The truth shall set you free > Religion

THE SWASTIKA, THE EARLIEST KNOWN SYMBOL, by Wilson, Thomas, 1832-1902/1896

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Prometheus:

 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page.

Preface.................................................................... 763

I.—Definitions, Description, and Origin.

Different forms of tlie cross.............................................. 765

Names and definitions of the Swastika...................................... 768

Symbolism and interpretation............................................... 770

Origin and habitat......................................................... 791

II.—Dispersion of tiie Swastika.

Extreme Orient............................................................. 799

Japan................................................................. 799

Korea................................................................. 799

China................................................................. 799

Tibet................................................................  802

India................................................................. 802

Classical Orient..................-..............................•-...... 806

Babylonia, Assyria, Chaldea, and Persia..............................  806

Plienicia............................................................. 807

Lycaonia.............................................................. 807

Armenia............................................................... 807

Caucasus.............................................................. 808

Asia Minor—Troy (Ilissarlik).......................................... 809

First and Second Cities........................................... 810

The Third or Burnt City........................................... 811

The Fourth City......................*.......................... 813

The Fifth City.................................................... 818

The Sixth and Seventh Cities...................................... 819

Leaden idol of Ilissarlik......................................... 829

Owl-shaped vases.................................................. 830

The age of Trojan cities.......................................... 832

Africa............................................-...................... 833

Egypt................................................................. 833

Naukratis......................................................... 831

Coptos (Achmiin-Panopolis)........................................ 834

Algeria..............................................................  838

Asliantee............................................................. 838

Classical Occident—Mediterranean........................................... 839

Greece, Cyprus, Rhodes, Melos, and Thera.............................. 839

Greek fret and Egytian meander not the same as the Swastika....... 839

Swastika in panels................................................ 845

Swastikas with four arms crossing at right angles, ends bent to-the

right........................................................... 816

Swastikas Avith four arms crossing at right angles, ends beut to the left. 847
Swastikas with four arms crossing at other than right angles, the

ends ogee and to the left.........................-........... 848

Meander pattern, with ends bent to the right and left............. 849

Swastikas of different kinds on the same object................... 849

759
 760   REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1894.

Page.

Eurol>e................................................................. 854

Bronze age.......................................................... 354

Etruria aiul Italy.............................................. 355

Swiss lake dwellings............................................ ggl

Germany and Austria............................................. 862

Belgium......................................................... 863,

Scandinavia..................................................... 864

Scotland and Ireland...................................._....... 867

Gallo-Roman period ................................................. 869

France.......................................................... 869

Anglo-Saxon period.................................................. 870

Britain......................................................... 870

Swastika on ancient coins........................................... 871

Triskelion, Lycia............................................... 871

Triskelion, Sicily..........................*................... 873

Triskelion, Isle of Man......................................... 874

Punch marks 011 Corinthian coins mistaken for Swastikas......... 875

Swastika on ancient Hindu coins................................. 877

Swastika on coins in Mesembria and Gaza......................... 878

Swastika on Danish gold bracteates.............................. 878

United States of America................................................ 879

Pre-Columbian times................................................. 879

Fains Island and Toeo mounds, Tennessee......................... 879

Hopewell Mouud, Chillieotlic, Ross   County, Ohio................. 888

Mounds in Arkansas.............................................. 893

North American Indians.............................................. 894

Kansas.......................................................... 894

Sacs............................................................ 895

Pueblos......................................................... 896

Navajoes........................................................ 897

Pimas........................................................... 901

Colonial patchwork.................................................. yyx

Central America................?........................................ y02

Nicaragua........................................................... y02

Yucatan............................................................. <)02

Costa Rica.......................................................... <)03

South America........................................................... y03

Brazil.............................................................. 993

Paraguay............................................................ 905

III.—Forms Allied to tiie Swastika.

Meanders, ogees, and sjdrals, bent to the left as well as to the right. 905

Aboriginal American engravings and paintings........................ 906

Designs on shell................................................ 906

Ivory-billed woodpecker...................................... 907

The triskele, triskelion,   or   triquetrum...................... 908

The spider................................................... 943

The rattlesnake.............................................. 9X4

The human face and form..,................................... 9X4

Designs ou x>ottery............................................. 920

Designs on basketry............................................. 924

IV.—The Cross among the American Indians.

Different forms......................................................... 926

The cross on objects of shell and copper............................ 926

The cross on pottery---., ................   931
 THE SWASTIKA.

761

Pago.

Symbolic meanings of the cross........................................ 933

The four winds.................................................... 934

Sun and star symbols.............................................. 939

Dwellings......................................................... 939

Dragon fly (Susbeca).............................................. 939

Mide', or Shamans................................................. 937

Flocks of birds................................................... 937

Human forms....................................................... 938

Maidenhood........................................................ 939

Shaman’s spirit................................................... 939

Divers significations............................................. 939

Introduction of the cross into   America................................ 944

Decorative forms not of the cross, but allied to the Swastika......... 946

Color stumps from Mexico and Venezuela............................ 946

»   V.—Significance of the Swastika..................... 948

VI.—The Migration of Symbols.

Migration of the Swastika............................................. 952

Migration of classic symbols.......................................... 960

The sacred tree of the Assyrians.................................. 960

The sacred cone of Mesopotamia.................................... 960

The Crux ansata, the key of life.................................. 961

The winged globe.................................................. 961

The caducous...................................................... 962

The trisula....................................................... 962

The double-headed eagle 011   the escutcheon of Austria and ltussia. 963

The lion rampant of Belgium....................................... 963

Greek art and architecture........................................ 964

The Greek fret.................................................... 965

VII.   —Prehistoric Objects Associated with the Swastika, found in

Both Hemispheres, and Believed to have passed by Migration.

Spindle whorls........................................................ 966

Europe............................................................ 967

Switzerland—Lake dwellings.................................... 967

Italy......................................................... 968

Wurtemburg.................................................... 968

France........................................................ 968

North America—pre-Columbian times................................. 969

Mexico........................................................ 970

Central America................................................... 971

Nicaragua..................................................... 971

South America..................................................... 972

Cliiriqui..................................................... 972

Colombia...................................................... 972

Peru.......................................................... 972

Bobbins............................................................... 975

Europe............................................................ 975

United States..................................................... 975

VIII.   —Similar Prehistoric Arts, Industries, and Implements in

Europe and America as   Evidence of the Migration of Culture. 977

Conclusion............................................................ 981

Bibliography.......................................................... 981

List of Illustrations   .................................. -.   997
 i

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