What does it mean?
(Puzzle 005)
Heraldic symbol?
Click image to enlarge
Here's another puzzle from our keen-eyed investigator in Sweden. The symbol has a Nordic/Celtic 'feel', but we don't know if it is local to that part of the world or used internationally. In fact, we have no idea at all who designed the symbol, for whom, its age, or anything else.
Hence this page. If you recognize this symbol, please pass on your thoughts through the box below.
This symbol is curious for three reasons:
Christians use the cross as a symbol because Jesus was crucified on one. A crucifixion cross is usually shown with four arms; three short arms and one long lower arm, as we see in the symbol above. This basic form is called a Latin Cross.
The Christian Crusaders adopted the cross symbol as identification mark. To fit on a shield, the lower arm was shortened so that all four arms were equal length. In heraldry, this is known as a Quadrate Cross, and the Greek Cross is an obvious example.
In the symbol above, we see a combination of both the Latin Cross and the Quadrate Cross. Not unusual, and often designed that way just for geometric convenience. (See the Compostelan Cross for another example.)
We do not know what this symbol is; consequently we don't know if the Latin/Quadrate combination has any particular meaning or not. If you know, please tell us.
The second item of note is the use of closed 'U' shapes, which look like church windows or perhaps shields. Many crosses have flayed ends (such as the Maltese Cross) but we don't know the significance of this 'shield' shape. Do you have any idea?
Finally, within each shield (if that's what they are) we see a wheel with eight spokes or flower petals. These are known in heraldry as double quatrefoil. Eight commonly means 'life' in various religions; for example there are eight petals in the Buddhist lotus sutra, and eight beatitudes1 in a Christian context. Or do they represent something else? There are six of them. Is that significant? If you know, please tell us.
Please let us know what you think in the box below.
Enter your ideas in the boxes above, or email info@seiyaku.com if you prefer.
1 : Beatitude: One of the eight sayings at the beginning of Jesus' very first sermon - the Sermon on the Mount. In Latin each saying begins with beatus (blessed) and they are listed in Matthew 5:3-11.
