The Power of Symbols - The (Nazi) Swastika

[nishant1911]

swastika is a very eye catching symbol (even without nazism )
atleast according to me.
nazi stole a perfectly good ancient symbol and ruined it.

also hinduism have a closer relationship with swastika than buddhism. (the symbol of hinduism itself is swastika )
one thing that i don't understand is how swastika reached new world. was it really that ancient ?

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Assuming the color scheme and the pattern were the same used in the flag used by the Nazis, would you find the symbolism imposing even if not associated with the Nazis? Let's substitute the swastika for another symbol altogether -- how do we interpret symbols? Would a circle be as "authoritative" as a square or a triangle?

A triangle very much so.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

The Swastika has been an important symbol for thousands of years. It has a lot of symbolism attached to it. There must be something with it for it to be so wide spread.

 

[holy king]

it's simple.

 

[Communisto]

It has a lot to do with black being used over a white field. That kind of contrast really catches the eye and jars your brain. Most uses by Buddhists use different colours and when white and black is used yeah, its still pretty imposing.

 

[Cheetah]

The swastika form originally symbolizes the Sun. That's why it, and many similar symbols, can be found all over the world. Of course, with time, it has been interpreted a bit differently in different cultures.

Greece:

Indus Valley:

Decorative Hindu form:

Etruscan:

Pre-Christian Central Europe:

Poland:

Navajo:

The Sun Cross is a similar form most popular in Prehistoric Europe:

And more:

 

[nishant1911]

^
wow ,really makes me think people in modern times are missing something .

btw i would urge op to remove 'nazi' from the title unless he/she want to discuss something about nazism .
nazis don't own swastika .

 

[asbestos]

The Nazis would have probably won if they had a more menacing symbol:

 

[Dachs]

And more:

the triskelion is NOT a swastika

 

[cardgame]

Which one is that?

I don't see anything in the one labelled Celt.

 

[Godwynn]

Which one is that?

The one that isn't a swastika...

 

[Brian Shanahan]

Which one is that?

I don't see anything in the one labelled Celt.

It's the three legged man symbol, and also used for the triple spiral motifs you also see. It has nothing to do with the Swastika.

 

[Patroklos]

Considering the symbol and its colors were chosen specficially for the purpose of invoking an image of power I thnk the answer is yes.

Whatever the Nazi's chose would have been associated with them of course, but without the swastika in particular I don't think it would be as prevenlent in popular culture.

 

[amadeus]

Is this thread building up to something? I get the impression it is...

I honestly cannot imagine what I could be building up to.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

This maybe?


Link to video.

 

[RedRalph]

I honestly cannot imagine what I could be building up to.

I thought it might be some sort of device whereby you 'catch out' somebody by getting them to admit they only associate it with evil cause of the Nazis, something along those lines.

 

[dwaxe]

I thought it might be some sort of device whereby you 'catch out' somebody by getting them to admit they only associate it with evil cause of the Nazis, something along those lines.

Jawohl, Mein Fuhrer.

 

[.Shane.]

If it was a pink unicorn then we'd all be angered when we see that in the present. Its the association w/ the nazis. This is one of the biggest "duhs" I've come across in a while, which makes me agree w/ RR's earlier statement.

 

[Tani Coyote]

The Jewish swastika does kind of surprise you.

---

On topic, I think it's association with the Nazis first and foremost. Though like the Hammer and Sickle, the Swastika and its flag has a very interesting design. Albeit, you can't repurpose the Nazi flag for good due to the evil of the regime.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

What is really surprising is that the Jewish swastika is just a normal swastika with 3 dots at the end of each arm, while the Hindu one is a swastika within a Star of David? Are you sure those two didn't get switched somehow? (Actually, now that I think of it, isn't the combination of the swastika and Star of David the symbol of Raelism?)