A Dimness
Posts: 613
12/26/2016
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So while going through some old stuff recently I found a bone necklace with a weird symbol carved into it.
According to my mother my late great-grandfather made it at some point in the past.
The thing itself is groovy, so I'll definetly wear it, but I'm curious as to what the symbol signifies.
My family has roots in both south-america and large areas between spain, italy, and south-france so it might be European heraldry or mesoamerican symbolism.
Here's an approximation of what the thing looks like:
http://imgur.com/PS8DWEG
Judging by the shape it might in some way be related to the sun.
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A truth so strange it can only be lied into existence
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Siankan
Posts: 1048
12/26/2016
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The symbol is probably not heraldic, if the drawing is accurate. However, there are two possibilities; neither lines up in the details, but both are possible if the carving is rough or worn.
The first is the carbuncle. This consists of eight rods tied together, usually ending in fleurs-de-lis. Some interpret the carbuncle as an imaginative rendering of an old-fashioned shield boss (the metal bit in the center of a shield). Others claim it is a combination of the Latin cross with the saltire (St. Andrew's Cross, i.e. an X). It is a fairly rare heraldic symbol, but it does get used occasionally.
The second possibility is Navarre. Navarre was a small Spanish kingdom centered on Pamplona (of bull-running fame) in the early Middle Ages; later, after the Kings of France inherited its throne, the country was split between France and Spain. The arms of Navarre are made up of eight gold chains tied together in a starburst pattern. By the official story, these date to the great battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, where the united army of all the Spanish kingdoms faced and defeated the Almohad Caliphate. The Christian army was almost overwhelmed early in the battle, but then in a final charge managed to reach the bodyguard of the caliph. The bodyguard was made up of slave-warriors chosen for their size and strength, and they were all chained together. Sancho VII, the Navarrese king, was the one who broke through the chained warriors and secured victory, and it is said that in honor of this achievement he adopted chains as his arms. Certainly, they were in use under Sancho's successor.
Both options may be long shots. Neither symbol lines up with your graphic in the details (although if there's any inaccuracy in the graphic, that changes the equation), but as I said above that could be because of wear or simplicity in the original carving. Also, neither symbol was very common. Navarre was a very small place, for one thing (although if your grandfather's family was Basque, the likelihood shoots up dramatically). For another, very few families used carbuncles in their arms. However, long shots are still shots, and both are worth looking into.
I don't have time at the moment to dig up graphics of either possibility, but either should be easy to find online. If neither pans out, then it's probably time to start looking at American rather than European symbolism. Good luck on your search!
edited by Siankan on 12/26/2016
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Prof. Sian Kan, at your service.
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Addis Rook
Posts: 125
12/30/2016
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...I do believe I know what this is.
This may be a Norse sigil. The Aegishjalmur, or "Helm of Awe". Perhaps it is a simplified version of it? The full thing would be a pain to carve into bone.
Here is a site explaining the sigil. This sigil is mysterious and it's exact meaning is not quite understood, due to gaps in knowledge of Norse esoteric tradition.
http://norse-mythology.org/symbols/helm-of-awe/
My first impression was that that bone necklace was a protection amulet. This very well could be a protection sigil. From what I can glean from that website, it is a sigil meant to influence the enemy into hesitating, so that you can strike a fatal blow. A sigil of intimidation, and through intimidation, ultimately protection.
Perhaps your great grandfather was a practitioner of magic? He seemed to have a wide knowledge of sigils, to be using something of Norse creation in South America some 100 years ago.
edited by Addis Rook on 12/30/2016
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