Bastardized Symbols - their true meanings revealed.

 

One of the many aspects of being a taphophile is the study of icons and their secondary meanings when used on gravestones.  

We refer to this as Iconography.  While conducting cemetery tours, I explain to people what any given image on a stone says about the stone's owner. Many flora and fauna images used on stones have meanings speaking to faith, age or family relationships. It's a bit like reading hieroglyphics if you can speak the language.

 

 That being said, what would seeing a swastika on a gravestone say to you? What would it's secondary meaning be if not one of hate? And why would anyone use it? Read on for a quick history and the simple answer.

One thing we do know is that over time, the meaning of a symbol can change as changes in the culture also occur. Such is the case with the swastika.

We see this symbol as having a dark history. It's use is currently outlawed in Germany. All of this  can be attributed to one man's warped ambition, Adolf Hitler. In fact he hijacked not only this symbol but a second one as well during the days of the Third Reich.

A swastika plot marker from Texas.

The ironic thing is that this symbol can be traced back all the way to Roman times, and was also used by the Viking.

We can trace the use of the swastika cross well into antiquity.  It has been found on objects such as pottery and ancient coins from Gaza.  

 Some theorize that the symbol originated with the Pagans but was carried over into Christianity.

An early 1900's postcard sent for well wishes.

One thing we do know for sure, is that the word we use for it  "swastika", comes from the Sanskrit word svastika. It is derived from the  

su- meaning "good, well"  and

asti- "to be".... or svasti- thus meaning "well being". 

The suffix -ka intensifies the the verbal meaning, so literal translation could then become "that which is associated with well being" or maybe even "lucky charm". 

There is the answer, the secondary meaning.

Other names for the same symbol are many depending on the culture. It has been called the crooked cross, the angled cross, and the sun cross. In heraldry it is known as the cross cramponned due to each leg's resemblance to an iron-angle or a crampon. A Greek name for the symbol is the gammadion. Each leg of the cross resembles the gamma symbol. The use of this name can be found from Scotland to Iceland. The gammadion can be found on Celtic crosses and jewelry such as necklaces.

The swastika is also known as a gammadion cross.

Another found name for the cross is the Fylfot Cross [fil-fot]. In Britain the name fylfot came from the Anglo-Saxon's - fower fot, meaning "many footed". 

 A manuscript from the 1500's explains the use of the fylfot as a symbol to fill in the empty spaces at the bottom of stained glass windows in medieval churches.

As recently as June 12'th 1996, The British House of Commons Hastard Debate, discussed the badge of the No. 273 British Flight Squadron which uses the symbol. During the debate the ancient symbol was solely established as being called the fylfot while the Nazi symbol was to be referred to as the swastika. 

This firmly established "fylfot" as being the name of the "good" symbol. Even though the Nazi's had nothing to do with the creation of the swastika, their use of it has tainted it for all modern time.

A Christian grave featuring a Star of David.

Inevitably when one thinks of the Nazi's and their use of the swastika another symbol of that time period comes to mind.

 It is the Star of David. Also a very ancient symbol, this star has been used by Jews and Christians... yes Christians for hundreds of years.

It is formed of two triangles. One triangle being man and the other being God, the symbol represents the relationship between the two.  It is also said that the six points of the Star symbol represent all the directions within the Universe, North, South, East, West, up and down.

It was during WWII when Hilter again took control of yet another iconic faith symbol. He chose the Star of David gave it the color yellow and began to use it to "mark" all Jews.

"JEW" embroidered on a patch worn in WWII

Before this action, the Star of David was a minor Jewish symbol of faith, having equal significance with other similar faith symbols. By the end of the War, the world had witnessed the murder of six million people, many of them wearing this same small fabric star. Sadly the Star of David had forever cemented it's place in history as the absolute symbol of the Jewish people.

Fair or not, the meanings of both of these symbols have been forever altered by just one man. Certain images flash through the mind.

To place a Fylfot Cross in your window or mail postcards to your friends wishing them the power of the symbol would cause shock and inevitable scorn. Beautiful ancient symbols altered by Geo-politics. 

That being said, there was a time when these greetings would have been appreciated. 

This powerful final image, shows both symbols married together in stone forever.  Not in opposition, but complimenting each other.

In this age, who could ever have imagined such a sight?