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Anchor tattoo: meaning and photo. Give anchor - ancient symbols

Philosophers often argue that life is like an ocean in which calms and storms alternate, so it is not surprising that some symbols in literature and art have something in common with the marine theme. One of the most popular signs is the anchor, which has many meanings.

Initially, anchors were popular exclusively among sailors and people whose life is connected with the sea. Small pendants in the shape of an anchor were given to those who set sail. It was believed that the sailor would definitely return to the one who gave him such a talisman. If people were confident in their feelings, but worried that the trip would be successful, and the man would return home without misadventures, they were also provided with similar protection, which should protect against pirates, storms and other adversities.

In those parts where there are no seas and oceans, the anchor was considered a symbol of good luck and is especially popular among travelers. It symbolizes stability, because it is believed that having found the very harbor where a person is ready to spend the rest of his life, he drops anchor and settles down. Accordingly, this anchor provides some confidence in the future.

Jewelry anchors are often worn on a chain in combination with other pendants, which are also chosen with a special meaning.
Heart and anchor - this is stability in a relationship;
dolphin and anchor - protection on the water;
ladybug and anchor - good luck, wealth and success;
butterfly and anchor - youth;
cat and anchor - protect from evil;
snake and anchor - health.

Now, knowing about these values, in the BestGold online store you can choose the right pendants made of gold and silver. Perhaps they will help to overcome some life vicissitudes or start a new stage in life.

Anchor figurines can often be seen made of semi-precious stones, which, together with this symbol, also acquire some meaning.

Anchor performed from hematite, will give courage and faith in victory (whether it be sports competitions or some kind of business project).
Amber anchor put on when you need to consolidate success in a new business or in a new place of residence, work.
Obsidian Anchor will help you get out of a protracted depression and overcome a creative crisis.
Agate anchor help you communicate with people. This is especially useful for those whose work concerns the social sphere or if a person finds himself in a new environment and you need not to get confused, but to make as many acquaintances as possible.

If you forget about dozens of symbol meanings for a second, then an anchor made of gold or silver is a great summer accessory that perfectly complements the nautical style. It can be a wonderful gift brought from the resort for yourself or for friends.

Alexander Okorokov, Andrey Kulagin
Ship anchor as an ancient symbol of faith and hope

Okorokov Alexander Vasilievich,
Doctor of Historical Sciences,
full member of the Academy of Military Sciences,
full member of the Russian Geographical Society,
First Deputy Director of the Russian Research
Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage. D.S. Likhacheva (Moscow),
e-mail: [email protected]

Kulagin Andrei Valerievich,
first deputy director
National Reserve« Chersonese Tauride» (Sevastopol)

Annotation. The article discusses the types of anchors of antiquity in their connection with religious rituals and ideas, the history of the most interesting and significant finds is given, revealing the symbolic role of the anchor mainly in the mythology of ancient civilizations, in the era of the birth of Christianity and later eras.


Keywords: semiotics, anchor, anchor stone, symbolism, sign, religious ritual


Written sources and archaeological materials testify that the ship's anchor, in connection with its special purpose - to save a person's life - was considered sacred from ancient times. An example of this is the anchors found in the "Tower Temple" of the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos (2300 BC). Here, five anchors form, as it were, the lower rung of the stairs leading to the entrance to the temple. Another confirmation of the connection of the anchor with religious rituals is an ancient altar found on the coast of the Red Sea. It consists of a plinth formed by four anchors lying on their side, on which three more anchors are vertically mounted.

An ancient anchor stone was found during the excavations of the temple of Baal in Ugarit in Northern Syria (dated to the 19th century BC), during the excavations of the Kanop Canal, in the temple of Isodorus. An anchor stone and a stone rod from a wooden anchor were found in the sanctuary during the archaeological excavations of Bambula (a quarter of the Cypriot city of Larnaca, located on the site of the ancient city of Kition) - a flourishing port mentioned in the Bible. Both finds date back to the end of the 7th - beginning of the 6th century. BC. A large number of anchors were discovered during the study of another part of Kition, in particular, the “Temple District”. One of them dates back to the 11th century. BC, reached a weight of 1471 kg. More than ten anchors dating back to the 6th century BC were found during excavations of a Greek sanctuary at Gravisca, the Etruscan port of Tarquinia.

An interesting find is a ritual anchor in Egypt, made of Cretaceous limestone - a model 11 cm high and weighing about 295 grams. Scientists who studied this anchor identified it as "a ritual (funeral) anchor form of Roman dating." There was no doubt that the snake depicted on the stone in a threatening pose with a forked tail and a movable tongue was a deity. According to Emma Brunner-Trot, who first published a description of the anchor, this is how Isis, the ancient Greek goddess of the sea, was shown. And this is not an isolated find. Ancient anchor stones with stamps, inscriptions and signs carved on them were found in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea near the Bulgarian and Russian coasts, in particular, at the bottom of the Sevastopol Bay, not far from the ancient city of Chersonese.

In Egyptian art, the anchor is presented as a symbol of the universe, the unification or intersection of the male and female principles.

In many countries of the world, especially the Mediterranean, the anchor was associated with images of sea gods: the Roman god of the sea, Neptune (Poseidon in Greece); the Greek goddess Amphitrite, who protects sailors and gives birth to dolphins; Triton, a mythological deity half human, half fish; the Hindu sea god Varuna, who, according to legend, took under his care people who died in the sea.

The cult of the anchor was also an integral part of the spiritual life of the ancient Greeks. For example, the historian and writer Apollonius from Rhodes, who lived in the second half of the 3rd century BC. BC, reports that when Jason and his Argonauts approached the Black Sea, they had to sacrifice one of the stone anchors of their ship. They did this to atone for the murder of Sizikus.

In ancient Greece, a newly forged anchor was honored in the temple of Zeus. Then the servants of the temple knocked out on the lead rod of the anchor the motto "Zeus is the almighty god and savior" or the first letter of his name. It was believed that the sacred signs would ward off evil forces from sailors, help them quickly and with good luck return to their homeland. An anchor rod with a sacred sign dating back to 50 BC is kept in the British Museum.

Sometimes, on the anchor rods, an image of the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa was carved, under whose gaze all living things turned into stone. Medusa was also supposed to protect the sailors. Several dozens of such stocks have been found off the coast of Spain, Libya, and Lebanon. These were stocks from the so-called "sacred anchors", the largest and heaviest on the ship. They were used only at critical moments, when the ship was threatened with imminent death.

The earliest Greek sacrificial anchors with stone stocks date back to the end of the 7th century BC. BC. Such stems, made of marble, were found at Metapokto in the temple of Hera and are associated with the worship of Apollo. It is possible that the stock from the “sacred anchor” was discovered in 2014 during underwater archaeological research in the Crimea, near ancient Chersonese. It is 220 cm long, weighs about 300 kg and is made of white marble. In the same year, almost one and a half kilometers northwest of the coast of Chersonese, several ancient anchor stones were found, three of which had carved inscriptions and signs.

Gradually, along with the oar, sail, trident of Neptune, the anchor begins to symbolize navigation, sea trade and hope for good luck in sea voyages. As a symbol of navigation, the anchor is found on the coat of arms of the Seleucids, who ruled in the Near and Middle East in 312-64. BC, on the coat of arms of Apollonia - a Greek colony, on the coins of Phoenicia, Carthage, Syria. It is interesting to note that it is the images of anchors on the coins of the 5th c. BC. Apollonius Pontike allowed the reconstruction of ancient wooden anchors with stone rods.

In the art of the Roman Empire, the anchor personified joy and fun. On the coins of the time of the emperor Hadrian (117-138), Gilaris symbolizing them is represented - a woman surrounded by children with a palm branch, a scepter, a cornucopia, a bowl or an anchor. An interesting Roman coin minted during the reign of Emperor Titus Vespasian (79-81), who came from the Flavian family. During his reign, on August 24, 79, there was a strong eruption of Vesuvius, which destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. Under Titus Vespasian in Rome, the construction of the Colosseum was completed and the baths were built. On the front side of the coin - a contemporary of the eruption of Vesuvius, Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian is depicted, crowned with laurels, and on the reverse side - a two-horned anchor that was wrapped around a dolphin.


Centuries later, this image became the printed sign of the famous book publishers of medieval Italy - Alda Manutius the Elder and his son Paolo. The books they published were notable for their textual accuracy and exquisite design. The motto of the Manutius family was "Reliability and speed", and in the printed sign, the anchor symbolizes the first, and the dolphin - the second.

Numerous images of anchors found in the port cities of Panticapaeum, Olbia, Chersonese and other ancient settlements of the Northern Black Sea region are also associated with the cult of the anchor. Many of these anchors have a stylized, sometimes even conditional look.

In ancient times, in addition to the anchors themselves, miniature lead models were donated to the sanctuaries of sea altars. Such models were found in the temples of Thasos and Rome, in the sanctuary of Marik on the Carigliano River, in Delos. A mold for casting such models, dating from about the 5th-2nd centuries. BC, was found in 1992 in Chersonese. It was unearthed while exploring the port part of the city near the temple. The find is a processed rectangular piece of marble measuring 80x70x70 mm. On one of the sides there is a mold for casting a model of a two-horned anchor with rods. Another form for casting votive (donated) anchors was found during archaeological excavations in the northern part of the city in 1931. According to G.D. Belova, it dates back to the 10th century.

In this regard, I would like to note the discovery of nine models of anchors discovered in 1987 in the Crimea, in the bay of Limena-Kale near Sudak. Eight of them were made using the casting technique, one was made of forged lead rod, double-bent and riveted.

According to G.I. Shapovalov, the found models are votive gifts of medieval sailors to the underwater gods. It is known that on the territory of the port of Sugdeya (Surozh) there was an early medieval fortification of the 6th century. Later, in the VIII-IX centuries. there was a fairly large craft, trade and religious center. The discovery of votive models of anchors made it possible to assume that there was a sanctuary in the bay of Limen-Kale, in which ancient sailors prayed to the sea gods, made sacrifices and gifts to them.

In 1985-2004 in the area of ​​the port part of the Sudak fortress, where, according to archaeologists, an artificial harbor of the 12th-15th centuries was located, a collection of products (several thousand copies) made of lead and copper plastic was collected: rings, buckles, brooches, votive amulets, weights for scales, trade seals, molivdovuls. Among the finds were models of ancient anchors.

Mentions of various kinds of sacrifices to the underwater gods of the seas and rivers are found in ancient authors. There is information about the worship of the gods of the underwater world in medieval times. Sacrifices in the form of miniature lead anchors are known in the temples of Thasos and Rome, as well as in the sanctuary of Marik on the river. Garigliano.

From the very first years of Christianity, the anchor becomes a symbol of hope and salvation among the adherents of the new religion. The Christian theologian and writer Clement of Alexandria, who sought to unite Hellenic philosophical humanism and the Christian faith, names the anchor among its symbols. According to A.S. Uvarov, author of the book "Christian Symbols", by the end of the 1st century. AD Christians carved an anchor on their rings. He symbolized the image of salvation, steadfastness and hope in faith. At the same time, he noted that "the anchor belongs to the most primitive types, and on Christian monuments it is a sign of the very first centuries."


Together with another popular symbol - fish - the anchor is often found in inscriptions dating from the first centuries of our era. It should be noted that the fish was one of the early symbols of Christianity, primarily a symbol of Christ. It was first used in this sense by Tertullian (c. 160-230). fish in Greek ichthys, which is an acronym for the Greek expression "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior". This phrase is found on stone slabs - holy relics in Jerusalem. An image of two fish flanked by a vertical cross-topped anchor was used as a secret "password pass" during the time when the early Christians were being persecuted by the Romans.


Plots of fish with an anchor are also found on tombstones in the Roman catacombs, which date back to the first centuries of our era. In this case, they are interpreted as a sign of the inviolability of faith in the Savior.

It is interesting to note that the ancient emblem of an anchor with a dolphin in early Christian art was interpreted as an “anchor of salvation”, and the upper crossbar with a ring in the images on the walls of the catacombs is associated with the ancient Egyptian “ankh” cross and with the Christian symbol.

Since the image of the cross of the crucifixion before the VI century. was not encouraged, the cruciform anchor became a kind of pictorial euphemism (replacement) for the sign of the execution of Christ. As a similar euphemism, the Greek letter "gamma", also similar to an anchor, or its modification - "anchor-shaped cross" was used. Such signs are found in manuscripts, reliefs and paintings of the catacombs of the III-V centuries. The early Christians called them "Crux dissimulata" (lat.) - "The hidden cross." Such a sign, according to some assumptions, "covered the cross from desecration by the infidels."

Sometimes, in combination with other symbols, it acquired a narrower meaning. For example, two fish and an anchor on the marriage rings of Christians symbolized the souls of both spouses. But in general, these images marked the sacrament of marriage, and the anchor in this case personified the cross.

In Christian symbolism, a cross with a crescent at the base is often found. It is believed that here the cross is, as it were, combined with an anchor. The main trunk of the cross is at the same time the anchor spindle, the upper crossbar is a stylization of the anchor rod, and the crescent is the anchor horn.

Studying the appearance of crosses with crescents, V. Nechaev wrote back in 1861: “In Christianity, the anchor appears in a new meaning. The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews speaks of the Christian hope, that it "is for the soul, as it were, a sure and firm anchor," i.e. a Christian in his voyage on the sea of ​​life finds for himself a strong support in the hope of Jesus Christ. He, comparing the anchor with hope, with an anchor, cites the saying: “Blessed is he who places his hope in God, hold on tight, separated from everything else, for this anchor.”

In the VI century. in Byzantium, an image of an anchor-cross appears, the horns of which are decorated with a floral ornament. In the works of art historians, archaeologists and historians of the XX century. this image has received the definition of "blooming anchor" like "blooming cross". We meet this symbol on marble architectural details made in the 7th century. in Armenia and brought to Chersonese to decorate a Christian church. The symbols of the flourishing anchor-cross were decorated with the walls of the temple of the 10th century. in the Bulgarian city of Preslav. As well as anchors on earlier coins of ancient and Roman times, flourishing anchor-crosses are depicted on coins. With their image minted, for example, the coins of Antioch in the XI-XII centuries. A similar sign is also found on the coins of Bulgaria in the 14th century. . There is also an image of a "flourishing anchor" with two fish (the monogram of Christ) and doves (a symbol of the human soul). In the same capacity, the anchor is an attribute of the allegorical figure of Hope, St. Clement, the Pope (the pagans killed him by tying an anchor to his neck and throwing it into the sea), St. Nicholas of Myra (patron saint of sailors), Saints Plakid, John Nepomuk.

In memory of the former meaning of the sacred anchor in Latin, there is a popular expression: “Sacram anchoram solvere” - “Save yourself with the sacred anchor”, that is, resort to the last resort.

The meaning of the anchor as a symbol of hope can be found in aphorisms and winged expressions of literary sources in many countries of the world. In the English literary language, you can count dozens of idioms and figurative expressions with the word anchor, which, in addition to their direct meaning, also have a figurative meaning: for example, sheet anchor of happiness (reliable anchor of happiness), to anchor one "s hore in / at (set hopes ), to lay anchor to wind ward (anticipate danger, take precautions) In the most common English proverb, Hope is my anchor, an anchor is also mentioned (“Hope is my anchor”).

In Russian, in writing, the word anchor is first mentioned in the chronicle of Nestor "The Tale of Bygone Years", the oldest written monument of the history of our Motherland that has come down to us. It says that under the terms of the peace treaty dictated by Oleg to the Greeks in 907, the Russians, among other tributes, should receive anchors, sails and tackle for their fleet. The word anchor has long been used in ancient Russian Pomeranian proverbs and sayings: “Faith is my anchor”, “Language is the anchor of the body” and in others.

The Russian classical writers did not forget about the anchor either. For example, I.S. Turgenev wrote: “Our life does not depend on us; but we all have one anchor from which, if you don’t want to, you will never break - a sense of duty.

The anchor does not lose its symbolic meaning even later. The image of the Admiralty anchor adorned the family coat of arms of Christopher Columbus - "Admiral of the Ocean-Sea"; emblems of Russian princes and ancient cities. The two-horned anchor was part of the ornament of the coat of arms of the Kiev Metropolitan Mohyla in the 17th century. There is an opinion that the tribal sign of Rurikovich originates from the "symbol of faith and hope".

The stylized image of the Admiralty anchor is still an integral part of the emblems, signs and seals of the maritime departments of almost all countries with fleets. Anchors continue to decorate belt plaques, parts of uniforms for military and civilian sailors.



NOTES


Okorokov A.V.Symbol of navigation and hope // Science and religion. - 1985. - No. 12. - P.21.

Shapovalov G.Ships of faith: Shipping in the spiritual life of ancient Ukraine. - Zaporozhye: Wild Field, 1997. - S. 114.

Shapovalov G.I.Forms for picking up votive anchors from Chersonese // Antiquities of the steppe Black Sea region and Crimea: Sat. scientific works T.4. - Zaporozhye, 1993. - S.224.

Zelenko S.M.Underwater archeology of Crimea. - Kiev: Stylos, 2008. - S.179-180.

Herodotus.History / trans. Stratanovsky G.A. - L .: Nauka, 1972. - S. 330, 414.

Thucydides.History / prep. Stratanovsky G.A. - L .: Nauka, 1981. - P. 276.

Shapovalov G.I.Votive anchors from the Black Sea // Soviet archeology, - 1990. - No. 3. - P.260.

Uvarov A.S.Christian symbols: Symbols of the ancient Christian period. - M., 1908. - P. 164.

Nechaev V.Crosses with crescents on the heads of temples // Soul-saving reading. Part 1. - M., 1861. - S. 62.

Shapovalov G.I.Ships of Faith... S. 131.

Okorokov A.V., Kulagin A.V., text, 2016.

Illustrations provided by the authors.



A tattoo is one of the distinguishing features of people of a certain circle. It has been so customary since ancient times that members of the same community, in order to distinguish each other, determine their place in the hierarchy and simply emphasize the uniqueness of their status, used images on the skin. They could be on visible parts of the body or, as in the case of secret societies, on the contrary, carefully hidden by clothing. However, in any case, the tattoo was of great importance, it was a symbol of a certain kind.

One of the most common themes was the anchor. Tattoos with his image were first encountered back in the days of Ancient Egypt. Later, this symbol appeared among the faithful Christians, and among the pirates, and among the sailor communities. It was also found among the ancient Greeks, in Hinduism. What does an anchor mean, a tattoo with it or its elements?

As mentioned above, anchor tattoos first appeared in Egypt. There they meant the universe, the union of male and female principles. The bottom of the anchor, its paws, shaped like a boat, symbolized the female womb. And the upper part is the beginning of the male. Therefore, the anchor itself (the tattoo with it) was sacred.

religious significance

Later this symbol passed to Christians. In this religion, the anchor was associated with hope, in the first place - with the hope of salvation - the basis of Christianity. The first tombstones, monuments were decorated with this symbol, it was often found in the decoration of churches. And for true Christians, the anchor, a tattoo with the image of which was often done by pilgrims, promised to become a kind of amulet that guarantees a reliable pier, as it provides it to the ship.

With the beginning of the Renaissance, pirates and sailors predictably became the main fans of the anchor as a symbol. It still denoted hope, but now the people who stuffed the “anchor”-tattoo added to this list their love for the sea, the desire to indicate belonging to the sea element, their freedom and the talent of a navigator. In addition, there was often a combination in the tattoo of an anchor and a dolphin - two opposites, stability and speed. Sailors in all countries of the world still adorn themselves with such images. And in with an anchor - a mandatory attribute of any "fur seal", a representative of the elite troops of the corresponding infantry.

"Anchor" tattoo: meaning

Among other things, in many religious teachings, such an image has a mythical meaning. He is associated with the seas Poseidon, the mythical half-man half-fish Triton, the goddess Amphitrite (the mother of dolphins) and the Hindu deity of the sea Varuna, who was responsible for the care of people who died in the depths of the sea.

Conclusion

Now you should not look for deep symbols in anchor tattoos. Yes, it is still made by representatives of marine specialties. But more and more often, the anchor becomes just a beautiful element of a tattoo that does not carry a special semantic load. So if you decide to get a tattoo with this symbol, then you can very well come up with your own meaning for it, and it will also be true.

Symbols are the most international and timeless language. We see them every day and roughly know what they mean. However, symbols in the course of their thousand-year history could change their meaning to the opposite.

Yin Yang

Appearance time: According to the well-known Russian orientalist, doctor of historical sciences Alexei Maslov, the yin-yang symbolism may have been borrowed by the Taoists from Buddhists in the 1st-3rd centuries: “they were attracted by Buddhist drawn symbols - and Taoism had its own“ mandala ”: the famous black and white“ fish ” yin and yang."

Where used: The concept of Yin-yang is key to Taoism and Confucianism, the doctrine of yin-yang is one of the foundations of traditional Chinese medicine.

Values: In the Book of Changes, yang and yin served to express light and dark, hard and soft. In the process of development of Chinese philosophy, yang and yin increasingly symbolized the interaction of extreme opposites: light and darkness, day and night, sun and moon, sky and earth, heat and cold, positive and negative, even and odd, and so on. Initially, "yin" meant "northern, shady", and "yang" - "southern, sunny slope of the mountain." Later, "yin" was perceived as negative, cold, dark and feminine, and "yang" as positive, bright, warm and masculine. Being the main (fundamental) model of everything that exists, the concept of yin-yang reveals two provisions that explain the nature of Tao. First, everything is constantly changing. Secondly, opposites complement each other (there can be no black without white, and vice versa). The purpose of human existence, therefore, is the balance and harmony of opposites. There can be no "final victory" because there is nothing final, there is no end as such

Magen David


Appearance time: It is authentically known that the hexagram was widely used in the Bronze Age (late 4th-early 3rd millennium BC) on a vast territory: from India to the Middle East.

Where used: In ancient India, the hexagram was called Anahata or Anahata-chakra. The six-pointed star was known in the ancient Near and Middle East. They began to associate the six-pointed star with Jewry only in the Middle Ages, and in medieval Arabic books the hexagram is found much more often than in Jewish mystical works, and for the first time images of the hexagram appear in Jewish sacred books in Muslim countries, only in the XIII century reaching Germany. The six-pointed star is found on the flags of the Muslim states of Karaman and Kandara. There is an assumption that the hexagram was a family symbol of the family of David al-Roi, who lived in Iran, one of the contenders for the role of Mashiach. This is sometimes used to explain the origin of the accepted name of the hexagram: Magen David, or "David's shield". The Rothschild family, having received the title of nobility, included Magen David in their family coat of arms. Heinrich Heine put a hexagram instead of a signature under his newspaper articles. Subsequently, it was adopted as a symbol of the Zionist movement.

Values: In India, the Anahata hexagram symbolized the heart chakra, the intersection of the male (Shiva) and female (Shakti) principles. In the Middle and Near East, the hexagram was a symbol of the goddess Astarte. The six-pointed star is included in the symbolism of Kabbalah: two triangles superimposed on each other are considered as a visual symbol of the Sefirot. In the twenties of the twentieth century, Franz Rosenzweig interpreted Magen David as a symbolic expression of his philosophical ideas about the meaning of Judaism and the relationship between God, man and the universe. The connection of the six-pointed star with the Jews was finally established as a result of Nazi policy in Germany. Yellow Magen David has become a symbol of the Holocaust.

Caduceus

Appearance time: The time of the appearance of the caduceus is not known for certain. Obviously, this is a very ancient symbol. It is also found on the monuments of Ancient India and Ancient Egypt, Phoenicia and Sumer, Ancient Greece, Iran, Rome and even Mesoamerica.

Where used: Caduceus - and today one of the most common symbols in heraldry. In the form of a caduceus, there was a rod of heralds among the Greeks and Romans (the rod of Hermes). When they were sent to the enemy camp, the caduceus was a guarantee of their immunity. In the occult, the caduceus is considered a symbol of the key that opens the limit between darkness and light, good and evil, life and death. Since the 19th century, the image of the caduceus has often been used in a number of countries (for example, in the USA) as a symbol of medicine, which is the result of a common mistake due to its resemblance to the staff of Asclepius. The image of the caduceus as an attribute of the god of commerce is traditionally used in the symbols of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in a number of countries around the world, including Russia. Before the revolution and in several periods after it, crossed caduceuses were used as a customs emblem. Today, the caduceus, crossed with a torch, is included in the emblem of the Federal Customs Service and is one of the heraldic symbols of arbitration courts, the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation and the State Tax Service of Ukraine. Since September 2007, the caduceus has been used in the emblem of the Russian Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund. In heraldry, the caduceus was used in the historical emblems of the following cities of the Russian Empire: Balta, Verkhneudinsk, Yeniseisk, Irbit, Nezhin, Taganrog, Telshev, Tiflis, Ulan-Ude, Feodosia, Kharkov, Berdichev, Talny.

Meaning: The stem of the caduceus is symbolically connected with the tree of life, the axis of the world, and the snakes - with the cyclical rebirth of Nature, with the restoration of the universal Order when it is violated. The snakes on the caduceus indicate a hidden dynamic in what is outwardly stable, they symbolize two multidirectional flows (up and down), the connection of heaven and earth, God and man (the wings on the caduceus also indicate the connection of heaven and earth, spiritual and material) - everything that is born on earth comes from heaven and, after going through the path of trials and suffering, gains life experience, must rise to heaven. It is said about Mercury that with his staff - which has since been considered a symbol of peace, harmony - he separated two fighting snakes. Fighting snakes are a mess, chaos, they need to be divided, that is, to distinguish, see opposites and unite, overcome them. Then, having united, they will balance the Axis of the world, and around it from Chaos the Cosmos, harmony will be created. Truth is one, and in order to arrive at it, one must follow the straight road, which is symbolized by the axis of the caduceus. Caduceus in the Vedic tradition is also interpreted as a symbol of Serpent Fire, or Kundalini. Wrapping around the central axis, the snakes are connected at seven points, they are associated with the chakras. Kundalini, Serpent Fire, sleeps in the base chakra, and when it wakes up as a result of evolution, it ascends along the spine along three paths: the central one, Shushumna, and two side ones, which form two intersecting spirals - Pingala (this is the right, masculine and active, spiral) and Ide (left, female and passive).

chrism

Appearance time: It is not known for certain, but researchers suggest that even during the life of the apostles, that is, in the 1st century. This symbol has been found in Christian tombs since the 3rd century AD.

Where used: The most famous use of the symbol is on the labarum, the state banner of imperial Rome. The symbol was first introduced by Emperor Constantine the Great after he saw the sign of the cross in the sky on the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312). The labarum of Constantine had a chrysm at the end of the shaft, and on the very cloth there was an inscription: lat. Hoc vince The first mention of the labarum is found in Lactantius (d. c. 320).

Values: Chrism is a monogram of the name of Christ, which consists of two initial Greek letters of the name (Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΌΣ) - Χ (chi) and Ρ (ro), crossed with each other. The Greek letters α and ω are often placed along the edges of the monogram. They go back to the text of the Apocalypse: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord, who is and was and is to come, the Almighty." A number of later researchers saw in the letters P and X, enclosed in a circle, the ancient pagan symbol of the Sun. For this reason, Protestants, as a rule, do not recognize the labarum as an original Christian symbol.

Ohm

Appearance time: The symbol itself appeared during the formation of the syllabic alphabet of the Devanagari letter (“divine city letter”), that is, in the VIII-XII centuries.

Where used:"Om" as a symbol denoting the sacred sound "Om" is used in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Shaivism, Vishnuism, and yogic practices. Currently, "Om" has already become part of pop culture, it is applied as a print on clothes, tattoos are made. "Om" is featured on George Harrison's albums, the mantra "Om" is featured in the chorus of The Beatles' "Across the Universe" and on the soundtrack to the movie "The Matrix" in Juno Reactor's "Navras"

Values: In the Hindu and Vedic tradition, "Om" is a sacred sound, the original mantra, the "word of power." Often interpreted as a symbol of the divine triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. In Hinduism, "Om" symbolizes the three sacred texts of the Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, in itself is a sacred mantra from the very beginning, symbolizing Brahman. Its three components (A, U, M) traditionally symbolize Creation, Maintenance and Destruction - the categories of the cosmogony of the Vedas and Hinduism. In Buddhism, the three sounds of the word "Om" can represent the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha, the Three Bodies of the Buddha (Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya) and the three jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). However, the buddhologist Yevgeny Torchinov noted that the syllable "Om" and similar syllables ("hum", "ah", "hri", "e-ma-ho") "do not have any dictionary meaning" and pointed out that these syllables, unlike from other syllables of mantras represent "sacred untranslatability" in the Mahayana tradition.

Ichthys

Time and place of origin: Images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ (from Greek Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior) or the fish symbolizing it first appear in the Roman catacombs in the 2nd century. The widespread use of this symbol is evidenced by the mention of it by Tertullian at the beginning of the 3rd century: “We are small fish, led by our ikhthus, we are born in water and can only be saved by being in water.”

Where used: The acronym Ichthys began to be used by the first Christians, since the images of Christ were unacceptable due to persecution.

Values: The symbolism of the fish was associated in the New Testament with the preaching of the apostles, some of whom were fishermen. Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew called his disciples "fishers of men", and the Kingdom of Heaven likened "a net thrown into the sea and capturing fish of every kind." Ichthys was also associated with Alpha from the words of Jesus Christ: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." At the end of the 20th century, ichthys became a popular symbol among Protestants in different countries, and opponents of creationism began to parody this sign by sticking a fish sign with the word "Darwin" and small legs on their cars.

Chalice of Hygiea

Time and place of origin: Ancient Greece. III-I millennium BC

Where used: Hygeia in Greek mythology was the goddess of health, the daughter or wife of the god of healing Asclepius. From her name came the word "hygiene". Often she was depicted as a young woman feeding a snake from a phial bowl. In Greek mythology, the snake was also a symbol of the goddess Athena, who was often depicted as Hygea and vice versa.

Values: In ancient Greece, Hygiea personified the principle of a just war for health as light and harmony on all planes. And if Asclepius began to act when the order was violated, then Hygieia maintained the order-law that reigns initially. The snake in ancient traditions symbolized death and immortality, good and evil. They were personified by her forked tongue, and the poisonousness of her bites, along with the healing effect of the poison, and the ability to hypnotize small animals and birds. The snake was depicted on the first-aid kit of a Roman military doctor. In the Middle Ages, the combination of images of a snake and a bowl on the emblem was used by pharmacists in the Italian city of Padua, and only later this private pharmaceutical symbol turned into a generally accepted medical sign. A bowl with a snake in our time is considered a symbol of medicine and pharmacy. However, in the history of medicine in different countries, a snake wrapped around a staff was more often considered the emblem of healing. This image was adopted in the middle of the WHO at the UN at the First World Assembly in Geneva in 1948. Then the international health emblem was approved, in the center of which is placed a staff entwined with a snake.

Rose of Wind

Date of occurrence: The first mention is in 1300 AD, but scientists are sure that the symbol is older.

Where used: Initially, the wind rose was used by sailors of the Northern Hemisphere.

Meaning: The wind rose is a vector symbol invented in the Middle Ages to help sailors. The wind rose or compass rose also symbolizes the four cardinal directions along with intermediate directions. Thus, she shares the symbolic meaning of the circle, the center, the cross and the rays of the sun wheel. In the XVIII - XX centuries, sailors stuffed tattoos depicting a wind rose as a talisman. They believed that such a talisman would help them return home. Nowadays, the wind rose is perceived as a symbol of a guiding star.

Wheel with eight spokes

Date of occurrence: around 2000 BC

Where used: Egypt, Middle East, Asia.

Meaning: The wheel is a symbol of the sun, a symbol of cosmic energy. In almost all pagan cults, the wheel was an attribute of the solar gods, it symbolized the life cycle, constant rebirth and renewal. In modern Hinduism, the wheel means endless perfect completion. In Buddhism, the wheel symbolizes the eightfold path of salvation, the cosmos, the wheel of samsara, the symmetry and perfection of dharma, the dynamics of peaceful change, time and destiny. There is also the concept of "wheel of fortune", which means a series of ups and downs, the unpredictability of fate. In Germany in the Middle Ages, an 8-spoke wheel was associated with Ahtwen, a magical rune spell. At the time of Dante, the Wheel of Fortune was depicted with 8 spokes of opposite sides of human life, periodically repeating: poverty-wealth, war-peace, obscurity-glory, patience-passion. The Wheel of Fortune is included in the Major Arcana of the Tarot, often with an ascending and falling figure, like the wheel described by Boethius. The Wheel of Fortune tarot card continues to depict these figures.

Ouroboros

Date of occurrence: the first images of the ouroboros date back to 4200 BC, but historians believe that the symbol itself arose much earlier.

Where used: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Mesoamerica, Scandinavia, India, China.

Meaning: Ouroboros is a snake devouring its own tail, a symbol of eternity and infinity, as well as the cyclical nature of life, the alternation of life and death. This is how the ouroboros was perceived in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. In Christianity, the symbol changed its meaning, since in the Old Testament the snake symbolized evil. Thus, the ancient Jews established an equal sign between the ouroboros and the serpent from the Bible. In Gnosticism, the ouroboros personifies both good and evil at the same time.

Lily

Date of occurrence: in heraldry, the lily has been used since 496 AD.

Where used: European countries, especially France.

Meaning: According to legend, the king of the Franks Clovis was given a golden lily by an angel after he converted to Christianity. But lilies became an object of reverence much earlier. The Egyptians considered them a symbol of purity and innocence. In Germany, they believed that the lily symbolizes the afterlife and the atonement of sins. In Europe, before the Renaissance, the lily was a sign of mercy, justice and compassion. She was considered a royal flower. Today, the lily is a well-established sign in heraldry. Recent research has shown that the fleur-de-lis, in its classic form, is actually a stylized image of the iris.

Crescent

Date of occurrence: approximately 3500 BC

Where used: the crescent crescent was an attribute of almost all lunar deities. It was distributed in Egypt, Greece, Sumer, India, Byzantium. After the conquest of Constantinople by the Muslims, the crescent became strongly associated with Islam.

Meaning: In many religions, the crescent symbolizes constant rebirth and immortality. Christians revered the crescent as a sign of the Virgin Mary, and in Western Asia they believed that the crescent of the moon is a sign of cosmic forces. In Hinduism, the crescent was considered a symbol of mind control. The crescent with a star meant heaven.

double headed eagle

Date of occurrence: 4000-3000 BC

Where used: Sumer, Hittite kingdom, Eurasia.

Meaning: In Sumer, the double-headed eagle had religious significance. He was a solar symbol - one of the images of the sun. Approximately from the XIII century BC. e. the double-headed eagle was used by various countries and principalities as a coat of arms. The double-headed eagle was minted on the coins of the Golden Horde; in Byzantium, it was a symbol of the Palaiologos dynasty, which ruled from 1261 to 1453. The double-headed eagle was depicted on the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire. To this day, this symbol is the central image of the emblems of many countries, including Russia.

Pentacle

Date of occurrence: the first images date back to 3500 BC.

Where used: Since the ancient Sumerians, almost every civilization has used this sign.

Meaning: The five-pointed star is considered a sign of protection. The Babylonians used it as a talisman against thieves, later it was associated with five wounds on the body of Christ, and the pentacle was known to the magicians of medieval Europe as the “seal of King Solomon”. The star is still actively used both in religion and in the symbolism of different countries.

Swastika

Date of occurrence: The first images date back to 8000 BC.

Where used: In Eastern Europe, Western Siberia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, pre-Columbian America. Extremely rare among the Egyptians. Among the ancient monuments of Phoenicia, Arabia, Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Sumer, Australia, Oceania, the swastika was not found.

Meaning: The word "swastika" can be translated from Sanskrit as a greeting and a wish of good luck. The swastika, as a symbol, has a great many meanings, but the most ancient of them are movement, life, the Sun, light, well-being. Due to the fact that the swastika was used in Nazi Germany, this symbol began to be firmly associated with Nazism, despite the original symbol of the sign.

All-seeing eye

Date of occurrence: 1510-1515 AD, but in pagan religions, a symbol similar to the all-seeing eye appeared much earlier.

Where used: Europe, Asia, Oceania, Ancient Egypt.

Meaning: The all-seeing eye is the sign of the all-seeing and all-knowing god who watches over mankind. In ancient Egypt, the analogue of the All-Seeing Eye was Wadjet (the eye of Horus or the eye of Ra), which symbolized various aspects of the divine structure of the world. The all-seeing eye, inscribed in a triangle, was a symbol of Freemasonry. Freemasons revered the number three as a symbol of the trinity, and the eye, located in the center of the triangle, symbolized the hidden truth.

Cross

Date of occurrence: approximately 4000 BC

Where used: Egypt, Babylon, India, Syria, Persia, Egypt, North and South America. After the birth of Christianity, the cross spread throughout the world.

Meaning: In ancient Egypt, the cross was considered a divine sign and symbolized life. In Assyria, a cross enclosed in a ring was a symbol of the sun god. The inhabitants of South America believed that the cross drives away evil spirits. From the 4th century, the cross was adopted by Christians, and its meaning has changed somewhat. In the modern world, the cross is associated with death and resurrection, as well as with salvation and eternal life.

Anarchy

The combination "A in a circle" was used as early as the 16th century by European alchemists under the influence of Kabbalistic magic as the first letters of the words: "Alpha and Omega", the beginning and the end. In the modern tradition, it was first used in the Spanish section of the 1st International as a designation for the catchphrase of the famous anarchist J. Proudhon "Anarchy is the mother of order" in capital letters "l'anarchie" and "l'ordre".

Pacific

The famous symbol was developed in 1958 in Britain at the height of the movement against nuclear war as a combination of the symbols of the semaphore alphabet "N" and "D" (the first letters of the phrase "nuclear disarmament" - nuclear disarmament). Later it began to be used as a symbol of universal reconciliation and the unity of mankind.

Card suits

In the classic (and most modern) French deck, the symbols of the suits were four signs - hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs, in the form in which they received mass use. The oldest European deck - Italian-Spanish, which passed directly from the Arabs, depicted coins instead of tambourines, instead of a spade - a sword, instead of a red heart - a cup, and instead of a clover - a club. Signs of suits came to the modern look by gradual euphemization. Thus, tambourines denoted money as metal rattles (before, tambourines were rhombic in shape), clover was previously an acorn, the shape of a spade resembled leaves, which was reflected in the German deck, and the goblet underwent a complex evolution from the image of a rose to a heart. Each suit symbolized the feudal estates: the merchants, the peasantry, the knights and the clergy, respectively.

Anchor

Appearance time: the first centuries of our era.

Where used: Everyone knows the anchor symbol as a marine emblem. However, in the first centuries of the new era, the anchor was closely associated with Christianity. For the early Christians, who saw in it the hidden form of the cross, the anchor personified the hope of salvation with caution, security and strength. In Christian iconography, the anchor, as an emblem of security, is the main attribute of St. Nicholas of Myra - the patron saint of sailors. Another meaning should be attributed to the anchor of the semi-legendary Pope Clement (88?-97?). According to church tradition, during the period of persecution of Christians, the pagans hung an anchor around the Pope's neck and drowned him in the sea. However, the sea waves soon parted, exposing the temple of God at the bottom. In this mythical underwater temple, the body of the holy champion of the faith was allegedly discovered.

Values: There are several anchor values. The anchor is a sacred object to which sacrifices were made, because it was often the only salvation for sailors. On the coins of Greece, Syria, Carthage, Phoenicia and Rome, the anchor was more often than others depicted as a symbol of hope. In the art of ancient Rome, the anchor symbolized the joy of returning home after a long journey. On the graves of the 1st century, the image of an anchor was associated with the image of the church as a ship that carries souls across the stormy sea of ​​life. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews compared hope to a safe and strong anchor. The Greek word "ankura" (anchor) was associated with the Latin expression "en kurio", that is, "in the Lord. In the visual arts of the Renaissance, the anchor also means an attribute of hope. The allegorical emblem, which depicts a dolphin with an anchor, was especially popular in Renaissance painting. The dolphin symbolized speed, and the anchor - restraint. At the bottom of the emblem was the inscription: "Hurry up slowly."

Compasses and Square

Appearance time: Henry Wilson Coyle, in The Masonic Encyclopedia, states that the Compasses and Square in weave appeared on the seal of the Aberdeen Lodge in 1762.

Where is used: Using a compass and a square, you can draw a circle inscribed in a square, and this is a reference to the seventh problem of Euclid, squaring the circle. But you should not assume that the Compasses and the Square necessarily refer you to a mathematical problem, rather they symbolize a person’s desire to achieve harmony between spiritual and physical nature.

Values: In this emblem, the Compasses depicts the vault of heaven, and the Square - the Earth. The sky is symbolically connected with the place where the Great Builder of the Universe draws his plan, and the Earth is the place where man does his work. The compass, combined with the Square, is one of the most common symbols of Freemasonry. The letter G is placed in the center of the emblem, the meaning of which is multifaceted. One of the meanings is an abbreviation for the word "geometer". Since ancient times, the square has symbolized the physical body, and the circle has been a symbol of the soul. Therefore, it becomes clear that the Compasses and the Square symbolize the eternal soul in the temporary body of a person.

dollar sign

Appearance time: The American currency appeared in 1785.

Where is used: The dollar is the main monetary unit not only in the United States, but also in many other countries. Therefore, the $ sign is used not only for the US dollar, but also for the currencies of other countries, with the addition of qualifying letters. For example: Barbados - Bds$, Australia - Au$.

Values: The name "dollar" has more than just a meaning. Its name contains the word ... "Joachimstaler", a 17th-century coin that was minted in the Czech city of Joachimsthal. For convenience, the name of the currency was shortened to "thaler". In Denmark, due to the peculiarities of the language, the name of the coin was pronounced as “daler”, and in the UK it was transformed from the more familiar “dollar” to us. If everything is clear with the name, then the origin of the $ icon is still a mystery. The following version is considered the most similar to the truth: the Spanish abbreviation "P" s, which once denoted the currency of Spain, the peso. The letter P presumably left a vertical line, this allowed to increase the speed of writing, and the letter S remained unchanged. There is also a conspiracy version, along which two lines are the Pillars of Hercules.

There are legends that tell how sea maidens, whales or other good forces handed a "lifebuoy" to a drowning man after a shipwreck. One of these signs of "salvation" was the anchor. In this article, we will take a closer look at the meaning of the Anchor talisman.

How did the anchor talisman

There are versions of myths that tell that a person who wants to find safety on the water must make an anchor for himself, for example, carve it out of stone. Only then will the harsh rulers of the deep sea pay attention to the firmness of character and the will of a person, because everyone knows that even angry sea gods respect a firm character. Character and will must be as indestructible as the material from which the anchor is carved.

The first fans of the Anchor talisman were people whose life was connected with the sea, rivers or deep lakes. It was believed that only this sign of patronage of the rulers of the sea abyss could guarantee salvation during bad weather. Wives gave their husbands talismans with an anchor to make the journey safe. It was believed that the person would return to the one who gave this anchor. What does the talisman Anchor mean? It is a symbol of returning home.

  • Worn on the chest, a silver anchor with a chain promises to make the journey home quick and easy. In some cases, if it is inappropriate to wear a talisman on the chest, it is hung where a person lives, as an ornament on a photograph of a house or loved ones.
  • The golden anchor-pendant is popular as a magical object of good luck in those parts where the sea has never been. For example, in America, the anchor is a popular talisman that brings a quick return and a safe journey. To do this, a golden anchor is suspended above the driver's front window.

What is the reason for the popularity of a purely marine talisman at first glance?

Life is often compared to a stormy stream, a raging element that can destroy inflexible people. Wandering the sea of ​​life, surviving after another shipwreck, a person often looks for a saving shore where he could drop anchor (“drop” the anchor, they don’t say) and find a long-awaited shelter.

For those people whose life is not directly connected with sea adventures or water travel, the anchor is a talisman of stability. It gives modern man confidence in the future.

Which talisman to choose Anchor

  • Ladybug in an anchor bracelet attracts happiness, wealth and success. A dolphin provides protection on the water, elk teeth give wisdom, butterflies - youth or youthfulness, a cat protects from evil, a grasshopper helps those who grow crops, a rabbit's foot helps increase fertility.
  • What does the talisman Anchor with a snake on the bracelet mean? It brings health restoration, a snake curled up in a ball - helps to avoid danger and not get into unpleasant situations.
  • An amber anchor is worn when you need to consolidate success on a new path. A new beginning is fraught with nervous jolts, misunderstanding on the part of the environment and sometimes doubts - what if it doesn’t work out? An amber anchor convinces that it will work out, that doubts will subside, and new discoveries will bring joy.
  • Agate anchor enhances the ability to communicate. It is useful in situations where you have to work with people, communicate a lot. A typical situation - a person has already entered an institute or college, found himself in a new job, where he has to meet many people, prove himself, attract attention and at the same time not make enemies.
  • An obsidian anchor is useful for people who are in the stage of a creative crisis or a deaf depression. An obsidian anchor will help you understand what exactly we do not let into our lives. He will point to the undisclosed inner potential and give strength to help get out of a protracted period of failure. Another such talisman leads to a teacher - this is if you were looking for such a Teacher. It is said that the sharp end of the anchor will show the place where the Teacher is. What will you do if the anchor points to a cat, or the talisman is lying on the street and its sharp end points to a beggar? There is a lesson in every meeting: a cat is a sign of detachment and advice to “spit on everything”, a beggar is a hint that the spirit is still in trouble, and advice is to “engage in spiritual work.”
  • Hematite Anchor gives courage and gives advantage and victory in a confrontation situation. Whether we are talking about enemies, envious people, or just unloved work that needs to be done in order to free ourselves, hematite will provide the necessary forces. The meaning of the talisman Anchor lies in giving a person the ability to concentrate on the intention, to see and understand the goal of the path. Look at the dark surface and try to understand what the non-reflective surface of the stone reflects. Perhaps the fact that in those who annoy you so much, you see your own shortcomings?