Model Experimental Senior High-School of Patras
2014-2015
ENGLISH COURSE
Mandouka Iliana
Matsouri Vasiliki
Pelekouda-Oikonomou Dionysia
Skanavis Michael
Skiada Maria-Eleni
SYMBOLS
Triquetra (triangle)
An ancient Celtic symbol, the triquetra is
considered one of the oldest; dating back to
as early as 500 BC when it was used to
symbolize the triple goddess (maiden-mothercrone).
Over the centuries it has become the symbol for
the Holy Trinity among Christians in Ireland.
The symbol is often used to represent the 3
fundamental elements - air, water and earth
or the infinite cycle of life. It is also known as a
rune of protection.
Solar Cross (Odin’s Cross, Sun Cross,
Wheel of Taranis)
The Solar cross is probably the oldest religious
symbol in the world, appearing in Asian,
American, European, and Indian religious art
from the dawn of history.
Composed of a equal armed cross within a
circle, it represents the solar calendar- the
movements of the sun, marked by the
solstices. Sometimes the equinoxes are
marked as well, giving an eight armed wheel.
The swastika is also a form of Solar cross.
Triskele
This symbol exists all around the world. It
appears across many cultures and generations in
quite a few incarnations, the most common of
which are the three interlocking spirals and the
three human legs spiraling out symmetrically
from a common center. Similar forms are the
three number sevens or any figure composed of
any three-pronged protrusions
Although it does appear in many ancient
cultures, it is most commonly accepted as a
symbol of Celtic origins, depicting the Mother
Goddess and the three phases of womanhood
namely; maiden – innocent and pure, mother
– compassionate and nurturing, and crone –
old, experienced and wise.
Flower of Life
It can be found in all major religions of the world. It
contains the patterns of creation as they emerged from the
"Great Void". Everything is made from the Creator's
thought. After the creation of the Seed of Life the same
vortex's motion was continued, creating the next structure
known as the Egg of Life. This structure forms the basis for
music, as the distances between the spheres is identical to
the distances between the tones and the half tones in
music.
It is also identical to the cellular structure of the
third embryonic division (The first cell divides into
two cells, then to four cells then to eight). Thus
this same structure as it is further developed,
creates the human body and all of the energy
systems including the ones used to create the
Merkaba. If we continue creating more and more
spheres we will end up with the structure called
the Flower of Life.
PENTACLE
Even though the current reputation of the pentacle is a
design of evil and dissent, the pentacle in alchemy
studies is actually a sign of health, mystic powers, and
harmony. The ancient Greeks who followed the
philosophy of Pythagoras used it to represent the
marriage between earth and the heavens in addition to
being a formation for health
Since this symbol can be used to represent
heaven, earth, and the human body and mind,
alchemists consider it to be extremely powerful
in nature. Both alchemists and ancient magicians
used it as a protection emblem. Alchemists in
particular would press the symbol to special
books to emphasize that their contained
knowledge was sacred and protected and even
inscribe it in the covers of the books as well.
Yin and Yang
In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how apparently
opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary,
interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how
they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.
Many tangible dualities (such as light and dark, fire and water, and
male and female) are thought of as physical manifestations of the
duality of yin and yang. This duality lies at the origins of many
branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as
being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine , and a
central principle of different forms of Chinese material arts and
exercise.
Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary
(rather than opposing) forces that interact to form a
dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the
assembled parts. Everything has both yin and yang
aspects, (for instance shadow cannot exist without
light). Either of the two major aspects may manifest
more strongly in a particular object, depending on the
criterion of the observation. The yin yang shows a
balance between two opposites with a little bit in each.
The earliest Chinese characters for yin and yang are
found in inscriptions made on “oracle bones”. In these
inscriptions, yin and yang simply are descriptions of
natural phenomena such as weather conditions,
especially the movement of the sun. There is sunlight
during the day (yang) and a lack of sunlight at night
(yin). According to the earliest comprehensive
dictionary of Chinese, yin refers to “a closed door,
darkness and the south bank of a river and the north
side of a mountain.” Yang refers to “height, brightness
and the south side of a mountain.”
These meanings of yin and yang originated in the
daily life experience of the early Chinese.
Peasants depended on sunlight for lighting and
their daily life routines. When the sun came out,
they would go to the field to work; when the sun
went down, they would return home to rest. This
sun-based daily pattern evidently led to a
conceptual claim: yangis movement and yin is
rest .
Thank you for your attention