Symbols in the ornaments of various nations. The front side of the embroidery symbolizes a harmonious world, and the back side symbolizes our attitude to this world


IN modern world ornament is a pattern that decorates household items without carrying any meaning. For us, rhombuses on a carpet are just rhombuses, and circles are just circles. But there were times when people knew how to read patterns, encrypted in them their ideas about life, about the other world, about eternal truths.

We can say that decorative drawing is the result of the found relationship between the perception of nature and the decorative reflection of reality. Over the many years of the existence of decorative art, various types patterns: geometric, floral, complex, etc., from simple joints to complex intricacies.

The ornament can consist of objective and non-objective motifs, it can include human forms, the animal world and mythological creatures; naturalistic elements are intertwined and articulated in the ornament with stylized and geometric patterns. At certain stages of artistic evolution, the line between ornamental and subject painting “blurs”. This can be observed in the art of Egypt (Amaranian period), the art of Crete, ancient Roman art, late Gothic, and Art Nouveau.

First, geometric patterns arose, this was at the dawn of human culture. What could be simpler than straight or wavy lines, circles, cells, crosses? It is these motifs that decorate the walls of clay vessels. primitive people, ancient products made of stone, metal, wood and bone. For ancient man they were conventional signs, with the help of which he could express his concept of the world. Straight horizontal line meant earth, wavy - water, cross - fire, rhombus, circle or square - the sun.

By old belief, the symbols in the patterns carried spiritual power, capable of conjuring any evil and injustice of the elemental forces of nature. These symbolic signs that came to us from the ancients ritual holidays, – with magical symbolism. For example, in the Filimonov toy (Russia) we see symbols of the sun, earth, water, and fertility. The masters passed all the images and symbols through their perception of the world and showed their perception of the world in the painting. Ancient symbols are also found in the Dymkovo and Kargopol toys. But they are different in ornamentation everywhere. In every craft we notice symbols of the sun, water, etc. The ancient symbolism of peasant religion runs through them as a thin thread.

And the ornament is in Russian folk costume. The main motives of which were solar signs - circles, crosses; images of a female figure - a symbol of fertility, mother - raw earth; wavy rhythmic lines – signs of water; horizontal straight lines indicating the ground; images of a tree are the personification of ever-living nature. Embroidery on peasant clothes not only decorated it and delighted those around with the beauty of its patterns, but was also supposed to protect the one who wore these clothes from harm, from an evil person. A woman embroidered Christmas trees - which means she wished the person prosperous and happy life, because spruce is the tree of life and goodness. A child was born to a peasant woman. And she will decorate his first simple shirt with embroidery in the form of a straight line in a bright, joyful color. This is a straight and bright road that a child should follow. May this road be happy and joyful for him.

The image of the sun occupies one of the main places in decorative and applied arts. The sun in the form of round rosettes, diamonds, can be found in different types of folk art.

A straight equal-pointed cross was also an image of the sun in folk symbolism. The rhombus was revered as a symbol of fertility and was often combined with the sun sign inscribed in it.

The tree of Life

In addition to the geometric one, in the ornaments of Ancient Rus', one can often find various ancient pagan themes. For example, the female figure personified the goddess of the earth and fertility. In pagan art, the tree of life embodied the power of living nature; it depicted the divine tree, on which the growth of herbs, cereals, trees and the “growth” of man himself depended. Very often you can find stories of magical calendar rituals, which are associated with the main stages of agricultural work.

The most diverse symbolism is characteristic of images of the plant world, which included flowers, trees, and herbs.
In Egyptian ornaments, the decoration often used a lotus flower or lotus petals - an attribute of the goddess Isis, a symbol of the divine productive power of nature, regenerating life, high moral purity, chastity, mental and physical health, and in the funeral cult it was considered a magical means of reviving the dead. This flower was personified with the sun, and its petals with the sun's rays. The lotus motif became widespread in the ornamental forms of the Ancient East (China, Japan, India, etc.).

The Egyptians also used the image of aloe in their ornaments - this drought-resistant plant symbolized life in the other world. Of the trees, the date and coconut palms, sycamore, acacia, tamarisk, blackthorn, persea (Osiris tree), mulberry tree were especially revered - they embodied the life-affirming principle, the idea of ​​the ever-fruitful Tree of Life..

Laurel in Ancient Greece was dedicated to the god Apollo and served as a symbol of cleansing from sins, since a sacred laurel branch was fanned for the person to be cleansed. Laurel wreaths were awarded to winners in musical and gymnastic competitions in Delphi, the main center of the cult of Apollo. The laurel served as a symbol of glory.

Hops - cultivated plant, the picturesque appearance of which contributed to the widespread use of plant forms in ornamentation. The image of hops combined with ears was used as decoration on household items.
Grapevine - clusters and branches were especially revered in antiquity and the Middle Ages. In ancient Greek mythology, this is an attribute of the god Bacchus, among Christians - in combination with ears of corn (bread and wine, meaning the sacrament of communion) - a symbol of the suffering of Christ.

Ivy is an evergreen climbing shrub, sometimes a tree; like the vine was dedicated to Bacchus. Its leaves have a variety of shapes, most often heart-shaped or with pointed lobes. They were often used in ancient art to decorate vases and wine vessels.
Oak is the king of forests, a symbol of strength and power. Oak leaves were widespread in Roman ornamentation. Their images are often found on friezes and capitals, church utensils and other types of Gothic applied art, as well as in the works of masters Italian Renaissance. Currently, images of oak leaves along with laurel can be found on medals and coins.

Oak is a symbol of power, endurance, longevity and nobility, as well as glory.

IN ancient China pine symbolizes immortality and longevity. a truly noble personality. The image of the pine tree echoes the image of the cypress, which in Chinese beliefs was endowed with special protective and healing properties, including protection from the dead. Among the flowering trees important place occupied by the wild plum - meihua - this tree is a symbol of the New Year, spring and the birth of everything new. Among flowers, the central place is given to the peony. The peony is associated with female beauty and family happiness. The orchid and chrysanthemum are associated with the divine world and ritual rituals. The most common symbol among vegetables is the gourd pumpkin, which has become a symbol of immortality and longevity.

Painted gourd, vessel and talisman (China, 19th century)

“Happy fruits”: pomegranate, tangerine, orange - symbols of longevity and a successful career.

Sakura motifs are often found in Japanese arts and crafts. It is a symbol of beauty, youth, tenderness, and the inevitable variability of the transitory world.

Flowers are widely used in ornamental motifs of all times and styles. They serve as decoration for fabrics, wallpaper, dishes and other types of decorative art.
The rose has polar symbolism: it is heavenly perfection and earthly passion, time and eternity, life and death, fertility and virginity. It is also a symbol of the heart, the center of the universe, the cosmic wheel, divine, romantic and sensual love. The rose is completeness, the mystery of life, its focus, the unknown, beauty, grace, happiness, but also voluptuousness, passion, and in combination with wine - sensuality and seduction. A rosebud is a symbol of virginity; withered rose - transience of life, death, sorrow; its thorns are pain, blood and martyrdom.

Heraldic roses: 1 – Lancaster; 2 – York; 3 – Tudor; 4 – England (badge); 5 – German rose Rosenow; 6 – Russian stamp.

The heraldic medieval rose has five or ten petals, which connects it with the Pythagorean pentad and decanate. A rose with red petals and white stamens is the emblem of England, the most famous breastplate of English kings. After the "Wars of the Roses", named after the badges of the families fighting for the English crown, the scarlet rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York were combined in the form of the "Tudor Rose". The bright crimson rose is the unofficial emblem of Bulgaria. The famous tea rose is the emblem of Beijing. Nine white roses are in the coat of arms of Finland.
In ancient ornaments, along with plants, various animals are often depicted: birds, horses, deer, wolves, unicorns, lions. They form a horizontal structure of the tree of life: at the top are birds; at the level of the trunk - people, animals, and also bees; under the roots - snakes, frogs, mice, fish, beavers, otters.

Animals can be seen on embroidered towels and aprons , on a painted chest X, on carved and painted spinning wheels; on the walls of ancient Russian cathedrals and in the decorations of huts , in the ornaments of initial letters. Ancient images of a horse and a bird have been preserved in folk toys and in dishes. Pommels for horse whips and combat bows were carved in the shape of animal or bird heads. Stylized animals and birds decorated hair combs, utensils and dishes. In ancient times, many natural phenomena were personified in the images of animals and everyone looked at these phenomena from the point of view that was closer to him, depending on his lifestyle and occupation: the point of view of the shepherd differed from the views of the hunter, and both of them - from the warrior. People transferred their knowledge about earthly animals to atmospheric phenomena.
A bird in folk arts and crafts could represent wind, cloud, lightning, thunderstorm, storm and sunlight. Ladles and salt shakers were carved in the shape of birds; embroidered birds decorated women’s clothing. . The image of a bird has widely entered the folklore of almost all peoples of the world.


The horse also personified all natural phenomena associated with rapid movement - wind, storm, clouds. He was often depicted as fire-breathing, with a clear sun or a moon on his forehead, and with a golden mane. A wooden horse, made for children's fun, was often completely decorated with solar signs or flowers. . It was believed that this protected the child from evil forces. Images of horses can often be seen on household items (bucket handles, spinning wheels , spindles), on clothes .

In the northern regions, natural phenomena associated with horses were also attributed by ancient people to deer . Deer were often depicted near the tree of life on embroidered towel, sometimes they were placed instead of a ridge on the roof of the hut. The sacred role of the horse and deer in Scythian art is often associated with the hope of the successful ascension of the soul to another world.
The lion in the mythology of many peoples was a symbol of the sun and fire, as well as different times at different nations he personified higher power, power, power and greatness, generosity, nobility, intelligence. The image of a lion has existed in decorative and applied arts since ancient times.
For many centuries, the lion remained one of the favorite figures in Russian symbolism. In ancient Russian images associated with grand-ducal power, the image of a lion, depending on what surrounded it, had two meanings: power bestowed by God and the defeated power of evil.

Folk craftsmen often carved lions on the front board of the hut or painted them on chests surrounded by floral patterns; craftswomen embroidered them.

Feminine. The Great Mother, in her terrible form as the weaver of fate, is sometimes depicted as a spider. All lunar goddesses are spinners and weavers of fate. The web that the spider weaves, weaves from the center in a spiral, is a symbol of the creative forces of the Universe, a symbol of the universe. The spider in the center of the web symbolizes the center of the world; The sun is surrounded by rays; The moon, representing the cycles of life and death, weaving the web of time. The spider is often associated with luck, wealth or rain. Killing a spider is a bad omen.

Spider depicted on an American Indian amulet

Thanks to the stability of religious canons, the meaning of symbols in the ornamentation of Egypt and the art of the countries of the Ancient East remained unchanged for many millennia. Therefore, for ethnographers and archaeologists, ancient ornaments are signs with which one can “read” a kind of magical texts.

Ethnocultural contacts, trade, military campaigns, religious missions, ambassadorial gifts and visiting artists contributed to the movement of works of art from one country to another, which led to the spread of artistic ideas and styles.
Often subsequent generations of artists use previous art and create their own variations on it. So a shining example may serve as the element swastika, one of the earliest symbols, which is found in the ornaments of almost all peoples of Europe, Asia, America, etc. The oldest images of the swastika are found already in the culture of the Tripoli tribes of the 5th-4th millennium BC. e. In the ancients and medieval cultures The swastika is a solar symbol, a lucky sign, with which ideas about fertility, generosity, well-being, movement and power of the sun are associated.

Kolovrat or Solstice is one of the oldest ancient Russian symbols, personifying the Sun and solar gods Svarog, Dazhdbog and Yarila. The name of the symbol comes from the word “kolo” - sun.

The symbol itself looks like a circle with curved rays, which is why many associate it with the fascist swastika. Although this is fundamentally not true: the fascists really used this solar symbol, but not vice versa.

In 1852, the French scientist Eugene Bournouf first gave the four-pointed cross with curved ends the Sanskrit name “swastika,” which roughly means “bringer of good.” Buddhism made the swastika its symbol, giving it the mystical meaning of the eternal rotation of the world.
There is virtually no modern symbolism in the ornaments of modern times, despite the fact that it exists in abundance in the surrounding reality. As an exception, there may be the work of modernist artists. IN late XIX- early 20th century these artists tried to create their own symbolism and reproduce it in their work.
Ornament in their works no longer played a supporting role, but became an integral part of the image, organically woven into the outline of the plot.
At the same time, A. Bely, a theorist of Russian symbolism, wrote: “The symbolist artist, saturating the image with experience, transforms it into his work; such a transformed (modified) image is a symbol.” And further A. Bely records the main slogans of symbolism in art: “1. a symbol always reflects reality; 2. a symbol is an image modified by experience; 3. the form of an artistic image is inseparable from the content.”
At these three points famous poet and the prose writer accurately formulated the basic principles of creating a symbolic work, which can be used in any form of art, including ornamental.

Ornaments and symbols are still very popular today. Since historical times, people have firmly believed in evil spirits and spirits. To protect themselves from otherworldly, far-fetched characters, people came up with protection in the form of various amulets on clothes, depicting different signs and unusual symbols.

Various details of embroidery carry a completely unique significance: from birth to carrying out a person on his last journey.

Drawings traditionally passed down through generations are divided into four types:

  • plant origin
  • geometric patterns
  • botanical mixed with geometric
  • patterns representing gods in animal form


Needlewomen most often use floral and geometric embroidered patterns. Among knowledgeable embroiderers, patterns of plant origin have the following interpretations:

Rose symbolism

Since ancient times, the rose was considered the most revered sunny flower in Ukraine. Red roses, reminiscent of blood, symbolize life.

The ornaments and symbols created by noble needlewomen included flowers and rose leaves and were embroidered in a closed stripe, reminiscent of an endless wreath, denoting continuous life, rebirth and the renewed movement of the sun. Sometimes roses were depicted with a geometric pattern in the form of stars collected in the endless celestial surface.

Bunches of grapes

Grape patterns are recognized throughout central Ukraine. The Kiev, Poltava, and Chernigov regions are famous for their embroidered shirts and towels, decorated with large bunches of grapevines.

This vegetation means joy associated with marriage, the well-being of the future family, and peace. Garden - grapes are marked by a vital field. Here the husband is the sower, the breadwinner, and the wife is the homemaker. A bunch of grapes resembles a family tree with healthy and numerous members of the genus. The Ukrainian history of embroidery dates back to ancient times and reveals the meaning of ornaments and symbols.

Poppy

The poppy was considered the most magical flower in Ukraine, protecting the family from the evil eye and problems. Blessed poppy seeds were scattered in the house, the owner's yard, and sprinkled on residents and animals.

The red color of the flower represents the blood of the dead. The poppy pattern, boxes with seeds, leaves represent protection from evil intent or the memory of fallen warriors - family members. Young women from the family of a deceased soldier wore wreaths of seven poppy flowers. This action signified an oath to protect and continue the family line.

White Lily

The tenderness and fragility of the lily flower is equated with girlish innocence, charm and beauty. The image of lilies and a pair of white swans look touching - a sign of pure, sincere love and endless fidelity. The lily is embroidered like a flower, leaves and bud, symbolizing the mystery of the birth of a new life and personifying feminine energy, as a symbol of purity, charm, virgin purity. The line drawing can be complemented by a cross blessing the young family. The image above the flower of a drop prophesies fertilization.

Oak

Even in ancient times, Perun was considered a powerful, formidable, omnipotent God. The symbolic sign of the above-mentioned God is the oak tree, considered a symbol of male strength, powerful vital energy, inflexibility.

Clothing, towels and men's household items were decorated with a pattern depicting an oak tree, making Ukrainian men strong and courageous, proudly defending their family. Oak is a powerful plant that personifies the sun god, development and life. Oak and viburnum combine girlish beauty and masculine strength. They are often used to embroider shirts.

Viburnum is a symbol of the family

Kalina is a bush glorifying the Ukrainian family, reports girlish beauty the origin of life. Viburnum berries mean the immortality of the Ukrainian people. A bush with life-giving flowers and fruits was planted in the yard. The old Slavs came up with a name for the sun - “kolo”. It is believed that viburnum took this name for itself. Juicy clusters of the above-mentioned berries indicate a healthy and strong family. Ukrainian craftswomen embroidered wedding towels and all kinds of shirts with clusters of red viburnum.

Symbolism of hop leaves

Embroidery in the central part of Ukraine - Podol is famous for the pattern of hop leaves. Hops are a sign of youth, carrying a positive energy reserve of feelings of love and rebirth. Shirts and towels intended for weddings were decorated with hops. It can be considered a wedding symbol, personifying the flow of life and a young, strong family.


Bereginya

The most powerful amulet in Ukrainian embroidery is a flowerpot with flowers, birds and Bereginya - a magical flower, marked by maternal power, reflecting the preservation of the entire human race. Ukrainians honor the symbol of the Bereginya, combined with their own mother, her affectionate and gentle hands. Bereginya of the human race is depicted as a flowering plant or a female silhouette. This is a sign of healing, cleansing, protection. It is embroidered with red thread with the addition of black. Shades of red signify the sun and cleansing fire.

The history of embroidery with creative images and the meaning of amazing patterns and iconic symbols is interesting. Chernobrivtsi are healing flowers that heal emotional distress and bodily illnesses, personifying love for living nature.

Ornaments and symbols of the Sun and Water

IN Slavic embroidery patterns are used that symbolize the Sun and Water - the forces that support earthly life. The Sun and Water are parting symbols, like an octagonal flower. This amazing ornament connects the elements that support earthly life. Signs are perceived by solar and water parent energy. A flower with eight corners or a rosette is the Sun, and a twisted one is Water.

Geometric patterns

Popular type of embroidered pattern Slavic peoples- rhombus National folk embroidery is famous for its image of rhombuses. This is a strong amulet that brings happiness and good luck. The symbol is widespread and used in embroidery of Slavic ethnic clothing.

Ukrainian needlewomen, when embroidering all kinds of significant patterns, often used geometric designs, the meaning of which was made public.

  • The Earth and the Sun, supplemented by Water - symbols that give life to all living things, are indicated by symbolic rhombuses, which mean the fertility of the Earth, heated by the heat of the sun.
  • The stars represent the solar system and the universe, characterized by order and harmony.
  • A rhombus crossed by lines means a field, a plot of land.
  • A rhombus with dots in the center - fertility, fertilization.
  • The circle is a symbolism of the Sun and harmony.
  • The wavy contours are water sources.
  • Radiation - prosperity, blessing from heaven, a well-fed life.


This article appeared due to the increased interest shown in the article “Solar Signs Around Us”. The topic of solar symbols fascinates many people. Firstly, its antiquity. Solar symbols have appeared since the beginning of time, perhaps at the very moment when man consciously looked at the shining circle of fire in the sky, the circle we call the Sun. Secondly, because this is one of the symbols often used by the Slavs. Thirdly, the theme of the sun is close to everyone, well, who among us is not happy when the sun comes out after a long period of bad weather?

In the modern RuNet there is a lot of different information on solar signs and, therefore, it is very important to “separate the wheat from the chaff.” That is, if you are interested real story this article can and should be read, if you are satisfied with the pseudo-Slavic cranberry, then there is no point in reading the article, buy yourself some kind of “Perunitsa”, “Star of Lada” or the “primordial Slavic symbol” “Kolovrat” and calm down. For those who are planning to reach the end, I advise you to be patient.

All illustrations in the article can be viewed in enlarged form (right mouse button - open image)

Sun worship.

Let's talk about how we know about solar signs, such as they were understood and depicted by the Proto-Slavs, Slavs and then the Russian people. The sources of our knowledge are primarily archeology and ethnography. Archaeological excavations provide a wealth of material: jewelry, religious objects and household items. Ethnographers provide material in the form of house carvings, carvings of household items, embroidery and oral art, and rituals.

They talk about the antiquity of the cult of the Sun archaeological finds. For example, solar signs from the Sungir site. . The Sungir River is a tributary of the Klyazma, not far from Vladimir. The age of the disks is approximately 25,000 years (from 20 to 29 thousand years). In the graves of mammoth hunters, the disks were located in such a way that the version of their cult significance, primarily the amulet significance of solar signs, is seriously considered by many scientists. High level burial cultures, high tech in the manufacture of clothing (the hunter's clothing was embroidered with 10,000 thousand beads from mammoth bone), weapons (a spear made from straightened mammoth ivory) and household items indicates the development of cults and culture in general. (read the article by O. N. Bader “Elements of the Cult of the Luminaries in the Paleolithic”)

It is believed that cults of sun worship were born in the Neolithic. And what is of particular interest is that these cults are common to almost everyone. Farmers, cattle breeders, and hunter-fishermen worshiped the sun in a similar way. Sun cults were similar among different ethnic societies, sometimes living far from each other and not connected in any way. The symbolic signs that are associated with the cult of the sun are also very similar. These signs have been preserved among many peoples of the world in one form or another, usually in the form of ornaments. In embroidery, folk crafts, in everyday life.

Solar signs of the Slavs.

Let's leave the distant past alone and talk about what, according to historians, happened quite recently. About the times of formation Kievan Rus and the first centuries of the formation of the Russian state. In particular, we are interested in real artifacts of the past, found by scientists, and “something” invented out of the minds of modern entertainers.

The topic of solar signs was most fully presented in his book “Paganism.” ancient Rus'"Wonderful scientist Rybakov B.A. His book traces several main theses regarding the solar signs that the Slavs used.

    The solar signs of the Eastern Slavs primarily carry a protective, protective meaning. The Slavs used various versions of solar signs to protect a person and his home from evil otherworldly, night forces. From ghouls and navi.

    Rybakov believes that the symbols of the sun were used by our ancestors not on their own, but as part of the universe, which the Eastern Slavs imagined as follows: the “firmament of the earth,” with plants, animals and people, was covered by the arc of the sky along which the sun moved. During this movement, the sun was depicted in several forms - Morning, Midday, Evening, all three suns together made up the Triune Sun. Often, below ground level, the Midnight Sun was depicted, which in the evening, having gone beyond one edge of the earth, appeared from behind the other edge in the morning. Above the firmament there were “heavenly abysses” in which all the moisture was stored, which then fell in the form of rain. Jets of rain connected the “heavenly abysses” with the earth.

    Rybakov suggests distinguishing sun signs by shape. For example, he fills a circle with four spokes with the meaning of a talisman “on all four sides.” The solar symbol with six spokes is traditionally called the thunder wheel and correlates it primarily with the cult of the sun. Rybakov correlates the solar sign with many spokes or rays not with the Sun but with the White Light, the concept of which he distinguishes from the concept of the Sun (read optionally from Rybakov about the White Light). Rybakov does not define solar symbols with eight spokes separately; he only speaks about the rarity of their use by the Slavs.

The main images of solar symbols that the Slavs used in life and everyday life.

A simple version of the solar symbol
Solar sign "on all four sides"
Solar sign "six spokes" - Thunder wheel
Solar sign "eight spokes"

Multi-beam solar sign.

This option has a large number various images.

Multi-beam solar sign.

This option has a large number various images.

"Artistic" solar symbol.

This option has a large number various images.

Amulet meaning of solar signs.

According to scientists, solar signs were used by the Slavs primarily as protective, amulet symbols. The course of the sun across the sky was predetermined and has not changed since human memory. Day after day, the fiery wheel rose above the horizon and, having rolled across the sky, descended to the other end of the earth. I had to pray to the sky to send rain, I had to pray to the gods to protect me from bad weather, hail, invasion and other misfortunes. But the sun, for its unshakable course across the sky, could simply be revered and thanked. Day after day, the sun, rising above the horizon, gave people its warmth and light, dispelling the darkness of the night and driving away the cold. The sun embodied the victory of light forces over dark ones. The triumph of the forces of good over the forces of evil.

Therefore, solar signs carried within themselves, first of all, a protective meaning - the eternal victory of good over evil. What kind of dark creature would poke itself into where the bright and hot sun is depicted?

Thus, we can conclude that the Slavs and later the Russian people used numerous images of the sun as a powerful amulet symbol in the hope of protecting themselves and their home from all sorts of misfortunes “known and unknown”

Protective house carving of the Slavs.

The home, a sacred place for every person, had to be protected first of all. When enemies attacked, the man took a spear in his hands and went into battle, trying to defend his house. But what about invisible misfortunes, evil and malevolent spirits, navyas and ghouls? To protect the house from this threat, the Slavs used well-developed methods of house carving, the obligatory element of which was images of the sun.

All entrances to the hut were covered like locks with solar signs. This protective complex primarily included carvings on the piers and carved frames on the windows.

Rybakov clearly connects the ornamental carvings on the porches of huts with the Slavs’ understanding of the structure of the universe.

The prichelins embody the firmament, according to

to which the triune sun moves. Below on the left is rising, under the ridge is midday, on the right is setting. Several suns may be depicted, probably to enhance the effect. Under the ridge, on a vertical board - a towel, several sun signs could also be depicted. One of which was most often a thunder wheel. Images of a thunder wheel (six spokes) under the ridge were supposed to be used as a talisman against thunder and lightning. A wavy line was often drawn along the upper edge of the piers, which, according to Rybakov, represented “heavenly abysses.”

But covering the main entrance to the hut from evil forces was not enough. The windows also had to be protected. The protective function for the windows was performed by solar signs carved on the frames, among other ornamental patterns.

In addition to the external security complex, a internal protection huts Ceiling beams (logs) which were called svolok or matitsi, carrying large household and sacred meaning They were also decorated with amulet carvings, including solar symbols.

Protective household carving of the Slavs.

The amulet carving of the Slavs extended to all aspects of human life. Protecting the hut was not enough. Therefore, protective measures were also taken for household items that people used in their lives.

Many objects were decorated with symbols of the sun. Dishes - ladles, clay pots, chests, chests. The backs of chairs and children's cradles were decorated with solar signs.

Among the protected household items and tools special place occupy those that were used in the production of fabric and clothing throughout the creation cycle. Tools and accessories for weaving and spinning were especially densely decorated with solar symbols. All objects are used in the cycle of creating fabric - rollers, crushers, ruffles, carders and others bore solar signs.

Spinning wheels were decorated with especially lavish carvings, often representing true work folk art. All work with yarn was considered sacred and often images associated with weaving were used in various magical rituals.

Rybakov believed that the protective carvings on the shovels of spinning wheels often not only carried images of the sun, but often reflected the Slavic worldview, with its earth’s surface, the course of the sun and the “heavenly abysses” connected to the earth by threads of rain.

Household items decorated with amulet solar carvings.



Items related to fabric production. Spinning wheels, rollers, ruffles.

I would like to dwell on this illustration in more detail. It is from the book by Darkevich V.P. “Journey to Ancient Ryazan”. Ryazan was destroyed by Batu's troops in the winter of 1237. There was never a city in this place again. The Ryazan that we know now was built in a different place.

Darkevich led the Staroryazan archaeological expedition for many years. A wealth of material was found, including numerous pot bottoms bearing marks. Very often the marks were solar symbols.

One hypothesis says that these signs are the personal marks of the masters. But Darkevich, after an in-depth study of the material, claims that these marks are symbols of amulets against evil spirits, applied to pots for magical purposes.

Protective clothing protection.

Having protected the hut, objects of labor and everyday life, it was necessary to protect oneself. Human clothing, both men's and women's, was covered with amulets embroidery or already woven with amulets ornaments. Ornamental images of solar signs, earth, and a sown field protected the “openings” of clothing—collars, sleeves at the wrists, and hem. Women's clothing was decorated more carefully.

Such a part of clothing as a belt was decorated with a talismanic ornament. Not a single Slavic costume could be imagined without a belt. The belt was a mandatory accessory to the costume. The belt was often used in folk customs, carrying a sacred protective and connecting meaning. Appearing in public without a belt was unthinkable.

Another sacred part of the costume of the Slavs and Russians was the headdress. The girl, after marriage, always wore a headdress to cover her head and hide her hair. Women in the hut did not take off their headdress like men. The women's headdress, as well as clothing, was richly decorated with embroidery and various metal products.

Often a woman’s headdress, especially a festive one, was a difficult-to-understand product, each detail of which carried one or another sacred and protective meaning. The decoration (especially of the festive) women's headdress included various products made of metal, but more on that below.

Quantity various options and the richness of the decoration of women's headdresses amazes the imagination. But you can often find symbols of the sun that protect a woman from evil.

Here's another interesting illustration. On the left is a drawing of embroidery on magpies (one of the variants of women's headdress) from the book by Grigorieva G. A. "Hats of the Russian North".

This embroidery can be mistaken for some kind of traditional ornament with plant elements.

But! If we try to apply to this embroidery the theory of the Slavic universe according to Rybakov, we can easily discern in this embroidery the “firmament of the earth” - it is symbolized floral ornament, a firmament with many suns depicting its course, and a wavy line of “heavenly abysses” above the suns.

Here it is - the Slavic universe, depicted in the center of a woman's headdress.

Very often, instead of the traditional circle, a swastika symbol in the form of a four-rayed cross with curved ends was used as solar symbols in ornamental embroidery. Or various combinations of connecting these symbols. Scientists traditionally include this swastika symbol in the group of solar signs; sometimes they talk about a second meaning of this sign. This sign symbolizes fire. However, the signs of fire are easily correlated with solar symbols, since the sun is nothing more than “heavenly fire.”

The presence of a swastika (traditional, four-rayed) in embroidery is connected, as one can assume, precisely with the embroidery technique. Rectangular symbols are easier to embroider (weave) than round ones; it is easy to build repeating complex patterns.

It should be especially noted that all the wealth of swastika symbols that in our time were invented by “neopagans” and with which online stores selling “pseudo-Slavic cranberries” are filled, is absent in folk embroidery.

Amulet jewelry and metal jewelry.

In the matter of jewelry, women have undoubted primacy. It is the women's costume and, especially, the headdress that is richly decorated with metal products that carry various amulet meanings. Solar signs are almost always depicted on jewelry.

Necklaces, necklace pendants, headdress temple pendants, bracelets, and rings often bore the image of the sun, additionally protecting the owner from dark forces. The temple rings of a woman's headdress can also be correlated with solar symbols. It is interesting that pendants with images of the sun going down on both sides of the woman’s head seemed to cover the woman’s ears. After all, ears are holes in the body and evil can penetrate through them.

At this point it will be interesting to draw some kind of analogy. In his article about pagan women's tattoos I wrote about tattoos of Berber women. By applying protective protective tattoos, Berber women protected all the orifices of their bodies. This detail interestingly coincides with the construction of the amulet protection of the Slavic costume, in which they try to cover with embroidery all the holes through which dark forces can gain access to the human body. Apparently people both in Africa and here, in the territory occupied Slavic tribes thought the same.

Coin-shaped pendants (see below). From the book by Sedova M.V. “Jewelry of Ancient Novgorod. ( X-XV centuries). These pendants were found mainly in layers XI - XIII centuries and you can see how many of them carry the Christian cross and how many bear solar signs. Quite a comparable amount. This indicates the wide distribution of solar amulets in the form of coin-shaped pendants.

Rings with geometric patterns (see left). Most of the finds were made in the Moscow region in the basin of the upper Klyazma, its tributaries Uche and Vore, and in the basin of the middle Moscow River. All these finds were made in burials, in the burial mounds of the Vyatichi people. It is believed that the existence of these rings began in the third quarter of the 12th century. Among the patterns, patterns containing solar symbols in the center of the composition are easily distinguished. (T.V. Ravdina “Old Russian cast rings with geometric patterns”).

The Arabic numeral to the right of each ring design indicates the number of copies found.

As you can see, solar symbols and swastikas were a popular part of the ornaments.

Comparative table from the article by Darkevich V.P. “Symbols of heavenly bodies in the ornament of Ancient Rus'.” I - general view of jewelry of the X-XIII centuries, II - diagram of the ornament on jewelry, III - signs used as solar symbols in bronze and iron ages. Darkevich included decorations in the form of a cross in the table, some in the form of an explicit Christian cross, on the basis that the cross is an ancient symbol denoting fire and the sun, but nevertheless, in the era to which these decorations belong, these crosses carried an unambiguous meaning - the meaning of the Christian cross, so the basis for including such decorations in this table is doubtful.

Conclusion.

Concluding the topic of the protective solar symbols of the Slavs, we can say the following - against the forces of evil, against dark forces and various misfortunes “known and unknown,” our ancestors used the mighty, so to speak, "deep in echelon" defense

The first line of amulet symbols protected the home.

The second is household and labor items.

The third line was used to protect people and especially women.

It can be assumed that this ritual of protection was developed by our ancestors long before the times of Kievan Rus and was used long after, already in Christian times, as a well-proven protection. However, the hidden semantic meaning of such protection began to gradually be lost.

There was actually another line of defense! But it no longer carried a material image of the sun signs, although it resorted to direct protection of the sun. More on this below.

Addition for those especially interested, like me J

The protective meaning of the sun in conspiracies.

Having almost finished this article, I thought about the fact that such a powerful belief in the good power of the sun should have left traces in oral creativity Russian people. In search of such traces, we can only operate with what ethnographers have collected for us in last centuries existence Tsarist Russia. It is clear that we cannot see the amulet conspiracies of the Slavs, in the form in which they existed in pagan times. Century Orthodox faith introduced a strong Christian element into the conspiracies and in appeals to the active force, Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and various Christian saints appear primarily. This is quite understandable and understandable.

But, you can find traces of the solar cult in its amulet meaning (the given quotes are taken from the book by A.L.T. Porkkov “Russian conspiracies from handwritten sources XVII- first half of the 19th century V."). I won’t give all the conspiracies, just what is related to our topic.

A conspiracy from sorcerers, evil people and corruption.

Speak(s) on Ivan Friday morning at the lock. Lord bless, father. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Behold, servant of the name, I will bless you, I will go and cross myself, wrap yourself in the red sun(emphasis added), I will gird myself with the bright dawn, sweat with the frequent stars, take the young bright moon in my hand, and go into the open field, and meet my guardian angel and the Most Pure Mother of God; and pray and cry: Cover me with your blood and your wings and protect me with your robe from the sorcerer and from the sorceress, from the sorcerer and from the thing, and from every evil person, and from every an evil parable on the waters and on the earth. ...

Hunting plot List from Timoshkin's letters to Polokhov.

Lord God, bless father. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Saint Trufan takes me from rivers and lakes and from stranded guns. And the same holy Trufan receives to me, to the servant of God named son, from all four sides every duck to my holy films, my holy films have sugar, on my circles there is a honey drink of my choice, and eat your fill and drink drunk. The earth is the father and mother of every man, I will support it with the earth, and I will fence it off with the sky, I will gird myself with the dawn, I dress with the red sun from the witch, from witches and from witches, from every horse sorcerer and from every sorcerer from white and from black, from monks and from monks and from girls of the head, from dashing blood and from envy. ...

Conspiracies against arrows, bullets and adversaries.

This ace, the servant of God named, shielded by the sun, I am covered with stars, I dress as a visionary from sorcerers and sorceresses. Stand near me, servant of God by name, fireplace wall from our adversaries who are fighting against me. I conjure you, iron and brush, and tin, all kinds of arrows, flying day and night, at all times from cannon bullets, from a knife and from an ax, and from a reed, and from a saber, and from spears, and from a spear, and from an awl, and from a wooden blow. Amen.

These are the conspiracies. And in each of them the sun is present, as a good and strong protection from dark and evil forces. Regarding the formula from the first conspiracy “...I will wrap myself in the red sun...” Toporkov gives explanations by correlating this formula with the Christian basis (Revelations of John the Theologian), maybe he is right, but this phrase falls painfully precisely into our topic - the sun as a talisman. In the end, you can take it literally - wear clothes decorated with solar symbols.

As can be seen from the quotes, the main active force to which the one who speaks turns is the Christian - Orthodox force, but, however, the “name” does not forget to use the powerful amulet power of the “red sun”, as his ancestors did from time immemorial. In the conspiracy, the protective power of the sun is used against sorcerers and other evil people, as well as against weapons.

The most interesting thing is that this is not all.

Almost every amulet or security plot mentions the sun. It is almost always said that the spell is pronounced in the light of the sun - “at dawn, as the red sun rises”, “under the red sun”, “turning towards the sun”, “to the east, at dawn, under the red sun”. That is, the one who pronounces the conspiracy, as it were, calls the sun as a witness, and the sun, in turn, illuminates both directly and indirectly. divine sense, consolidates this magical effect. Often this consolidation occurs through an action, for example, walking around three times in the direction of the sun’s movement - “salt”, the person pronouncing the spell imitates the movement of the sun across the sky, thus further consolidating the spell.

Thank you for your attention.

nordicrunes, April 2015

Bibliography.

Rybakov B.A. "Paganism of Ancient Rus'"
Darkevich V.P. “Symbols of heavenly bodies in the ornament of Ancient Rus'”
Darkevich V. P. “Journey to ancient Ryazan”
Voronov V. “Peasant Art”
Grigorieva G.A. "Hats of the Russian North"
Kruglova O.V. "Russian folk carving and wood painting"
Kutasov S.N., Seleznev A.B. " Pectoral crosses, cross-connected and cross-shaped pendants"
Lebedeva N.I. " Folk life in the upper reaches of the Desna and in the upper reaches of the Oka."
Kolchin B. A. “Novgorod antiquities. Carved wood"
Sedova M. V. “Jewelry of Ancient Novgorod (X-XV centuries)”
Toporkov A.L. (comp.) “Russian conspiracies from handwritten sources of the 17th-first half of the 19th century. (Traditional spiritual culture of the Slavs)"
Chekalov A.K. "Folk wooden sculpture"
Ravdina T.V. “Old Russian cast rings with geometric patterns”
Golubeva L. A. “Symbols of the sun in Finno-Ugric jewelry”
Badera O. N. “Elements of the Cult of the Luminaries in the Paleolithic”

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In past centuries, embroidery for peasants was never just decoration. On the contrary, Slavic ornaments were considered a powerful magical tool capable of creating order out of chaos. In order for life to develop according to the desired scenario, a person had to have a supernatural image, as if a reduced “model” of well-being. This role was played by elements or woven household items, made with one’s own hand or by the closest people.

Of course, the products were not made just like that, but according to strictly observed canons. When embroidering motifs, not only the exact execution of the element was required, but also the quality of the stitches, equally beautiful on the front and back sides, without knots. From this, the magical power of the product increased many times over and formed an even and strong energy field around the owner.

Different ones had different meanings from each other in terms of topic. Each element of the ornament performed a specific function: protection from diseases, assistance in spiritual quests, preservation of the family, etc.

For example, in Sverdlovsk region It was customary for loved ones to embroider something with the following symbol:

It means “Unity and harmony of masculine and feminine principles”, serves to strengthen love and family ties. And the women’s amulet “Blessing of Mother Earth and Ancestors” (Tver region) looks like this:

These on clothes gave the woman the belief that she would have many healthy, strong and smart children, and that her youth would not fade for a long time.

“The Sun’s blessing of grains in a field” (Perm region) can be interpreted by contemporaries as a talisman for successful business and academic success, mastering new knowledge:

There is another symbol - “The Holy Union of the Sun and Earth”. Our ancestors believed that this ornament guaranteed a bountiful harvest.

In the Yaroslavl region, a light curtain over a cradle and the clothes of children and teenagers were often decorated with the following embroidery:

It is called “The Blessing of the Seven Elements”: fire, water, earth, air, matter, spirit and mind. Served to protect children from all misfortunes.

“True Love” is already a wedding talisman from the Perm region:

Slavic ornaments, on which S-shaped figures are embroidered, depict pairs of white swans. And the red motifs between them form repeating symbols of Mother Earth. They bless the couple, granting protection from any harm, true and eternal love based on friendship, respect and care.

Ritual embroidery for expectant mothers “Healthy pregnancy and happy motherhood” from the Perm region looks like this:

This is like a graphic spell for a healthy pregnancy and easy childbirth - a blessing from Mother Earth for the woman in labor and the baby.

In the computerized era, you won’t see outfits with such embroidery, except that in winter you can see mittens with an ornament on a child. And still ancient art embroidery has not gone into oblivion, it is actively being revived. Slavic ornaments attract not only their beauty, but the belief in them is still alive magical power. This, of course, is good, it means that folk art has survived. And a new wave of interest in the knowledge of our ancestors will certainly revive symbolic art.

Why are you so interested in the meaning of ancient symbols decorating wooden houses in Russia?

There are practically no such signs on stone houses and you will not see them. This is all because stone buildings began to be built according to the fashion of Western European culture, and it, in turn, takes its origins in Greece and Italy. And there they have different beliefs than the Slavs - they worshiped stone men and maidens, and the Slavs had idols, which are images. It so happened that we still pray in front of images (icon - translated from Greek into Russian means image). That’s why you won’t find Slavic images on stone buildings.

On wooden houses The Slavs used symbols to protect houses, scaring away the evil thoughts of surrounding people and spirits. This means that the symbols carried a meaning that was understandable to the people around them. Chinese characters won't scare you away if you don't know their meaning.

Until the 21st century, symbols on wooden houses reached us in a very intricate form, encrypted in the bends of plant elements, and they did not survive in all cities, many were erased by the Patriotic War, and how many simply rotted or burned... The more valuable is the heritage that remains on the streets of old cities and villages. But still, the symbols can be guessed upon careful examination.

Bereginya.

This female image found very often on top of carved platbands. Sometimes the bereginya is defined very clearly, and sometimes it is so distorted that it looks like an amazing interweaving of flowers and snakes. But in any case, you can recognize her - central symmetry figures, head, outstretched arms and legs. Inside the figure of the female beregin, a krin-sprout is often visible, symbolizing the birth of a new life in the womb of the goddess.

Bereginya in Slavic tradition- a female mythological image associated with protection and motherhood; in archaic antiquity, Mokosh, the Mother Goddess, the arbiter of destinies, acted under the name Beregini, favoring only those who live according to Conscience. In Christian times, Makosh was renamed St. Paraskeva or Friday.

Lelya, Lada and Makosh are the embodiments of Zhiva
which characterize the three stages of a woman’s development. Lelya is a playful girl. Lada is a young woman, measured and open. Makosh is a married woman who gave life to the successors of her family. And all of them are aspects of Alive, that is, life itself. There is a Slavic sacred symbol Alive - it contains the image of an invincible life-giving energy, ruling over the lifeless world of darkness, burning everything with light and leading a person to the multifaceted development of his essence.

The Zhiva symbol is often found in house carving patterns
for example, the symbol of Zhiva in the ornament of the casing from the city of Gorodets

Sprout or crin.

Krin is a lily in Greek. Among the interweaving of plant stems, leaves, herbs and flowers, one can easily discern the image of one of the most ancient symbols - the sprout of a lily. It is a symbol of emerging life and fertility. Just like krin, a floral pattern of intertwined shoots and branches is a symbol of the seed of the world tree.


World tree. The meaning of the symbol of the tree of life is the desire for constant development, work and pleasure from it. If you think that such a quality will not harm you, you can safely choose this symbol as your symbol. It will help you get rid of laziness, gain wisdom and gain a very special connection with the divine - no matter what religion you prefer. The tree symbol is a symbol of peace. Depicted on the top of a window.



Earth and fertility symbols

The signs of the earth giving a harvest are signs of agricultural magic. Diamonds with dots inside, intersecting double stripes - this is how a plowed and sown field is indicated. The field is a rhombus or square, divided inside into four parts. In general, a diamond or square with a dot in the middle is what can give birth. An empty rhombus is the same, but not fertilized. These symbols have a corresponding magical meaning.

Next to the symbol of the sun there is almost always one or another symbol of the earth or field.

The sign denoting uncultivated land is an ancient, Eneolithic symbol of field and fertility in the form of a rhombus or square placed on a corner. It existed steadily for several thousand years and is well reflected in Russian medieval applied art, in church decorative painting and is presented in ethnographic material, mainly in the patterns of the bride’s wedding clothes, which once again indicates a connection with the idea of ​​fertility.

The second group of signs depicts plowed land in the form of a large rectangle or rhombus, drawn lengthwise and crosswise. On the porches of the huts, rectangles and rhombuses were depicted, formed by rows of small holes. In addition, diamond shapes are almost always carved on the edge of the piers. Diamonds with dots represent sown, fertilized land.


At the lower ends of the piers, corresponding in the general picture of the celestial course of the sun to sunrise and sunset, there are almost always signs of the sun and signs of the earth nearby. Most often, the sun is depicted below the earth - it has yet to rise: sometimes half of the solar sign is placed above the earth - the sun is rising.

Water and "heavenly abysses"

The water in the patterns carries a deep meaning of purification. Depicted using water patterns: zigzags, simple and complex braids, wavy lines, waters are divided into heavenly and underground.

Rain water, unlike river water, carries a male fertilizing principle. “Heavenly abysses” in conjunction with the signs of flowing drops of “piles” are tiers of cloudy skies. River water is completely different - unlike rain water, it basically comes from underground - from springs and springs. And the spring has always been considered a sacred place. Wave-like patterns in the upper and lower parts of the casing, running streams along its side shelves - these are all signs of life-giving water. The harvest and the well-being of the family depend on water.




The magical system of protection from the spirits of evil included the depiction of not only the sun and its path across the sky, but also the sky itself as a container for rainwater, necessary for the growth of all living things.

So, the upper contour of the gable pediment of the Slavic house represented the firmament along which the sun makes its daily journey from the lower left end of the roof up to the gable of the roof, to its “ridge” and further down to the lower right end of the roof.

The firmament consisted of two heavens - water and solar-air, separated by the transparent “firmament of heaven”. As for rain, the ancient Slavs believed that rain moisture was taken from the heavenly reserves of water stored in the upper sky, located above the middle sky, along which the sun and moon move. The water reserves in the sky were called “heavenly abysses” in the Old Russian language. Heavy rain, downpour was defined by the phrase: “the abysses of heaven opened up,” that is, the heavenly water opened, gained freedom and rushed down to the earth.

The “firmament” in the medieval sense held the “heavenly abysses” somewhere in an unattainable height above the airspace of the ordinary sky. This division of the sky is reflected in the Russian language in the words “sky” (singular) and “heaven” (plural).

The celestial abysses of the upper sky on the ledges of house roofs were almost always depicted. The most common is a wavy pattern or a pattern of towns, which from a distance are also perceived as waves. Usually the waves of the “firmament” come in 2-3 rows, as if emphasizing the depth of the water sky. Very often, small circles are depicted along with wavy lines, symbolizing raindrops.

Another symbol depicted along with the celestial water were the symbols of female breasts. They are known to us from the Novgorod landmarks of the 11th-15th centuries. Breasts were depicted either in the form of a pattern, where this plot is repeated, or in the form of paired images of two breasts, carefully marked by the carver, but also forming a wavy pattern in their repeatability.

Sun

The most important among the magical signs of our ancestors. All solar signs are associated with the acquisition and increase of both material and spiritual benefits and are considered very strong, masculine signs. The ascending and descending half-suns are interpreted as signs of sunrise and sunset. Often symbols related to the course of the sun, its position in the sky, are accompanied by their solar satellites - a horse and a bird, which, according to mythology, are the “carriers”.


Solar symbolism is the symbolism of the solar element, the sun, the solar light gods.

The sun gods in Slavic paganism are Yarilo and Khors. Yarilo is the god of the summer solstice (bathing holidays), Khors is the god of the winter solstice (the holiday of Kolyada).

Solar symbolism is one of the brightest in the Slavic tradition. Among the solar signs, perhaps, there is not a single one that brings harm. On the contrary, all signs are associated with the acquisition of both material and spiritual benefits, their increase. The sun is also an all-seeing eye, which is why, if there was a need, they committed a crime at night - perhaps the gods of the Rule would not notice; That’s why evil spirits and dark wizards become active at night. In the sunny time of day, on the contrary, light forces predominate, helping man and nature.

The positions of the luminary at sunrise and sunset were indicated by placing sun signs at the lower end of both piers, and they were thus in general composition pattern below that part of the piers on which the “heavenly abysses” were depicted. Sometimes here, too, to show the morning-evening positions of the sun, they resorted to using two vertical “towels” at the edges of the piers.

Birds

The bird is a mysterious and magical creature for the ancients. It symbolizes the sky, the heritage of the light gods, to some extent the gods themselves. Birds are heavenly messengers, symbols of freedom, symbols of the spirit freed from earthly ties and communicating with heavenly forces. Birds help mortals in their spiritual and earthly journeys. If birds are made in pairs, then this means that the most important thing is the family in the house. If there is one bird, then spirituality is more important for the residents.


Towels - towels

Usually the midday sun was depicted on the towel, at the very top, under the dominant figure of a gable horse, but, as already mentioned, still below the “heavenly abysses” that were the upper sky. In order to leave the sun in its proper tier, ancient craftsmen attached a short “towel” board to the gable, hanging vertically down the facade. It was at the lower end of this “towel” that the midday complex of solar signs was located.

Two suns located one below the other could be identical (usually with six rays), but one of them could be given in the dynamic form of a running wheel.

a) “Towels” for morning, midday and evening complexes with security signs; just has to rise: sometimes half of the sun sign is placed above the ground - the sun rises.

b) The midday complex of images of the entire daily sun (three daytime suns and two night and white lights - in the center);

c) Morning security complex of patterns: the symbol of the night sun on the “towel” and the rising sun on the pier;

d) “Towel” with the image of white light;

e) “Towels” of the midday complex with two suns and a cross

Swastika

The fundamental sign of solar symbolism. For the first time, this symbol, along with some other symbols of German paganism, was appropriated for his fascist state by Adolf Hitler. Since then it has become a custom that if a swastika means we're talking about about fascism. In fact, the swastika has nothing to do with the ugliness called fascism.

This sign is an image of the sun, an appeal to the light gods; it brings goodness and justice to the world of Reveal, carries a huge charge of light magical energy.

The classical Sanskrit name for this symbol comes from the Indo-European root “su/swa”, meaning “associated with good”. Let us remember the bird Mother Sva (the patroness of Rus'), the god Svarog, Svarga - the habitat of the light gods Slavic myths. The word “light” refers to the same root. The Slavs called the swastika kolovrat or solstice. KOLO - circle, ring, wheel, well, bun. Kolovrat has been a symbol of the sun in all centuries and among all peoples; there is even reason to believe that the sun in ancient times was called “kolo”.

There are swastikas with 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 rays. Each type of swastika has its own specific magical meaning. Let's look at some types of swastikas.

The six-pointed cross enclosed in a circle is the thunder sign of Perun.

This sign was very widespread; Scandinavians, Celts, and Slavs knew it. We can see the thunder sign in the ornament of Russian spinning wheels and on huts right up to our time. They carved it on them for a reason. On the huts it was carved on the kokoshnik (a board hanging from the end of the ridge) as a magical lightning rod.

Also, the thunder sign - a sign of courage, military valor - was a magical sign of the Russian squad. This sign can be found on helmets and armor plates. This sign was also embroidered on a man's shirt.

The eight-rayed Kolovrat is the sign under which the revival of Slavic paganism is now taking place.

You can see it on the banners of modern pagan communities. This honor was given to this sign not by chance. This is the sign of Svarog, the creator god, the god of wisdom. It was Svarog who created the Earth, people, and gave people a lot of knowledge, including metal and the plow. The sign of Svarog is a sign of wisdom and supreme justice, a sign of Rule. Also, the colo of Svarog is a symbol of the universe. The structure of the universal wheel of Svarog is very complex. Its center is located on Stozhar-Stlyazi - the celestial axis. It revolves around Stozhar in one day and makes a revolution in a year. The slowest rotation of the wheel leads to a change in zodiacal eras. This rotation of the wheel lasts 27 thousand years. This time is called the Svarog day.

Initially, the swastika symbol came into our fairy tales from the shape of our galaxy where we live.

This is a map milky way, this form has been determined by modern astronomers.

If we go even deeper into external world, then there are many galaxies, and they are all located in an egg-shaped universe.
This information is from ancient legends. And scientists have yet to get to this point and show us the structure of the universe, but for now there are only theories.

Cross

Also a solar symbol. We do not classify it as a swastika very conditionally - the cross is also a swastika, only without the rays extending to the side. The cross has become one of the most famous Christian symbols. And not only. For example, Catholic missionaries preaching in China saw crosses depicted on statues of Buddha, whose teachings arose about six centuries earlier than Christianity, and the Spanish conquistadors witnessed the veneration of the cross by North American pagan Indians as a fusion of Heavenly fire and Earthly fire.

The word "cross" comes from the common European root cru, which means "crooked." We can observe this root in the words circle, curve, steep. IN Latin crux - “cross”. There is also a version that the word “cross” comes from the Slavic root “kres” - “fire” (compare: kresal - a tool for starting a fire).

Archaeological evidence suggests that the cross as a symbol was revered in the Upper Paleolithic. The cross is a symbol of life, heaven and eternity. The correct (equal) cross symbolizes the principle of connection and interaction of two principles: feminine (horizontal line) and masculine (vertical). Crosses are also divided into straight crosses, that is, having horizontal and vertical lines, and oblique, having two diagonal lines, and the straight cross personifies male aggressiveness. creativity, oblique - a softer creative beginning.

A straight cross can also serve as a primitive model of the World Tree, where the vertical line is the World Tree, and the horizontal line is the world of reality. Accordingly, a cross with a horizontal line shifted upward indicates the location of the world of Rule on the Tree, and downwards - the world of Navi. Naturally, these crosses have a corresponding magical meaning.

Let's consider the main types of crosses characteristic of the Nordic tradition.

The twelve-pointed cross is a cross with a crossbar on each ray or a swastika with rays extended to the left (for the dark one, to the right). The purpose of this cross is protection from external influences. Also, many researchers talk about this sign as a magical sign of the Family. It is also called the "helmet of horror". This symbol was widespread in ancient times: there is archaeological evidence for this - many amulets with a “helmet of horror” were found in the territories of the Scythians, Mordovians, Indo-European peoples; in the Middle Ages they decorated the walls of houses and wooden products, as well as often church utensils. The most powerful symbol among the "helmets of horror" is the so-called Aegisjalm (Scandinavian name), or the Cross of Invincibility - this symbol surpasses all others in its effectiveness.

The Celtic cross, or kolokryzh, most accurately demonstrates the similarity of the cross with the swastika and the entire convention of their separation. Look at the six- and eight-rayed rotors presented in this work. Nothing changes except the number of rays for these signs. Despite the fact that this cross is called Celtic, it is known to almost all Indo-Europeans, including the Slavs. The history of the Celtic cross goes back at least 8-9 thousand years. The Celts especially revered this cross. More Celtic cross called the “warrior’s cross”, “the cross of Wotan” (Odin).

Trixelion- a symbol that came to us from time immemorial. It got its name from the derivative Greek wordτρισκελης, which can be translated as “three-legged” or “tripod”. This sign also has abbreviated names - triskele or triskele. Objects with this sign were used by the peoples inhabiting modern Europe, Asia, the East, and also South America. The triskelion was revered by the Etruscans, Celts, Greeks and even the Japanese. This is a sign that celebrates the power of the sun - its sunrise, zenith and sunset. However, over time it acquired new meanings.

He is credited with the power of three elements - fire, water and air, he is a protector against floods, fire and theft, personifies the transience of existence, birth, life and death. Thus, numeric expression The symbol is the leitmotif in learning about the meaning of the triskelion. It is inherent in everything that is included in the base of this sign.

To a certain extent, the classical Celtic Triskele, whose meaning may have changed over time, as well as its form, probably indicates the unity of Fire, Water and Air.

The magical meaning of the sign is not known exactly. But if we proceed from the fact that it consists of three runes of the Elder Futhark “Laguz” (“Laguz”), then it turns out that this is a sign of “that which leads,” a sign directing the development of events in the right direction.

Conclusion

We are interested in ancient symbols in order to understand what our genetic ancestors believed, about which, over time, more and more new media, previously unknown, are telling.

As the sorcerers and sorcerers used to say: “Don’t take my word for it, but go and check, then you will understand everything yourself.”

With this story I point to the door, you must enter it yourself.