongly associated with the Christian Faith
as a representation of the all-seeing eye of God.
In other customs, it is used as a symbol of spiritual sight, higher knowledge, inner vision,
and insight into the occult.
Depending on the custom that adopts it, the symbol usually embraces the supernatural and
religious aspect of its iconography.
These days, however, it has been used mostly as a symbol of surveillance and control; a
far cry from its religious symbolism.
6.
SKULL AND CROSSBONES
This symbol has two established and widely-accepted meanings in this modern age.
One appears as a graphic warning on poison labels and the other – thanks to popular
culture – appears as the universally known symbol for pirates despite the fact that pirate
colours or symbols vary from one person or group to another.
In Spain in the earlier centuries of the world, the symbol of the Skull and Crossbones is
used as a means to mark cemeteries and graveyards.
To this day, many early century graveyards and even old churches have traces of the skull
and crossbones where they once had – or still have – catacombs and crypts.
5.
THE BARBER’S POLE
It is not a surprise to find a red and white striped pole outside a barber shop.
The symbol has been used for centuries and is, unlike many symbols on this list, still
directly associated with the profession it represents.
Today we see it as a harmless means to advertise the establishment.
However, the origin of the pole dates back to earlier centuries where barbers were expected
to do more than just shave and cut hair.
As far back as the Roman times and as late as the Victorian age, barbers were skilled
surgeons whose most popular procedure was bloodletting.
In some regions, they were also skilled dentists who could offer you to get rid of a toothache
after a nice trim.
The red stripe on the pole was originally a white rag that barbers would use to wipe
up blood after a procedure.
They would then hang it outside of their shops – where the wind would sometimes blow hard
to wrap the rag around the pole where it hung – to advertise their profession.
4.
THE ICHTHYS FISH (OR THE ICHTHUS FISH)
The pronunciation of the word is a bit tricky because there seems to be two ways to say
it but however you choose to say it, there is no doubt that you have come across this
symbol at least once in your life – most probably on the rear end of a car while you’re
stuck in traffic.
The Ichthys Fish is strongly associated with Christianity and with Jesus Christ himself.
At the height of the Roman Empire, after the death of Christ, the members of the newly
formed secret sect called “Christians” would identify each other by the use of the
Ichthys.
When two supposedly Christians meet in public, one of them would draw the first arc of the
symbol and the other, to confirm his Christian identity, would complete the drawing with
the other arc of the Ichthys.
While Christians made the symbol more iconic and popular, the Ichthys Fish predates Christianity
and was used by Pagans as a symbol they associate with the “Great Mother”, a deity known
for fertility.
After the rise of the early church, Christians fell out of love with the Ichthys and preferring
the crucifix much more.
However, in some Christian sects, the symbol is still very much alive.
3.
THE PEACE SYMBOL
Unlike the symbols on this list, the Peace Symbol has no ancient origin and is one of
the youngest iconographies created.
Mostly associated with the Hippie movement of the 60’s, the Peace Symbol is universally
known and used as a means to show pacifism, restraint, understanding, and tolerance.
While the meanings tacked onto the symbol were well-intended, the real message it delivers
seems to have been forgotten.
Designed by Gerald Holtom, the symbol bore one simple message: British Nuclear Disarmament.
The symbol, according to Holtom, is of a man standing with his arms stretched outward and
downward as if facing a firing squad.
Unable to copyright the image, Holtom’s symbol then became a popular way to symbolize
freedom and, as we now know it, peace.
It’s not a bad trade-off after all.
2.
THE PENTAGRAM
Seen as the symbol for Satanism and Demonic worship, the Pentagram is perhaps one of the
most maligned and misunderstood symbols to have existed.
As a matter of fact, the Pentagram predates Satanism and Masonry because of records that
trace its use in much more ancient times.
The five-pointed star has been discovered scratched on the walls of caves in Babylonia
and several historical records show the ancient Greeks believing it to have mystical and magical
properties.
In ancient astronomy, the pentagram is believed to have originated from the path that the
planet Venus takes at night in relation to the earth’s position in an 8-year cycle.
It would even surprise you to know that the pentagram, for a short time, stood as a symbol
that represents the five wounds that Jesus Christ received during his crucifixion.
In art, the Pentagram was seen as a representation of the proportions of the human body.
1.
THE SWASTIKA
Since the Second World War and the rise of Nazi totalitarianism in Germany, the swastika
has become a representation of hate and bigotry.
The symbol has been associated so much with the Nazi movement and the horrors that it
brought that many European countries have shunned its image.
But before Hitler and his henchmen got their hands on this otherwise geometrically pleasing
symbol, the Swastika was a symbol that represented life and creation in the Hindu faith and harmony
in Buddhism.
The swastika was used by ancient civilizations.
A fact that points out that it absolutely predates Nazism.
Civilizations such as the Romans, Egyptians, and Celts have used different versions of
the swastika in architecture and art.
In the modern times, before the outbreak of the Second World War, the swastika enjoyed
a brief moment of wholesome use such as appearing as symbols in the Finnish and Latvian Air
Forces, as well as part of the logo of the Danish brewing company Carlsberg.
Tragically for the swastika, it may never recover from the dark shroud it was given
due to the atrocities of the Nazi movement.