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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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”.
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.
