▷ Greek Symbology 9 Mystical Symbols and Their Meanings (2024)

Let’s see today in Greek Symbology a total of 9 historical symbols that evoke legends and myths of this ancient culture.

The ancient Greek mythology is full of symbols, many of which originated in antiquity. This Greek symbology is widespread throughout the world and are used in fashion, jewelry and home decor. Because of their pervasive nature, they are synonymous with Greek culture.

Universal Greek Symbology

As one of the most prominent and improved civilizations in history, the culture of the ancient Greeks surely left its mark on the progress of mankind. Today, we can see Greek symbols and Greek letters widely used in mathematics and science, but what do they mean? For those who are curious to know, here are 9 Greek symbols with their meanings.

1. The Greek flag

You’ve probably seen the Greek flag at one time or another. The flag has nine alternating blue and white stripes, with a white cross in a blue square field in the upper left corner. In Greek symbology the white cross represents Greek righteousness, the instituted devotion of Greece. The blue and white colors represent the seas surrounding Greece with their blue waters and white wave crests.

2. Greek Key

The Greek key has been represented in fashion, i.e. used as a motif for the Italian high fashion brand Versace. This Greek symbol is also known as the meander motif, which takes its name from the Menderes river in ancient Greece (present-day Turkey). The meander was characterized by a very complicated path.

It became one of the most important Greek symbols of ancient Greece within Greek mythology, symbolizing infinity as in Wiccan symbols or the eternal flow of things. Many temples and objects were decorated with this motif. The Greek key also symbolizes the bonds of friendship, love and devotion, so it is often given as a wedding gift.

In addition, in Greek symbology it can represent the four cardinal points, the four seasons and the waves.

3. Greek Evil Eye

In Greek symbology, the “Greek Evil Eye” also known as the mati, is a Greek symbol beloved by the people of this country. More recently represented in the fashion world in jewelry and accessories, the evil eye dates back to the classical era in ancient Greece.

In Greek mythology, the evil eye is believed to be a curse given by a glare that has negative intentions. Any negative emotion can cause the curse of the evil eye. Within Greek symbolism it is also believed that the curse itself causes bad things to happen to the person who received it.

In some parts of Greece, those with blue or green eyes are believed to be particularly capable of giving the curse, which is one of the main reasons why evil eye talismans are depicted as a blue eye.

With this Greek symbol, using a special evil eye spell is said to help prevent the curse from occurring, so it could be considered fashionable, especially for the Greeks.

4. Lambda

As the eleventh letter of the Greek symbols, our list. It is written as Λ in upper case and λ in lower case. The Greek symbol lambda is demanded to denote the von Mangoldt function in mathematics, while it can also be seen in areas such as physics, engineering, statistics and even astronomy.

In an interesting side note, the Greek capitalized symbol lambda (Λ) was used as the Greek symbol for the Spartans, the renowned warriors of antiquity.

In Greek symbology the Lambda, is the letter of the Greek alphabet, which is used to represent the sound ‘l’ in ancient and modern Greek. Used in the Greek number system, it has a value of 30. Letters derived from it include the Roman L and the Cyrillic Л. It is used as a shorthand as a wavelength symbol.

In early Greek alphabets, the form and orientation of lambda varied. Most variants consisted of two straight strokes, one longer than the other, connected at their ends. The angle could be in the upper left, lower left (‘western’ alphabets) or upper (‘eastern’ alphabets).

Other variants of this Greek symbol had a vertical line with a horizontal or slanted stroke running to the right. With the general adoption of the Ionic alphabet, the Greek was set at an angle at the top; Romans put the angle in the lower left corner.

5. Eagle

The Greek symbol of the eagle is often used, for example, in the coat of arms and flags. In other designs. The Greek symbol is used in the United States as a large seal for official documents and passports and in the German coat of arms. The eagle is known for different symbolic values.

The most important is “King of the Birds”, which signifies power and victory and is used on Roman and Greek insignia. The ancient Egyptians, Indians and Aztecs also used the eagle to express symbolic value. Today, the eagle is used on numerous flags, including the German and Egyptian flag.

The first use of the eagle as a symbol dates back to ancient cultures several thousand years before Christ. Probably the ancient Egyptians or even the ancient Chinese dynasty.

6. Cornucopia

The cornucopia also known as the horn of plenty, is a Greek symbol of abundance of harvest, prosperity and nourishment. It is depicted as a spiraling horn-shaped basket filled with grains and fruits produced by the bountiful Earth.

The Greek symbol of Cornucopia traces its history back to Greek mythology when the God Zeus was fed goat milk by a goat, Amalthea. Later, Zeus rewarded Amalthea by placing her in the sky as a constellation (Capricorn) and gave his horn to his nurses assuring them an endless supply of everything they desired from him.

7. Knot of Hercules

In Greek symbology this emblem is known as the knot of Hercules, knot of Heracles, knot of love and knot of marriage, the knot of Hercules is a Greek wedding symbol representing eternal love and commitment. This knot made with two intertwined ropes is considered to represent the legendary fertility of the god Hercules.

Although initially used in ancient Egypt as a healing charm, the knot became more popular among the ancient Greeks and Romans as a token of love and a protective amulet. It was incorporated into the bride’s protective girdle that the groom ceremonially untied.

The Hercules knot is believed to be the origin of “tying the knot,” a phrase meaning to get married.

8. Caduceus

The caduceus is an ancient Greek symbol of trade and commerce, and is associated with negotiation and eloquence. This Greek symbolism is also associated with Hermes, the swift and cunning Greek god who is an emissary of the gods, conductor of souls in a future life and protector of travelers, merchants and shepherds.

The Caduceus also symbolizes wisdom and spiritual awakening in the Hermetic tradition. This Greek symbol features a winged staff with two snakes entwined around it. It has sometimes been mistakenly used as a Greek symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius, which has a single serpent and no wings.

9. The Minotaur

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a creature that was part man and part bull. He dwelt at the center of the Labyrinth, which was an elaborate labyrinth-like construction built for King Minos of Crete and designed by the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus, who were ordered to build it to contain the Minotaur.

The historical site of Knossos is generally identified as the site of the labyrinth. Theseus finally killed the Minotaur.