DJ_Tanner
Emperor
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2013
- Messages
- 1,094
[Update] - Sept civs are in.
[Update] - Been busy actually playing the game, and I guess work, but GS Civs and CS are now in! Hope you have as much reading a bit more as I did sleuthing them.
[Updated] - Rise and Fall civs are now in! The format changed a bit ran into a 30 image cap so the civs are now split into two posts (Thanks Bite!)
I had was interested in a couple of the symbols chosen in the game so I looked a few up. This turned into me jotting a few things down and I thought people might be interested. So here is the best my internet sleuthing in my free time was able to come up with about the symbols for both civs and city-states in Civ VI.
This is simply my best interpretation of what the symbol is and briefly why it is important.
All images are being pulled from the very nice Civilization Wiki on Fandom. Link here:
https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Civilization_Games_Wiki
Civilizations:
America – The shield comes from the coat of arms of the United States. Within the shield there are stars and stripes, a nickname for the American flag, where the stars represent the states and the stripes the original colonies. Inside the heraldry the stripes come up to support the chief (containing the stars) to symbolize the states who stand to support the Congress matching the motor of the United States “E pluribus unum” (Out of many, one).
Arabia – A palm tree surrounded by a crescent moon. The palm tree, specifically the date palm, is found on the emblem of Saudi Arabia and represents the assets of the Kingdom, the people, heritage, history, and resources. The crescent moon (usually depicted with a star) was an ancient symbol used in many religions. It became an Islamic emblem for military purposes after the capture of the Sassanid Persia. It grew into greater prominence after being adopted by the Ottoman Empire.
Australia – A Red Kangaroo. The red kangaroo has been an unofficial emblem of Australia, along with the Emu, as one of the most well-known, and largest, native Australian animals. The kangaroo has been a prominent part of Australia’s coat of arms since inception. The kangaroo is an important part of the national image and can also be found of multiple pieces of currency.
Aztecs – The double-headed serpent comes from a turquoise mosaic. The mosaic is in the British Museum and is thought to be one of the gifts from Moctezuma II to Hernan Cortes. The serpent was an important symbol to the Aztecs. It was likely a symbol of rebirth due to its ability to shed its old skin and appear reborn. Additionally, the serpent was key to the pantheon of gods as many had serpent-like qualities, most notably the extremely important feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl.
Brazil – The symbol comes directly from the Brazilian flag. The design is a green field with a gold diamond. The green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I and the gold the House of Habsburg of Empress Maria Leopoldina (Pedro’s wife). Within the gold diamond is a disk (blue on the actual flag) that contains stars positioned to reflect the sky of Rio de Janerio on November 15, 1889.
Byzantine – Chi Rho. Was used on the flag and as an imperial insignia for much of the Byzantine Empire. It is a monogram that combines the Greek Letters Chi (X) and Rho (P). These are the first two letters in Greek spelling of Christos, an abbreviation of Jesus Christ.
Canada – The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada and features prominently on their flag. The maple tree has been described as king of the Canadian forest and as such the symbol of the Canadian people. Unlike most heraldic symbols, the number of points of the leaf holds no significance. Instead the number and arrangement of the points were chosen due to providing the least blurry design during high wind tunnel tests.
China – The dragon was frequently used by the Emperor of China as a symbol of imperial power. During the Qing dynasty the national flag featured the Azure Dragon. Additionally, it was a large part of Chinese mythology and folklore. The dragon was a powerful creature and a symbol of power, strength, and good luck and it remains part of the Chinese zodiac. In the West the dragon is a national emblem of China.
Cree - A stylized eagle head. The eagle is viewed as “king of birds”, much like the lion being “king of the beasts”, as such, it has become a pre-eminent figure/symbol across cultures the world over. Having full reign of the skies the eagle often serves as a messenger for the peoples to and from a higher power. The courage and majesty of the eagle has led to it being used as both a protector and hunter, and was evident in almost all Native American tribes. While feathers from the Golden Eagle, or War Eagle, were vaunted by warriors, particularly those on the Plains, they were seen as particularly powerful as medicine birds. The killing of eagles was typically taboo or heavily restricted.
Egypt – The eye is the Wedjat (the green one) now called The Eye of Horus. The importance of the eye comes from a story when Set and Horus fought over the throne after Osiris’s death. During the fight Set gouged out Horus’s eye. Horus had the eye restored and then offered it to Osiris in hopes of restoring his life. The eye became to symbolize sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection.
England – The crown is a popular symbol of the monarchy. The crown is a stylized version of St. Edward’s Crown which is one of the English Crown Jewels. Originally it belonged to Edward the Confessor but was sold during the English Civil War in 1642. The current version was restored in 1661. It is one of the senior Crown Jewels and is often regarded as the official coronation crown.
Ethiopia - The Lion of Judah. It was the title used by the House of Solomon in Ethiopia, representing the descendants of King Solomon and Queen Sheba beginning with Menelik I and was used throughout the rule of the Solomonic dynasty. The Lion is the symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah, given to him from his father Israel (Jacob) as a blessing when he was born. The title was also used for Jesus in the book of Revelations and used in Rastafarianism as a symbol for Haile Selassie, the last of the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia.
France – The fleur-de-lis is a stylized version of a lily. It has been used all over Europe but has a particular association with the French monarchy. Legend states that Frankish monarch Clovis I was anointed with oil from the lily. Therefore, the fleur-de-lis represents the divine authority given to the ruler of France.
Gallic – A Gallic shield. The Gauls were typically depicted using long oval shields which became a distinguishing characteristic of their armies/mercenaries of the time. The boss, or middle was made of hollow wood typically with metal to cover and a handhold inside. The remainder of the shield would be solid wood of oak or tilia and covered with leather.
Georgia – The Five Cross. The national symbol of modern Georgia and the banner of the Kingdom of Georgia. The primary cross in the middle is larger and touches all sides of the flag. The 4 smaller crosses are the curved boinur-katskhuri crosses (Georgian crosses). These are variants of the cross pattee used throughout Europe such as the Maltese cross (of the Knights Hospitaller) and the Iron cross of Germany.
Germany –The Iron Cross is a top military decoration used in Germany. The cross comes from the Black Cross of the Teutonic Order. From there it became established as the emblem of the Prussian and later German army. The Iron Cross then became an award for the Prussian and German military.
Gran Colombian – The coat of arms of Gran Columbia. Two cornucopias to represent the agricultural wealth of the land that flank a quiver and halberd representing their military prowess. Tied off with a ribbon in the Gran Columbia tricolor.
Greece – The Capital letter Omega. It is the last letter in the 24 letter Greek alphabet. It translates to mean “great”. Symbolically it is used to denote the last, end, or ultimate limit in a set. Typically it is used in contrast to alpha, the beginning.
Hungary – The double cross is a Patriarchal cross, a variant of the Christian cross. The horizontal bars are graded, where the upper bar is shorter than the lower bar. The meaning of the bars is debated but popular interpretations are either the top bar symbolizing secular power and the bottom bar representing ecclesiastic power or the top bar representing the death of Jesus Christ and the bottom bar representing his resurrection. This cross comes from the Byzantine Empire and has been a part of Hungary’s coat of arms since the 1100s.
Inca – The Chakana or Incan Cross. The Chakana is a steeped cross over a square figure. The square represents the other two plains of existence Hana Pacha (the upper world, or world of the Gods) and Urin Pacha (the underworld or world of the dead as separated from the physical world, Kay Pacha. The circle in the middle is the conduit which a shaman would pass energy into these would plains of existence. It is also believed to represent the celestial bridge, what is currently referred to as Orion’s Belt.
India – A stylized version of the Indian lotus or sacred lotus, the national flower of India. It is sacred to both the Hindus and Buddhists. The deities of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Brahma, Sarasvati, Ganga, and Ganesha are all associated with the lotus. It is an example of divine beauty and holds a spiritual promise offering pure beauty out of the humble mud in which it grows. For Buddhists, it was said the lotus bloomed everywhere that Gautama Buddha walked. It symbolizes purity of body, speech, and mind by floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire.
Indonesia – The Surya Majapahit or the Sun of Majapahit is an eight-pointed sun with rays of sunlight. It was a Hindi religious symbol that depicted major and minor devas (gods) within the sun. At the center was Shiva, then proceeding from North: Vishnu, Sambhu, Isvara, Mahesora, Brahma, Rudra, Mahadeva, and Sangkara (at the Northwest). The outermost rays depict the minor gods in order from North: Kubera, Isana, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirrti, Varuna, Vayu (Northwest). The symbol was extremely common during the rule of the Majapahit empire and was likely their imperial symbol.
Japan – A stylized version of the Oda clan kamon. A kamon is the emblem used by different family or clans in Japan, similar to a coat of arms. The (ka)mon is likely a flowering quince. It is somewhat similar to the Imperial kamon, and national emblem, a stylized chrysanthemum.
Khmer – A redented tower, designed to resemble a lotus. These are prominent features of the temple mountain found in Khmer architecture. The temple mountain was designed to resemble Mount Meru, home of the Hindi devas (gods). Three towers, and the gallery that connects them, of Angkor Wat are the current national emblem, and depicted on the flag of, Cambodia.
Kongo – A stylized version of a BaKongo ritual mask. The Kongo masks were used for important funerals, special initiation ceremonies, and for judgment court. Ritual masks were usually a Nkisi, or an object that contains spiritual power or that a spirit inhabits. People who exhibit exceptional human powers such as banganga, herbalists/healers, are believed to be a result of communing with the dead. A Nkisi was generally classified as “of the above” relating to sky, rain, and thunderstorms or “of the below” relating to earth and water.
[Update] - Been busy actually playing the game, and I guess work, but GS Civs and CS are now in! Hope you have as much reading a bit more as I did sleuthing them.
[Updated] - Rise and Fall civs are now in! The format changed a bit ran into a 30 image cap so the civs are now split into two posts (Thanks Bite!)
I had was interested in a couple of the symbols chosen in the game so I looked a few up. This turned into me jotting a few things down and I thought people might be interested. So here is the best my internet sleuthing in my free time was able to come up with about the symbols for both civs and city-states in Civ VI.
This is simply my best interpretation of what the symbol is and briefly why it is important.
All images are being pulled from the very nice Civilization Wiki on Fandom. Link here:
https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Civilization_Games_Wiki
Civilizations:
Spoiler :
America – The shield comes from the coat of arms of the United States. Within the shield there are stars and stripes, a nickname for the American flag, where the stars represent the states and the stripes the original colonies. Inside the heraldry the stripes come up to support the chief (containing the stars) to symbolize the states who stand to support the Congress matching the motor of the United States “E pluribus unum” (Out of many, one).
Arabia – A palm tree surrounded by a crescent moon. The palm tree, specifically the date palm, is found on the emblem of Saudi Arabia and represents the assets of the Kingdom, the people, heritage, history, and resources. The crescent moon (usually depicted with a star) was an ancient symbol used in many religions. It became an Islamic emblem for military purposes after the capture of the Sassanid Persia. It grew into greater prominence after being adopted by the Ottoman Empire.
Australia – A Red Kangaroo. The red kangaroo has been an unofficial emblem of Australia, along with the Emu, as one of the most well-known, and largest, native Australian animals. The kangaroo has been a prominent part of Australia’s coat of arms since inception. The kangaroo is an important part of the national image and can also be found of multiple pieces of currency.
Aztecs – The double-headed serpent comes from a turquoise mosaic. The mosaic is in the British Museum and is thought to be one of the gifts from Moctezuma II to Hernan Cortes. The serpent was an important symbol to the Aztecs. It was likely a symbol of rebirth due to its ability to shed its old skin and appear reborn. Additionally, the serpent was key to the pantheon of gods as many had serpent-like qualities, most notably the extremely important feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl.
Brazil – The symbol comes directly from the Brazilian flag. The design is a green field with a gold diamond. The green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I and the gold the House of Habsburg of Empress Maria Leopoldina (Pedro’s wife). Within the gold diamond is a disk (blue on the actual flag) that contains stars positioned to reflect the sky of Rio de Janerio on November 15, 1889.
Byzantine – Chi Rho. Was used on the flag and as an imperial insignia for much of the Byzantine Empire. It is a monogram that combines the Greek Letters Chi (X) and Rho (P). These are the first two letters in Greek spelling of Christos, an abbreviation of Jesus Christ.
Canada – The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada and features prominently on their flag. The maple tree has been described as king of the Canadian forest and as such the symbol of the Canadian people. Unlike most heraldic symbols, the number of points of the leaf holds no significance. Instead the number and arrangement of the points were chosen due to providing the least blurry design during high wind tunnel tests.
China – The dragon was frequently used by the Emperor of China as a symbol of imperial power. During the Qing dynasty the national flag featured the Azure Dragon. Additionally, it was a large part of Chinese mythology and folklore. The dragon was a powerful creature and a symbol of power, strength, and good luck and it remains part of the Chinese zodiac. In the West the dragon is a national emblem of China.
Cree - A stylized eagle head. The eagle is viewed as “king of birds”, much like the lion being “king of the beasts”, as such, it has become a pre-eminent figure/symbol across cultures the world over. Having full reign of the skies the eagle often serves as a messenger for the peoples to and from a higher power. The courage and majesty of the eagle has led to it being used as both a protector and hunter, and was evident in almost all Native American tribes. While feathers from the Golden Eagle, or War Eagle, were vaunted by warriors, particularly those on the Plains, they were seen as particularly powerful as medicine birds. The killing of eagles was typically taboo or heavily restricted.
Egypt – The eye is the Wedjat (the green one) now called The Eye of Horus. The importance of the eye comes from a story when Set and Horus fought over the throne after Osiris’s death. During the fight Set gouged out Horus’s eye. Horus had the eye restored and then offered it to Osiris in hopes of restoring his life. The eye became to symbolize sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection.
England – The crown is a popular symbol of the monarchy. The crown is a stylized version of St. Edward’s Crown which is one of the English Crown Jewels. Originally it belonged to Edward the Confessor but was sold during the English Civil War in 1642. The current version was restored in 1661. It is one of the senior Crown Jewels and is often regarded as the official coronation crown.
Ethiopia - The Lion of Judah. It was the title used by the House of Solomon in Ethiopia, representing the descendants of King Solomon and Queen Sheba beginning with Menelik I and was used throughout the rule of the Solomonic dynasty. The Lion is the symbol of the Israelite tribe of Judah, given to him from his father Israel (Jacob) as a blessing when he was born. The title was also used for Jesus in the book of Revelations and used in Rastafarianism as a symbol for Haile Selassie, the last of the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia.
France – The fleur-de-lis is a stylized version of a lily. It has been used all over Europe but has a particular association with the French monarchy. Legend states that Frankish monarch Clovis I was anointed with oil from the lily. Therefore, the fleur-de-lis represents the divine authority given to the ruler of France.
Gallic – A Gallic shield. The Gauls were typically depicted using long oval shields which became a distinguishing characteristic of their armies/mercenaries of the time. The boss, or middle was made of hollow wood typically with metal to cover and a handhold inside. The remainder of the shield would be solid wood of oak or tilia and covered with leather.
Georgia – The Five Cross. The national symbol of modern Georgia and the banner of the Kingdom of Georgia. The primary cross in the middle is larger and touches all sides of the flag. The 4 smaller crosses are the curved boinur-katskhuri crosses (Georgian crosses). These are variants of the cross pattee used throughout Europe such as the Maltese cross (of the Knights Hospitaller) and the Iron cross of Germany.
Germany –The Iron Cross is a top military decoration used in Germany. The cross comes from the Black Cross of the Teutonic Order. From there it became established as the emblem of the Prussian and later German army. The Iron Cross then became an award for the Prussian and German military.
Gran Colombian – The coat of arms of Gran Columbia. Two cornucopias to represent the agricultural wealth of the land that flank a quiver and halberd representing their military prowess. Tied off with a ribbon in the Gran Columbia tricolor.
Greece – The Capital letter Omega. It is the last letter in the 24 letter Greek alphabet. It translates to mean “great”. Symbolically it is used to denote the last, end, or ultimate limit in a set. Typically it is used in contrast to alpha, the beginning.
Hungary – The double cross is a Patriarchal cross, a variant of the Christian cross. The horizontal bars are graded, where the upper bar is shorter than the lower bar. The meaning of the bars is debated but popular interpretations are either the top bar symbolizing secular power and the bottom bar representing ecclesiastic power or the top bar representing the death of Jesus Christ and the bottom bar representing his resurrection. This cross comes from the Byzantine Empire and has been a part of Hungary’s coat of arms since the 1100s.
Inca – The Chakana or Incan Cross. The Chakana is a steeped cross over a square figure. The square represents the other two plains of existence Hana Pacha (the upper world, or world of the Gods) and Urin Pacha (the underworld or world of the dead as separated from the physical world, Kay Pacha. The circle in the middle is the conduit which a shaman would pass energy into these would plains of existence. It is also believed to represent the celestial bridge, what is currently referred to as Orion’s Belt.
India – A stylized version of the Indian lotus or sacred lotus, the national flower of India. It is sacred to both the Hindus and Buddhists. The deities of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Brahma, Sarasvati, Ganga, and Ganesha are all associated with the lotus. It is an example of divine beauty and holds a spiritual promise offering pure beauty out of the humble mud in which it grows. For Buddhists, it was said the lotus bloomed everywhere that Gautama Buddha walked. It symbolizes purity of body, speech, and mind by floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire.
Indonesia – The Surya Majapahit or the Sun of Majapahit is an eight-pointed sun with rays of sunlight. It was a Hindi religious symbol that depicted major and minor devas (gods) within the sun. At the center was Shiva, then proceeding from North: Vishnu, Sambhu, Isvara, Mahesora, Brahma, Rudra, Mahadeva, and Sangkara (at the Northwest). The outermost rays depict the minor gods in order from North: Kubera, Isana, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirrti, Varuna, Vayu (Northwest). The symbol was extremely common during the rule of the Majapahit empire and was likely their imperial symbol.
Japan – A stylized version of the Oda clan kamon. A kamon is the emblem used by different family or clans in Japan, similar to a coat of arms. The (ka)mon is likely a flowering quince. It is somewhat similar to the Imperial kamon, and national emblem, a stylized chrysanthemum.
Khmer – A redented tower, designed to resemble a lotus. These are prominent features of the temple mountain found in Khmer architecture. The temple mountain was designed to resemble Mount Meru, home of the Hindi devas (gods). Three towers, and the gallery that connects them, of Angkor Wat are the current national emblem, and depicted on the flag of, Cambodia.
Kongo – A stylized version of a BaKongo ritual mask. The Kongo masks were used for important funerals, special initiation ceremonies, and for judgment court. Ritual masks were usually a Nkisi, or an object that contains spiritual power or that a spirit inhabits. People who exhibit exceptional human powers such as banganga, herbalists/healers, are believed to be a result of communing with the dead. A Nkisi was generally classified as “of the above” relating to sky, rain, and thunderstorms or “of the below” relating to earth and water.
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