Swastika on roman army shields/gear

[DanM]

I read that greeks used it as a symbol of good magic

[Ironhand]

Its one of those few oddly almost universal symbols in that cultures that have no even minute relationship or connection seem to have their own variant.

[Matt Lukes]

And it has meaning to Asian cultures too- I recall reading of one unfortunate culture ignorance event during the Vietnam war where US servicemen are alleged to have kicked over tombstones that bore the Swastika given that their only exposure is the teachings about WWII of western schools, not knowing it was an ancient religious symbol in the East. Indeed it's one of the simpler symbols that could be made- it's a cross with little arms, so it shouldn't be at all surprising that nearly everyone, everywhere came up with it :wink:

[Gaius Decius Aquilius]

- I recall reading of one unfortunate culture ignorance event during the Vietnam war where US servicemen are alleged to have kicked over tombstones that bore the Swastika...
:

In 1968 a picture was published of a 9th Infantry recondo team with a member wearing a swastika around his neck. The press noted this and presented this as evidence of "right wing extremist" elements in the US forces. I was later assigned to the 9th Infantry. We were in a highly populated area and we had a lot of contact with the Vietnamese, with whom we were not on bad terms with. It was not uncommon for a Vietnamese family we had befriended, or one of our Tiger Scouts to give us a medallion of the Buddha, or a "good luck" swastika. We were very aware of the religious symbolism. However, the press seemed to report what it wanted to.

R. Izard

[Winter]

I can't remember where I read it (have to dig out some old books) but I seem to remember something that it was used as far back as neolithic times and may have represented divinity in motion.

[DanM]

The only reason swasticas have the assosiaction they do nowadays is because of hitler. It was a dark time, with dark events, which the world must forget about

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Even as a child, trying to come up with interesting designs, I shocked my self by comming up with that, unintentionally, Matt. Like you say, it is a simple design. But as a child, I often wondered that they were sold in the market stalls we wandered through in SE asia, having only the western WWII knowledge of them.

[Decius]

The only reason swasticas have the assosiaction they do nowadays is because of hitler. It was a dark time, with dark events, which the world must forget about

never forget about this. to prevent the history repeating itself...

[John M McDermott]

Interesting. My friend Terry Nix has a buckle from a fort in Germany that dates from the 1st C. AD. It has the Star of David on it. We have mused much as to how it got there.

[Winter]

"Never Forget. Never Again"

The only reason swasticas have the assosiaction they do nowadays is because of hitler. It was a dark time, with dark events, which the world must forget about

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

We would do well to remember this....

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

It was a dark time, with dark events, which the world must forget about

Seriously dude, have you forgotten this:
[size=150:1zs900vz]Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.[/size]
George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905[/i]

[Ironhand]

Agreed, WWII is something that should never be forgotten and it also a shame how it has lost a lot of its emotional impact with time. I find it laughable how often people are compared to Hitler or the Nazis with little justification of how they are comparative. Unfortunately, I think history is doomed to repeat itself regardless. Those of us who study it should know better than any the cycles or the past and honestly I doubt that will ever change since the core of human nature that brings this about will never change. I'm not saying that we should just adopt a defeatist stance though since it is through the labors and the sacrifices of striving to be more than what we are that the cycle is allowed to continue or else life would a continuous downward spiral.

I didn't mean to get philosophical but I guess I am still stuck on Sunday.

[M. Demetrius]

That'll preach around my neck of the woods, bro, don't dismay.
Laus tibi.

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

Agreed, WWII is something that should never be forgotten and it also a shame how it has lost a lot of its emotional impact with time. I find it laughable how often people are compared to Hitler or the Nazis with little justification of how they are comparative.

And the thing is, Hell, the Soviets under Stalin were even worse :-0 All I can say is I will continue w/ the Swastika as a good luck symbol. :-0 I know, I'm evyil, but WTH, right!?