Symbol Dictionary A

Adam: In pre-biblical myths, Adam and Eve are created by the Earth Goddess from her adamah, life-giving clay/blood, so Adam is a “man made of blood.” Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) says, “The idea of Adam’s rib was taken from a Sumerian Goddess who formed infants’ bones from their mothers’ ribs. She was both Lady of the Rib, and Lady of Life.” See Eve.

Air: See Elements.

Alchemists: Alchemy was influenced by both western and eastern tradition. Alchemy was practiced in ancient Egypt, spread to the Middle East, and by the renaissance it was flourishing in Europe, with contributions from both Kabbalists and Rosicrucians. Alchemy was also being practiced in China, Japan, India, and Persia as well, although the historical facts are fuzzy. Alchemists were supposedly attempting to learn how to create gold or silver from purifying any base metal, although this is a metaphor. They were really practicing The Art (as it was called by Greeks, Chinese, and Indians): a spiritual path of purifying their “base” selves to receive the “gold” of enlightenment. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, states, “Alchemy is an early protoscientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine, mysticism, and religion. The common sense and the media normally identify three main goals many alchemists sought for. The most renowned goal of alchemy is the transmutation of any metal into either gold or silver. Alchemists also tried to create the ‘Panacea,’ a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. The ‘Philosopher's stone’ was the key in these goals.

This mythical substance, which could just as well be powder or liquid as a stone, would supposedly have the ability to do both. The third goal was creating human life.” Their exploits into astrology, metallurgy, mysticism, and religion provide us with many symbols that have both physical and spiritual meaning. Many are included in this course, such as the symbols for the elements. The Philosopher’s Stone, or “Stone of the Wise,” was particularly crucial to Western Alchemy as “it is the goal of the Work, and it can transmute base metal into gold, or, according to some, give eternal life,” according to Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002). In the Eastern tradition, the Golden Elixir or “Golden Flower,” with the ability to cure disease, restore vitality, and give immortality was emphasized. Philosopher’s Stone and Chinese characters for Golden Elixir to the left.

Alligator: See Animals.

Altar: From the Latin altus meaning “high,” an altar is usually a raised area of worship, dedicated to a divinity. Prayers can be carried to the divinity using fire or smoke from the altar (incense and smudge sticks serve this purpose), and sacrifices and offerings are made to deities at altars. Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), state, “The items assembled on an altar provide a connection between people and the spirit to which the altar is dedicated.” Altars are used around the world, from Africa to Mexico. See the UMS course Atars and Rituals for more information.

Altar Light: Altar Lights symbolize the divine by maintaining an eternal fire. Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), explains, “The custom of keeping lights burning before altars was prefigured by the fires used to consume the sacrifices made upon them.” Many religions tended eternal fires including the Zoroastrians, Romans, and the Vestal Virgins (Romans had the longest lived altar light). Candles are used to symbolize the eternal light by Buddhists, and Christians use a sanctuary lamp during vigilance and prayer, symbolizing Christ as “The Light of the World.” Similarly the Jewish tabernacle lamp is lit at night so that God’s divinity would be visible. See Goddess: Hestia/Vesta.

Ambrosia: See Fruit.

Amulet: According to Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), amulets, “Small objects or pieces of jewelry imbued with magical or protective powers are usually worn about the body.” They can take the form of the deity they call upon or reflect the evil they are protecting against and are widely used and varied. Egyptians and Romans used such amulets as Ra or a cornucopia. In Hindu practices, they include Vishnu’s Footprint, the Vishnupada and the plaque of Hanuman for bravery. In the Middle East and parts of Africa it is common to wear a hand-shaped amulet called the Hand of Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed).

Angel: From Symbols Of Church Seasons And Days (1997), by John Bradner, “Angels kneeling near the Holy Family indicate adoration due a divinity. The herald angel sometimes seen floating in space with right hand raised represents the announcement to the shepherds and is a true Nativity Angel. An angel in a circle in the sky stands for the star seen by the Magi.” See the UMS Angels and Angel Companions course.

Ankh: This symbol is also known in Egypt as the “Cross of Life” and “Key of the Nile.” Originally evolved from the symbol for the Goddess in Libya and Phoenicia, this symbol was adapted by the Egyptians to represent the union of the Goddess (oval) and God (cross), which produced the life-giving floods of the Nile each year, according to Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983). To the Egyptians, this symbol represented “universal life-charm” of every being. Christianity later refined the “Cross of Life” to one that lacked the female oval in the 5th century, but occasionally used it early on as a symbol for immortality.

Anointing: According to Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), “Anointing usually signifies the crossing of a symbolic threshold and a change of status… [it] involves the use of ‘wet’ elements (water, oil, milk, blood, and so on) to mark events such as the consecration of a priest, a coronation, or the inauguration of a project.” Indian religions, Christians, Jews, Egyptians, and others use anointing in their religious ceremonies. Christians usually used holy water or oil for anointing at baptism, death, ordination or coronation. Young hunters were anointed with the blood of their first kill in Britain. Jews anointed Sacred kings or priests who became a Messiah, or “anointed one.” In Egypt, anointing was used to purify shrines as well as humans, alive and dead.

Antichrist: The antichrist is a Christian creation for the equal and opposite of Christ. Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983) explains this universal pattern of dualism, “whereby each god had to have an equal and opposite anti-god,” and the Antichrist is this opposite for Christ and everything he stands for. The Antichrist resulted from an immaculate conception of Satan. Throughout time many people have been dubbed the Antichrist including Nero, Attila, Genghis Khan, Merlin, Frederick II, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm, Hitler and even several popes.

Anubis: This Egyptian god comes in the form of a Jackal-headed human and rules the underworld and mummification as the “opener of the way,” acting as judge of the dead, like Hermes, in the Greek Pantheon of Gods, ruler of the Underworld. Anubis is partnered with Nephthys, an underground aspect of Isis, according to Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), and both were considered essential to the worship of Isis and Osiris. Anubis was also known as the Great Dog and was, at times, demanded the highest honors. “Anubis may have been originally a canine incarnation of Shiva, whose name also meant a jackal,” according to Walker. See Dog. See UMS Gods, Goddesses and Mythology course.

Apex: This pointed conical cap, worn by the Roman high priest, Flamen Dialis, was a phallic symbol representing a continual union with the Queen of Heaven, according to Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983). Dialis never went outdoors without wearing his hat. The wife of the Flamen, called the Flaminica, represented the Goddess and was the more important then the Flamen. On her death the Flamen automatically lost his sacred office and once again became an ordinary citizen. These customs were common in Rome and allude to an important and powerful “priesthood of magical women.” In Celtiberian pagan imagery, the Apex is worn by the Lord of the Underworld, Helman, the consort of the Goddess Hel. The heavenly counterpart to Helman and Hel were the God Frey and Goddess Freya, who also wore the cap. The Apex later became the crown of Egyptian pharaohs, the pope’s tiara, the bishop’s miter, the Fool’s or Dunce cap worn by the Carnival King, and “witch-hat” worn by Tantric priests and sorcerers in Tibet.

Apple: See Fruit.

Aquarius: See Zodiac Signs.

Ash: As all things having to do with fire, ash represents purification. According to Rowena and Rupert Shepherd in their book 1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean In Art And Myth (2002), “Early Jews mixed the ashes of burnt offerings with water to create the water of purification (used after touching the dead), as the ashes contained the life force of the slaughtered animal.” Buddhists believe the ash of cremation had special power; in Chinese folklore ash warded off evil spirits and ghosts; for Christians it represents penance (such as Ash Wednesday); and Hindus believed burning extracted the original purified elements from an object and so sadhus (ascetics) smear themselves with ash.

Athene: See Goddess.

Avatar: An avatar is the name of a soul who has mastered the physical world but chooses to reincarnate back into a physical body to teach others. The Dali Lama and Babaji are examples of avatars who remain to teach us. These people themselves become symbols of enlightenment and mastery and their images are often placed on altars (Walker, 1983). See UMS Great Spiritual Teachers, Gurus and Yogis course.

Axe: As one of the very first tools of humans, the axe gained spiritual attachment for its incredible power and strength. According to Man, Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish, “even the earliest stone axes were probably thought to contain dynamic power, for an impact they emitted explosive noises and sparks reminiscent of the thunder and lightning of the storm gods, and they also destroyed enemies.” Iron from meteors was considered a metal of the gods because it came from heaven and the creation of iron axes increased their value because they were nearly invincible in battle. The double-headed axe became a religious symbol of sacrifice in Crete and thin, curved double-bladed axes became an emblem of the goddess, displayed above sights of sacrifice. The upside-down triangles were widely used as the sign for women and the shaft as a sign for men, together representing union.