Civ VI Civ and City-State Symbology

DJ_Tanner

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[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:


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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Civilizations:


Spoiler :


Korea – The Taegukgi. In the center is the Taeguk a symbol of interlocking semicircles. It is the symbol for supreme ultimate, the infinite potential in which one flows into the other. This is surrounded by 4 (of the 8 total) trigrams used in Taoist cosmology. From the top right these are: Kan representing water and Mercury, Kun representing Earth and Saturn, Li representing Fire and Mars, and Qian representing the heavens and Neptune.


Macedon – The Argead Star or Macedonian Star. A symbol of the Argead dynasty found in the town of Vergina (so also called the Vergina Sun). The symbol represents Helios, the personification of the sun, and patron deity of the Argead dynasty. While a widely used symbol at the time, its suspected royal status comes from being found what was believed to be Phillip II’s coffin. Helios was a titan who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day. Helios was also one of the seven wonders as a statue, the Colossus of Rhodes.


Mali – A minaret of a mosque. Minarets, or lighthouse in Arabic, are placed outside or near many mosques to both set the mosque aside, visually, from surrounding buildings and as a place for the Adhan, call to prayer. The minaret are prominent landmarks in their cities. In particular the minarets of the three mosques, Sankore, Djinguereber, and Sidi Yahya, that make up the University of Timbuktu, which was a major source of scholarship in the Medieval world are frequently used as symbols including on the current coat of arms for Mali.


Maori – Koru, meaning loop, is derived from the unfolding silver fern frond. This spiral symbol is for rebirth or hope. And the spiral inwards is symbolic of returning to the beginning. The koru is a major symbol used on wharenui, meeting houses, of the Maori people.


Mapuche – A Gemil or Ngumin, a stepped cross representing the arts of the people, science, knowledge, and craftsmanship. Often depicted on their Cultrun (style of drum), it is used on the flags of multiple groups of the Mapuche.


Maya – A stone sculpture of a b’alam (jaguar) head. The jaguar was very important to the Maya and Palenque had its own temple dedicated to them, The Temple of the Jaguar or The Temple of the Beautiful Relief. The jaguar was a companion to the spiritual world and protectors of the royal family. The Maya had multiple jaguar gods. They viewed them as symbols of the sun, night, and darkness. The jaguar was representative of both power and aggressiveness but also, due to their ability to see at night, vision representing their ability to see into the darkness of the human heart and offering foresight to disaster.


Mongols – Fire, specifically fire from the top of the Soyombo, the national symbol and national emblem of Mongolia. Fire is represented as symbol of eternal prosperity and success. The 3 prongs of the fire represent the past, present, and future respectively.


Norway – Three interlocked triangles is called the valknut. It is thought to symbolize Odin’s power to bind and unbind. The term is a modern usage for the symbol and the original name is unknown. The symbol was initially found on the Tangelgarda stone, a decorated stone, and the Oseberg ship, a Norwegian burial ship.


Nubia – The hieroglyphic symbol for gold nugget (nbw), repeated three times to show plurality*. Gold, or aurum (shining dawn), is an important metal the world over. As it is easily malleable it also became a stable in for decoration, particularly in religious idols, notably the fact it does not corrode made it a natural symbol for immortality and power. The lands of Nubia were littered with gold deposits, so much so that they were the main supplier of gold for the area and it is likely their name was derived from the Egyptian word for gold, “nub” (in addition to nbw).


*I could find nothing even closely resembling this symbol anywhere. The given guess is the closest I could find but is a very big stretch. The symbol of gold (nugget) is simply a small circle and typically presented with 3 dashed lines to represent the plurality. However, due to Nubia being so closely tied to gold this was the representation I found most plausibly, but unlikely correct.


Netherlands – The horn of Orange. The horn of Orange was the primary coat of arms for the Principality of Orange and found on the royal standard for the Dutch Royal Family. The horn itself comes from French word play where a homophone of the name used in the Chanson de Guillaume (Song of William), based on the battle of Orbieu, led to him being called Guillaume au Cornet (William the Horn).


Ottoman - Three crescent moons. The cresent 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. The Ottoman coat of arms bears both the crescent with star on red which is the state symbol of the Ottoman Empire and the three crescent moons on green which is the symbol of the Ottoman caliphate. With green being an important color associated within Islam as it represents paradise.


Persia – The head and wings of a Shahbaz under a sun. The Shahbaz is bird and guardian from old Persian mythology. It means royal falcon, but in myth is described as much larger, closer to an eagle. The Shahbaz guided and protected the people. A full bodied Shahbaz with sun became the royal standard for Cyrus the Great and remained the official symbol during the Achaemenid era.


Phoenicia – Alep the first letter of the Phoenician alphabet. A letter from the West Semitic for Ox, and the shape believed to have been derived from the Egyptian hieroglyph of an Ox head this would later become the Greek Alpha. The Phoenician alphabet is an abjad, or consonantary alphabet, where symbols stand in for consonants and most vowels are left to be implied. The symbols are derived from Egyptian hieroglyphs and it became the most wide spread alphabet due to the trade networks of the empire. As such, it became the basis for the Aramaic (Hebrew), Arabic, and Greek (which became the basis of Latin, Cyrillic, Runic, Coptic) alphabets.



Poland – A crowned white eagle surrounded by the red setting sun. Found on the Polish coat of arms this has been the symbol of Poland for almost its entire existence. The symbol originates from the founding legend of the Slavic people. The brothers, descended from Noah, Lech, Czech, and Rus followed different prey on a hunting trip all leading to their founding of new cities. During this Lech encountered a fierce white eagle with the red setting sun behind it guarding its nest. Taking it as a good omen he settled Gniezo (nest) creating the lands of Lechia, also known as Poland.


Rome – The golden laurel wreath was typically made from the leaves of the bay laurel in a horseshoe shape. In Rome these were symbols of martial victory. After an exceptional successful military victory the Senate could declare a Triumph this would be a ceremony in which the commander would be celebrated. During the Triumph the commander would wear the regalia associated with ancient Roman monarchy: a purple and gold toga, red boots, red face paint, and a laurel crown.


Russia – The double-headed eagle. The double-headed eagle is an emblem that stands for an empire. Since its introduction it has been used as a symbol of Russia, only being abolished after the Russian Revolution and creation of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Russia. It is currently the coat of arms of Russia. It has origins in the Ancient Near East, but notably was used in the Byzantine Empire. It became a symbol in Russia when Ivan III, Grand Prince of Moscow, married a niece of the last Byzantine emperor. It remained an important symbol in the heraldry of imperial Russian families, the House of Romanov.


Scotland – The thistle. A flowering plant covered in prickles and leaves it is the floral emblem of Scotland. Legend suggests that when the Norse kind Haakon invaded Scotland a solider stepped on a thistle, crying out in pain. This cry alerted the Scots who were then able to defend themselves. True or not, this story seems to be the basis for Scotland’s use of the thistle in many coat of arms and other areas of heraldry. The Order of the Thistle is bestowed on those who have made outstanding contributions to the life of Scotland and the greater UK. The order’s motto is Nemo me impune lacessit, or no one provokes me with impunity.


Scythia – A stag holds a special importance to the Scythian people and may have been the crest of an important family. Unique to Scythian culture the stag is depicted with looped antlers. Additionally, the legs are tucked under it to give the impression of speed. These were found as the central ornament for shields and on burial sites.


Spain – The bull has been held in high regard by a multitude of cultures and typically represents courage and strength. In Spain, the bull, notably the Osborne bull, has become the unofficial symbol of the country. There are 91 large black silhouetted bulls that ‘watch’ over the roads and countryside. These initially were part of an advertising campaign but due to changing laws about advertisements were slated to be torn down; public outcry instead saw the country paint them all black as they had gained “aesthetic or cultural significance”.


Sweden - The three crowns is the national emblem of Sweden. The crowns were initially used to represent the ruling of Sweden, Norway, and Scania. It had continued use during the Kalmar Union representing the personal union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The symbol’s continued use both in and out of the union led it to become the permeant arms for Sweden.


Sumeria – The Sumerian sign DIGIR. This is the symbol was used interchangeably for a god in general, the heavens/sky, or Anu, supreme father of the gods. Anu was the King of the Gods, Lord of the Constellations, Spirits and Demons, and Supreme Ruler of the Kingdom of Heaven, where judged those that committed crimes and created the stars as soldiers to destroy the wicked. All gods stemmed from Anu’s family tree including Gilgamesh (the poetic version), his great great great great grandson.


Zulu – An isihlangu, meaning “to brush aside”, was a cowhide shield. The Zulu shields were made from Nguni cow hide, the local South African cow known for the variety of patterns on its hide. The shield typically has 3 clubs attached the iklwa, a short stabbing spear, the iwisa, or knob-kerrie, ball-tipped club, cross to form an “X” behind the shield. The center shaft a club called the mgobo, or umboko, was longer than the shield and used to hold the shield as well as to hook and pull away an enemy’s shield. This is held in place by imigabelo a system of a double row of slits which secure the mgobo.






 
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Akkad – The head of an Akkadian king. A representation of the bronze head of an ancient Akkadian king artifact found in Nineveh (Iraq). Likely one of the direct descendants of Sargon of Akkad, the first king of the Akkadian empire.


Amsterdam - The triple X are actually three vertically oriented St. Andrew’s Crosses or a saltire. A saltire is a heraldic symbol found on many flags. These are from the coat of arms of Amsterdam.


Antananarivo – A maky, or ring-tailed lemur. The lemur is an endemic Malagasy primate. The ring-tailed lemur is considered the ‘flagship’ species as it is the best recognized and the symbol for Madagascar National Parks. The lemur was traditionally believed to be the souls of the ancestors of the Malagasy people.


Antioch – Likely Ignatius of Antioch. A bishop and early Christian writer, Ignatius was considered the successor to Saint Peter by the Roman Catholic Church. He is suspected to have been martyred in the Colosseum by being fed to the lions. Antioch was settled on the Orontes River which made it an extremely valuable location. It featured a heavy spice trade that made its commerce rival Alexandria and became the main center of Hellenistic Judaism leading to a surge in early Christianity. It became known as the “cradle of Christianity”.


Armagh – The shamrock, young or little clover. The shamrock is a symbol of Saint Patrick who used the three leafs as an illustrative parable to explain the Holy Trinity of Christianity to the Irish people. Saint Patrick was the first bishop of Armagh and placed his main church in the city. This led to the city becoming the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland.


Auckland – Two sail boats.. Auckland is nicknamed “The City of Sails” and sailing is an extremely popular pastime in Auckland. Sitting on an isthmus, the city was made popular in part due to its strategic value of its two harbors: Waitemata Harbour opening east and Manukau Harbour opening west.


Babylon – The stylized head of the Lion of Babylon. Based on the Asiatic lion, the l=Lion of Babylon was the symbolic representation of the goddess of fertility and war, Ishtar. The symbol is featured heavily on the Ishtar Gate, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World, and became a symbol of the King of Babylon as well.


Bandar Brunei – The Monument Nasional (National Monument) is located in the city of Jakarta and prominent on the coat of arms. The Monument Nasional is designed to resemble the Lingga and Yoni a rice pestle and rice mortar respectively. These are important tools to the Indonesian tools and symbolize harmony, balance, fertility, and eternal life. (This is the old Jakarta symbol but is still used in game at certain points)

Additionally their other symbol is the national emblem of Brunei. A flag, the royal sultanate's parasol, and a set of wings set to represent the protection of justice, prosperity, and peace.


Bologna – Stylized Due Torri, Two Towers. A major symbol of Bologna the towers Asinelli (taller) and Garisenda (smaller) are both leaning due to the sinking ground. It is thought the towers were constructed as a contest between two families (of which the towers are now named for) to show who was more powerful. They are thought to have been the inspiration behind the design of the World Trade Center.

Brussels – The Iris symbol is taken from the first flag of the Brussels Region flag. Iris would surround the city. According to legend, the Duke of Brabant was able to earn a key victory by moving his troops through the flooded plains following where the iris grew, as it only grows in shallow water. His opponents were unaware of this and when they tried to cross the plains got bogged down in the marshes.


Buenos Aires – The sun symbol is the Sun of May. The Sun of May is the national emblem of Argentina and Uruguay and appears on both countries’ flags. It is in reference to the May Revolution marking their independence from the Spanish Empire.


Caguana – Bird. The bird on stone from the Caguana site in modern Puerto Rico. The item was drawn by the Taino people found in a batey (ball court).


Cahokia – A Cahokia platform mound. Mounds were multilayered and sometimes terraced massive earthen structures with log ramps and stairs. The Mississippian built three types of mounds in the city, platform, conical, and ridge-top. Conical and ridge-top mounds were typically used for important markers and burial sites. The most common were the platform mounds, the largest, and central to the city Monk’s Mound, these mounds were typically used for political or religious settings and would have additional structures built on top of the earthen mound.


Cardiff – The head of the red dragon of Cadwaladr. The dragon is the national symbol of Wales, of which Cardiff is the capital. The original use is somewhat disputed but a likely case is that the symbol derives from a story about a prophecy told by Myrddin, or Merlin, about two dragons fighting. The white one, who represented the Saxons, would dominate at first, but eventually the red one, representing the Britons, would gain the upper-hand.


Carthage - Symbol of Tanit. Tanit was a goddess of Punic and Phoenician heritage and the chief deity of Carthage. She was a goddess of war, mother goddess and nurse, and symbol of fertility. She is sometimes depicted with a lion’s head to showcase her warrior quality. The symbol is designed to represent a woman holding her hands towards the sky.


Fez – Star of Rub el Hizb. This star is made of two overlapping squares to form an eight-pointed star. Initially it was used to divide up the Quran. The star would break up the text into four parts.


Geneva – A Key of St. Peter. Shown on the coat of arms of Geneva the Key as an emblem symbolizes a free city during the reign of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsstadt). The Key itself is a symbol of the Keys to Heaven which symbolize the Pope’s authority and where given to Peter from Jesus in the Book of Matthew from the New Testament of The Bible.


Granada – A granada, or pomegranate. The city was named after the fruit following the Moorish period and it can be found on the coat of arms for the city. The pomegranate name stems from Latin for seeded apple but was misinterpreted as “apple of Grenada” in early English. The pomegranate has been used as a symbol in a wide array of cultures typically it is related to prosperity and to fertility.


Hattusa – The Hittite Sun Disk. The sun disk was a prominent symbol belonging to the Hattis. The outside circle represents either the Earth or the Sun and are found in many royal tombs from the bronze age.


Hunza – The head of a Tunjo. Tunjos were small offering figures made mostly of metal (some stone and ceramic), typically they were adorned with silver and gold, where available, copper elsewhere. They were mostly used in decoration for temples and shrines or offerings in rituals at lakes and rivers. Most were of humans, but some animal tunjos have been found as well.


Jakarta – The Monument Nasional (National Monument) is located in the city of Jakarta and prominent on the coat of arms. The Monument Nasional is designed to resemble the Lingga and Yoni a rice pestle and rice mortar respectively. These are important tools to the Indonesian tools and symbolize harmony, balance, fertility, and eternal life.


Hong Kong – The five-petal Bauhinia blakeana (Hong Kong orchid tree) flower is the core symbol of the flag and ensign of Hong Kong. The flower is meant to symbolize a harmonizing dichotomy. The five stars of the Chinese national flag which represent the Communist Part and Mao Zedong’s four classes (workers, peasants, bourgeoisie, and capitalists) are replicated each as a petal on the flower. This acknowledges their attachment to the Chinese motherland but also their uniqueness or their principle of “one country, two systems”.


Jerusalem – A stylized version of the lion Judah represented on the Jerusalem flag and coat of arms. It is the symbol of the Jewish tribe. The name refers to Judah’s Hebrew name translated to “young lion”. The blessing comes from the blessing given by Jacob to Judah in Genesis of the Torah.


Kabul - A depiction of a mihrab and minbar, which are prominent within the national emblem of Afghanistan. The mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, or direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays (i.e. the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca). The minbar is where the imam stands to deliver sermons, lectures, and other religious readings. It is a raised platform connected to stairs.


Kandy – The Sri Dalada Maligawa or Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or, simply, the Temple of the Tooth is located in the city of Kandy. The Temple is considered one of the most scared places of worship in the Buddhist world. The tooth relic, for which the temple is named, is the left canine tooth of Gautama Budda, father of Buddhism.


Kumasi – A porcupine or Kotoko. The porcupine is the national animal of the Ashanti and the national emblem of the Ashanti nation, of which Kumasi was capital. It represents their readiness to wage war on its enemies from a proverb which states “The porcupine fights from all angles” and the quills are representative of the Ashanti warriors found in their motto “Kum apem a. apem beba” (Kill a thousand, a thousand will come).


La Venta – A stone (colossal) head. The colossal heads, of which four have been found in La Venta itself (seventeen overall) were carved by the Olmec people. They weigh serval tons and have can be up to 9 ft tall. There is much speculation on how the Olmec were able to move the stones as the nearest quarry was over 50 miles away. It is suspected that the heads depict mighty Olmec rulers.


Lahore – The Alamgiri Gate. Part of the fortress in Lahore the Alamigri Gate is the main entrance of the fort and an iconic structure in Pakistan, being denoted on their currency. The gate was built in 1674 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.


Lisbon – Four wavy (horizontal zigzag) lines denote water and are found under a ship in the symbol of Lisbon. The symbol has been used in many different cultures, of note it is found in Egyptian hieroglyphics and is the zodiac symbol for Aquarius. Lisbon sits on the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Tagus River making it an extremely important port city and as such is deeply connected to the water.


Mexico City – The Opuntia, or prickly pear. The Opuntia is a member of the cactus family which is native only to the Americas. The Opuntia is found both on the coast of arms of Mexico as well as the coat of arms of Mexico City. This refers to the founding of Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, which was to be built when the Aztec people saw an eagle eating snake perched on a cactus. The Opuntia is fruiting, nochtli, which represents the heart of Copil and the island of Tenochtitlan.




 
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Mitla – A stylized part of the Grecas. A geometric pattern found over much of the site that adorn the walls and doors of the Church and Columns Group (place of worship and place structures). These were cut and polished stone that were fitted without the use of mortar, instead held in place by the weight of the stones around them. The designs are extremely complex and do not repeat anywhere in the complex.


Mohenjo-Daro – A symbol from the Indus script or Harappan script. This is a undeciphered script that is thought to be used to record a language, however, no underlying language has been identified and it does not show any significant change over time. The symbols are typically found in short strings on flat stamp seals or on tools, tablets, and pottery. There is debate on of these represented a formal written language or were nonlinguistic symbols similar to coat of arms or totem poles.


Muscat – A khanjar. Found on the national emblem of Oman, of which Muscat is the capital. In addition it is found on the rial, the currency of Oman. The khanjar is a traditional Omani dagger. It is a short dagger that is shaped like a “J”. They are currently used for ceremonial purposes only.


Nan Madol – The sea turtle was extremely important part of the people of the Saudeleur Dynasty which was the first organized government of the island of Pohnpei, of which Nan Madol was capital. The turtle represented the major political divisions and was core to a religious belief of the “Life-Giving Turtle”. This belief was spun into a “secret cult of the scared sea turtle”.


Nazca – A spider. One of the more intricate geoglyphs created in the Nazca Desert. This is one of many sets of Nazca Lines which are depressions in the soil between 10-30 cm deep. The lines stand out due to the top layer of reddish-brown soil is removed the under layer is much lighter high in lime which both preserves the lines and makes them contrast sharply. The lines, which cannot be seen from the ground are likely designed to be gazed upon by a God in the sky or to mimic constellations seen in the sky.


*While this symbol is almost universally referred to as the spider, it is much more likely to be an ant, archaeologists are not always the best zoologists.


Ngazargamu – A horizontal crescent. A symbol popularized during the Hellenistic period, the more modern version is the star in crescent and is presented vertically which has become a symbol representing the Islamic world. The crescent was the national symbol, and represented on the flag of the Bornu Empire, of which Ngazargamu was the capital city.


Palenque – A stone sculpture of a b’alam (jaguar) head. The jaguar was very important to the Maya and Palenque had its own temple dedicated to them, The Temple of the Jaguar or The Temple of the Beautiful Relief. The jaguar was a companion to the spiritual world and protectors of the royal family. The Maya had multiple jaguar gods. They viewed them as symbols of the sun, night, and darkness. The jaguar was representative of both power and aggressiveness but also, due to their ability to see at night, vision representing their ability to see into the darkness of the human heart and offering foresight to disaster.


Preslav – A rosette a symbol that features rotational symmetric forms which was heavily used by the Bulgarian people. These had varied uses and have been found cut into buildings, sarcophaguses, and clay while also being independently forged in metal. Most common among the rosettes of the region is the symbol IYI which is thought to be in reference to the sun.


Rapa Nui – A Moai head. The Moai are large statures of human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island. Their heads are, proportionally, oversized. They are thought to be a symbol of authority and power as well as a repository for the Rapa Nui ancestors’ spirits. It is not currently known how the Rapa Nui were able to transport such large statues across the island (the heaviest weighting over 90 tons), but oral histories of the Rapa Nui state that divine power allowed people to command them to walk or via help from the creator God Makemake.



Seoul - The Taegukgi. In the center is the Taeguk a symbol of interlocking semicircles. It is the symbol for supreme ultimate, the infinite potential in which one flows into the other. This is surrounded by 4 (of the 8 total) trigrams used in Taoist cosmology. From the top right these are: Kan representing water and Mercury, Kun representing Earth and Saturn, Li representing Fire and Mars, and Qian representing the heavens and Neptune.


Singapore – The national symbol of Singapore. This crescent moon facing a pentagram of five-pointed stars is the national symbol of Singapore and represented on their flag. The elements represent the assent of the young nation, universal equality, and national ideals. The moon is youthful and the stars light the way forward for the people.


Stockholm – The three crowns is the national emblem of Sweden. The crowns were initially used to represent the ruling of Sweden, Norway, and Scania. It had continued use during the Kalmar Union representing the personal union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The symbol’s continued use both in and out of the union led it to become the permeant arms for Sweden.


Taruga – A sculpture of a human head. The Nok people that lived in the site called Taruga in Nigeria made many terracotta sculptures. These were often large life sized pieces of human figures. They typically featured exaggerated features.


Toronto - 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.



Valetta – The Maltese cross. The cross is the associated with the Order of St. John and the Knights Hospitaller. The cross became the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller after they moved from Rhodes to Malta. The eight points symbolize the eight lands of origin or Langues: Auvergne, Provence, France, Aragon, Castille/Portugal, Italy, Germany, and England. As well they symbolize the eight aspirations of the knights: to live in truth, to have faith, to repent one’s sins, to give proof of humility, to love justice, to be merciful, to be sincere and wholehearted, and to endure persecution.


Vatican City - The Papal Tiara. Symbolized as a triple tiara or triregnum, the tiara which began as a conical cap became more emblazed over the years and was used during the coronation of a new Pope. The Tiara was abandoned by Pope Paul VI and while not currently used in the Papal regalia is still on the Vatican coat of arms.


Vilnius – The double cross is a Patriarchal cross, a variant of the Christian cross. This double cross has unique features from the Jagiellonian dynasty where the cross bars features are of equal length. This form of double cross was used on the coat of arms for Lithuania


Yerevan – The Arevakhach, or Armenian eternity sign. This is the ancient Armenian national symbol and has common use in Armenian architecture in particular for khachkars, a carved memorial stele. It symbolizes the concept of everlasting, celestial life.


Zanzibar – A pair of cloves. Zanzibar was once the world leader in cloves production. This clove, and other spice, trade had made Zanzibar one of the most important centers for commerce in the Indian Ocean. The two clove symbol was used on the, short-lived, first independent flag of Zanzibar.







 
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Nice job! :)
 
Greece – The Capital letter Omega. It is the last letter in the 24 letter Greek alphabet. It translates to mean “great”.
Omega doesn't mean "great". It means "big O" (in contrast to the "small O", Omicron).
 
Several of the icons appear to be placeholder (from V). Some of these might not change, but I would expect at least Japan's icon to.
 
Dislike the same old symbol for Germany which really fits a 20th century leader more... would have preferred one of the flags of the Holy Roman Empire (an eagle), not least because the eagle is also still a symbol of Germany today.
 
Dislike the same old symbol for Germany which really fits a 20th century leader more... would have preferred one of the flags of the Holy Roman Empire (an eagle), not least because the eagle is also still a symbol of Germany today.

Yes, I think the "federal eagle" (Bundesadler) would be a better symbol:



But I the iron cross is okay for me, too.
 
Awesome job :D
 
indeed a nice job! the greek symbol was posted somewhere in the Pericles-thread... ;)

edit: here:

Spoiler :
Oops! Sorry I'm late guys!

Here's old man Pericles:

(Bonus Pericles too)

And Greece's icon, very similar to Civ V's, but the colors are inverted:


I'm not entirely too happy with Greece, truth be told. Pericles itself doesn't really mesh with me, I don't like his design - specially the helmet and the scroll. I far prefer how he looked like in Civ IV. That beard is great though!

As for Greece itself, obviously the extra Wildcard policy is the main bonus here - super flexible,super powerful.
The Hoplite is rather boring, but it works. I like their designs, specially their shields.
What I find most worrisome is the Acropolis. Extra culture from adjacency districts is good, extra extra culture from the city center is good. Limiting the Acropolis to hills, though, may just kill it. The theater has no such limiting factor, so other civs may just do laps around Greece's culture for the simple fact that they get to place theaters wherever they want to, while Greece is limited to hills.
Hopefully the culture bonus from City-States will help counterbalance that, but it's very weird that one bonus is supposed to patch the other "bonus". Also, Gorgo won't be having Pericle's patch, so...

Speaking of Gorgo, where is she?
 
Amsterdam - The triple X are actually three vertically oriented St. Andrew’s Crosses or a saltire. A saltire is a heraldic symbol found on many flags. These are from the coat of arms of Amsterdam.

It is nice to see that city states have their own symbols. But this one seems wrong. The crosses should be the same size and be white. Also, more often you will see them arranged vertically.

 
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