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Throughout the years, people have been looking at or following signs of some description since the early days of cave drawings to the present day emoji computer age.

Without noticing them, they surround us in our everyday lives, but how did we get them, and what were the earliest designs and who decided what they would be?

When you look back through various eras, from early cave dwellers to Romans, from ancient Greeks to Aborigine tribes, from Egyptians to Indian tribes in North America, they all have one thing in common: at one point they have all used signs to teach, communicate or instruct.

The Egyptians developed a complete alphabet made up from hieroglyphics to explain about their culture and dialogue, depicting markings on tombs and monuments throughout the land, something that is still looked on as mysterious in today's modern world.

Because the nature of signs and symbols is vast, there are many genres that are represented by various shapes and sizes, most of the signs have good intentions, but there are also pagan and satanic symbols that leave people frightened and feared, signs related to witchcraft, demon worship, black magic and Voodoo have deep roots in human history.

Because of the intensity of the meaning of signs, we at Bearingtech can relate to the importance of understanding the use of signs, especially in engineering as they are a common part of understanding how a piece of machinery works, signs tell you to push, pull, turn and hold etc.

Another mass of signs and markings that are seen and used everyday by millions of people, is the Highway Code, and yet we take it in our stride. How many people see the signs but do not fully understand their meaning, is it because we see them on a regular basis and it sinks into our psyche without realising?

Over the next few pages we are going to look at some of the earliest and most common signs that have been drawn or designed, from the earliest cave drawings to emojis, which are the latest in a line of signs.

Probably the best-known set of signs are the astrological symbols of the zodiac, many people consult these signs on a daily basis each day without knowing the true meaning of what the signs mean.

Early cave drawings were probably the first signs or symbols to emerge from the human form, spread over every continent, signs can be clearly seen as a type of communication between early tribes and cave dwellers. Drawings showing animals, times of the years, hunting scenes, signs of royalty and wealth are all represented on the walls of the darkest remote caves.

Some of these cave drawings are mentioned by the famous author Erich von Daniken who wrote the controversial book, The Chariots of the Gods, in the book he explains that he has travelled to every part of the world studying cave drawings and discovered that one single drawing showed a sign that was identical on all continents, the sign he was referring to is pointing to the sky with people bowing down as in the presence of a God descending from above, the question is, is this showing a higher force in the universe visiting the earth? According to von Daniken “ why would an African tribesman draw the same drawing as a cave dweller from Scandinavia, they have net met, yet draw the same image”, is this a sign that an alien craft visited?

The controversy started when the author asked the question, “ Was God an astronaut?”

The Astrological Star Chart

The above signs are depicted throughout human civilization and represent every person that is born within a particular month. Have you ever wondered why? How can these signs count for 6.7 billion people on the earth and be relevant to thousands of people on a daily basis?

According to records, the astrological star charts started between 409 and 398 BC during the Persian rule and represent the twelve 30 degree sectors that make up the Earth`s 360 degree orbit around the sun.

Although many people believe in the findings of the signs, there are many who think it is nonsense. Yet there are many people who will not venture outside of their properties and go about their daily lives without consulting their star sign first.

Early Egyptian Hieroglyphic symbols

For many years, explorers and archaeologists encountered tombs and monuments across Egypt which depicted strange and unusual signs on the walls of possible burial chambers. For years they struggled to identify the meanings of the figures, before Jean- Francois Champollion discovered the structural logic of the figures in September 1822.

The Egyptians were one of the first civilisations to use images as a form of expression. Hieroglyphics were used to educate and inform, and were used for centuries. They are seen as a secret code amongst archaeologists throughout the world. The majority of the drawings are depicted in an animal form, something that the Egyptians worshipped throughout their lives and thereafter into the afterlife.

Heka was the earliest known God, and was known as the most dominant force in Egyptian culture. Myth has it that he laid the egg to start civilization for both mortal and divine life, therefore pre-dating all other Gods. He was known as the God of magic and medicine and enabled the art of creation.

Legendary explorer and Egyptian specialist Howard Carter was probably the first well- known European man to highlight the importance and understanding of the images when he embarked on his quest to find the tomb of the young Egyptian King Tutankhamun.

For years explorers dug relentlessly to uncover various tombs across Egypt, only to be stumped when they came across the imagery that was laid out before them. Many believed that the drawings were some sort of curse and that they would suffer if they entered the space illegally.
Once the hieroglyphics were examined and explained, the contents were more understandable and became accessible to the seekers, and less suspicious and frightening.

With over 2000 deities in the Egyptian pantheon to choose from, the treasure hunters had plenty to keep them busy, especially as many of the Gods' tombs were still undiscovered and most importantly, untouched and packed with artifacts.

The tombs of most Egyptian Gods were seen as a treasure hunter's dream, as the riches that they amassed throughout their reigns were seen as an incredible incentive to search for years, sometimes without reward but plenty of disappointment and sadness.

The important Gods on the archaeologist`s wish list would have included Ramesses II, Osiris, Isis, Ra, Cleopatra and the ultimate treasure hunter's dream, Tutankhamun.

Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun is the best-known Egyptian King; virtually everybody in the modern world has heard of, or has knowledge of the teenage King.

After Howard Carter's discovery in 1923, the whole world saw the riches and treasures that were enclosed in the now famous tomb, everything from thrones to chariots, jewellery to mummified animals were placed inside the chamber, riches that had to be seen to be believed.
The list of items found inside the tomb is actually staggering.

On a personal note, I have seen the collection in the Egyptian museum in Cairo and it is something to behold; to see these treasures up close is absolutely staggering, with the attention to detail that was placed in creating these masterpieces being incredible, considering the era that they were made in.

We only managed to spend around 4 hours inside the museum. To be honest, a week would not be enough, as you tend to walk around pointing out all manner of things that are astounding.

The list consists of the following items…

Death mask, Iron daggers, board games, garment mannequin, golden sandals, gold coffin, throne, chariots, trumpets, statue of Anubis, jeweled breastplates, wall paintings, ivory covered box, canopic jars, mural of himself and his wife, cups and goblets, jars, Shabti statues, an animal related bed, diadem, gold hunter statue, model boat, gold jeweled box, buckles, headsets and many more artifacts.

Sadly most of the items that were placed outside of the burial chamber have been stolen by grave robbers and unregistered collectors, although it is a criminal offence to remove any possessions without permission. Most Egyptians see it as a crime against their country to remove the artifacts.

In 2010, a research report discovered that Tutankhamen’s parents were in fact related, his mother Queen Nefertiti and his father Akhenaten were cousins. The King himself was involved in an incestuous relationship, having married Ankhesenamun, who was the daughter of his father, making her his sister. Many historians believe that the inbred relationships throughout the royal family resulted in the young King's club foot.

Fascinating fact: A dagger that was found inside the tomb of Tutankhamun was made of an unusual material, after extensive research it was discovered that the item was made from a meteor, making it not of this Earth.

Heka

Heka was known as the first Egyptian founder God, considered to be one the makers of the world. According to Egyptian history, in the beginning before creation, there was nothing but darkness, only the God Nun and the dragon Apep existed. As the first light appeared, ancient Egyptians associated the change to Heka, and believed that the phenomenon was magic; hence the word Heka is known as “magic” throughout the ancient world and Egyptian mythology. Every single magical being in the world, including Gods, Dwarves, Witches, Warlocks and Trolls, have their own magic and are seen as supernatural to humans.

The early Egyptians believed that magic could be performed by the Gods, but only inside their temples and shrines. They did not see hieroglyphics as magical, but saw them as letters, unlike the rest of the world who looked upon the mysterious signs as magical, possibly containing curses which brought death and destruction to anyone who disturbed or disrespected them.
This misunderstanding of the hieroglyphics was one of the biggest mistakes in the understanding of the signs.

Isis

The Goddess Isis became one of the most worshipped deities in Egyptian culture and as her name translates into the Queen of the Throne, she is seen as the Virgin mother, due to the arduous labour that she endured with her son, something that the Virgin Mary is compared to.
She was also the Goddess of devotion, compassion and kindness, and was rumoured to have the power to resurrect the dead and cure the sick. She is also connected to floods and flooding through the many tears that she shed over the death of Osiris.

Alongside her husband Osiris, she ruled the early world after its early creation and started to introduce and educate mere mortals into the crafts of agriculture, art and civilised society, as most men and women were seen to be uncivilised. However Set, who was the brother of Osiris, became jealous of his brother and sister-in-law`s popularity amongst the people and decided to take the throne for himself. He first tricked his brother to lay in a coffin, which he duly locked and had it thrown into the river Nile before taking over the throne. On hearing this, Isis began searching for the coffin, which ended up in a tree in Byblos. After negotiating with the powers that be, she managed to retrieve the coffin and started the procedure of reviving her husband.
Set heard of her plans and stole the coffin back, where he had it chopped into pieces, with Osiris still inside and scattered the remains across the land, probably initiating the first hung, drawn and quartered ritual.

Cleopatra

Like Tutankhamen, Cleopatra is seen as one of the most recognised Egyptian goddesses, and has been portrayed in countless books, films and TV shows throughout history. Whilst she was born in Egypt, her family origins are traced back to Macedonian Greece, but over the years, she embraced the Egyptian culture and became a Queen to the masses.

Throughout the years, Roman propaganda painted her as a temptress who used her sex appeal as a political weapon, but she was known amongst her peers and people to be highly intelligent. She was able to speak a dozen languages fluently and was educated in mathematics, philosophy, oratory and astronomy. As far as being a raving beauty, the reality of her looks were misgiving: on paper and coins she is portrayed as having manly features with a large hooked nose. Some say that she instigated these images to project a strong masculine line of authority when dealing with generals and politicians.

Although seen in the history books as being demure and feminine, she had a strong stomach for conflict and battle, and had her siblings killed after they were seen disagreeing with her decisions. She is always seen as donning a headdress with an asp sticking from the front, but according to belief, she was not killed by an asp, but like her lover Marc Anthony, she committed suicide with poison.

In 1963, the motion picture “Cleopatra” was put into production, with an initial budget of $2,000,000 dollars and starred Elizabeth Taylor. After enormous amounts of money was spent, the final outlay for the studio was close to $44,000,000 dollars, which nearly bankrupted the company.

Fascinating fact: Bastet is the daughter of the sun God Ra, and is the God of cats, women`s secrets, fertility, childbirth and the protector of evil from the home, she is often depicted with a cat's head on a woman`s body.

Ra

The Egyptian God Ra, was one of the most revered deities in ancient mythology, and was often shown as a falcon headed God, with an orb shape on his head symbolising his connection to the sky and the sun.

Many know him as the sun God and he is believed to be the creator of humans and creatures after forming them through the fall of his tears. He is known as the creator of the sun and creation.

Ra was often linked closely with the sun's daily journey across the Sky; as the sun began to fade, he drew weaker and supposedly travelled to the underworld throughout the night, recharging his energies defeating enemies and obstacles, before rising again in the morning as the sun rose.

Other Egyptian Gods and Goddesses include Bastet, Anubis, Horus and Cavern deities who were a group of Gods in the caves of the underworld who punished the wicked and helped the souls of the justified dead. They are mentioned in the Egyptian Book of the Dead and are often seen as serpent like creatures.

The people of Egypt would leave bowls of offerings outside of caves as a gift to the Gods, something that continues to this day.

Roman Symbology Signs and Meanings.

Like the Egyptians, the Romans were a cultured and educated race of people who used the images of symbols and signs to great effect. Many Roman buildings were daubed with religious and ceremonial symbols depicting which Emperor or God dwelled in the residence.

Many roman Gods and Goddesses were depicted in the form of a symbol or sign, literally from the highest emperor to the lowest deity, equaling the same effigies that the Egyptians and the ancient Greeks had attached to their own burial tombs and monument buildings.

Shown below are the signs that represented the Roman Gods and Goddesses

Apollo

The five signs shown above are associated with probably the best-known Roman gods, but do we know what they represent? For example most people have heard of Apollo and recognise the name because of the NASA connection with the space expeditions, but did you also know that Apollo is the God of music, poetry, art, archery, plague, medicine, sun, knowledge and light and is associated with the moon, hence the NASA contact.

Romans also worshipped him as an agricultural God for fending off diseases for animals.

The Greek equivalent is Sol.

Neptune

Another well-known Mythical God is Neptune, who is depicted as the God of the sea and freshwater, mostly due to his appearance in films and TV series where he is seen rising from the depths of the ocean with his trusty trident to help sailors in distress or to ward off any evil doings connected with the ocean.

His consort, Salacia is the goddess of sea water, hence the salt in the oceans and seas named after her.

According to myth Neptune and Minerva created the chariot and has the planet Neptune named after him.

The Greek equivalent is Poseidon.

Mars

Mars is another God who is well known because of his connection with war, but is also recognised as being the God of agriculture and prosperity and is represented by the symbols of a wolf, woodpecker and horses.

Mars was also the father of the famous twins Romulus and Remus (their mother was Rhea Silvia). He was known also for his passionate affair with Venus, an affair often described as one of the most famous romantic liaisons in Roman history.

The planet Mars and the month of March are named after him.

The Greek equivalent is Aries.

Venus

Venus on the other hand is probably the most painted goddess throughout the art world and is always connected with beauty and love, sexuality and, strangely, gardens. She is regularly seen emerging from water.

Married to Vulcan, she had her first temple built at the Roman forum from the fines that Roman men paid for sexual misconducts.

Julius Caesar is said to claim that he was one of her descendants (through her son Aeneas).

The Greek equivalent is Aphrodite.

Diana

The twin sister of Apollo is Diana, known as the huntress as she is always seen with a bow and arrow. She is the goddess of the countryside, hunters and the moon. She is also associated with fertility and childbirth and is the protector of women in labour.

The Greek equivalent is Artemis.

Vulcan

The Roman God Vulcan is the god of Volcanoes and forging and is the husband of Venus. He is associated with heat, fire and the forge which are all connected with the earth`s inner core. This is depicted in the sign showing a V shape, which represents the inner scale of a volcano.

The Greek equivalent is Hephaestus.

Ceres

Ceres is the Roman god of agriculture, fertility and motherly relations and is credited with the invention of ploughing, sewing and the nurturing of seeds - items that were gifted to humans.
The sign shows a scythe type symbol, which captures the imagery of farming.

Romans celebrate a festival called Cerealia, which is where the word for cereal comes from.

Mercury

Probably one of the better-known Gods is Mercury, who is known as the messenger of the gods, but is also associated with communication, travellers, merchants, trickery and thieves. He is also responsible for guiding human souls to the afterlife after they have deceased.

There are many newspapers across the World that have the word Mercury as a masthead, keeping up the communication aspect with readers.

The planet Mercury and chemical element are named after him.

The Greek equivalent is Hermes.

Vesta

Vesta is the goddess of the hearth and home and is rarely seen in human form, usually shown as fire, which why she is associated with fire and heat. Her temple at the Roman forum was off limits to all, except priestesses who were known as Vestal Virgins. They were instructed to keep a fire burning in the entrance to the temple to ward off any intruders; the fire was to be kept continually alight.

A well-known brand of matches was named after the goddess, i.e. Swan Vesta.

The Greek equivalent is Hestia.

Minerva

Minerva is known for her wisdom, strategy, craft and trade, defensive war and knowledge, which is why her symbol is shown as an owl representing wisdom.

Legend has it that Vulcan split open the head of Jupiter to try and ease his headache, and on doing so released Minerva, who was fully equipped in a full set of armour.

The Greek equivalent is Athena.

Jupiter

On equal terms with Zeus, Jupiter is seen as the Roman God of the sky, he was king of the gods before Christianity became dominant, his animal symbol was that of an eagle which became the emblem of the Roman centurion legions and later the Nazi party in World War 2.

The Greek equivalent is Zeus.

Juno

Juno is the wife of Jupiter and the patron Goddess of Rome and fertility and was associated with all aspects of women`s life, particularly in marriage.

The Greek counterpart is Hera.

Bacchus

One of the best known Roman Gods is Bacchus, the God of wine. He is best known throughout the world for the connection to wine, grapes and happiness. He was also associated with sensual pleasures, theatre, horticulture and truth, amongst others things.

The symbol depicts a bunch of grapes and a glass.

The Greek counterpart is Dionysus.

Cupid

The best known Roman god sign is undoubtedly Cupid, constantly linked to romance and love, the sign depicts an arrow piercing a heart, meaning that someone or something has touched your heart.

Cupid is also the God of passionate desire, passion, erotic love and attraction and affection, and is constantly used throughout the modern world in displaying love and affection for occasions such as Valentines Day.

The Greek counterpart is Eros.

The Greek Gods and Goddesses

Like the Romans, the Greeks believed in the power of their Gods and had either their own variety or the equivalent of their Roman counterparts. Each deity represented a particular field, and like the Romans they were often the gods of more than one subject.

Zeus

Zeus is the most powerful of all the Greek Gods. Virtually everything stems from him and he is known as the King of the Gods, and the ruler of Mount Olympus as well as being the God of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law and order, and justice - to name a few.

The sign that is associated mostly with Zeus is a lightning bolt being held in a fist.

The Roman counterpart is Jupiter.

Poseidon

Poseidon is one of the most recognised Gods, often depicted in films as a giant bearded man emerging from the sea with a trident in his hand. Similar to his Roman counterpart Neptune, he appears in epic films that tell mythological tales like 'Jason and The Argonauts' and the 'Sinbad' stories.

As per many of the Gods, he represents other subjects including being the God of the sea, rivers, floods, drought and earthquakes.

Interesting Fact: In ancient myth, Poseidon supposedly rapes Medusa, which leads to her transformation into the hideous Gorgon, resulting in snakes emerging from her head, turning mere mortals to stone if they were to gaze in her direction.

Hermes

The name Hermes is now associated with the courier company who are known for delivering parcels and packages. They have recently changed their name to Evri. But did you know that the Greek God Hermes was the God of boundaries, travel, trade, language, writing, cunning and thieves? He is also associated with fertility, music, luck and deception.

The sign of Hermes like his Roman counterpart, shows wings on his ankles, and is a sign for carrying messages and messengers.

Ares

Ares on the other hand was the God of courage, war, bloodshed and violence and like his Roman counterpart Mars, is seen as an all-powerful deity that is always portrayed as big, bold and loud, just like conflict.

The sign for Ares is similar to that of Diana (the Huntress) being the round circle with an arrow, which equals a bow and arrow during a battle.

The animals that are associated with Ares are vultures for patience, snakes for stealth, dogs for loyalty and bears for strength.

Dionysus

The Goddess Dionysus was known for something completely different from Ares, conducting a more refined set of subjects, topics such as wine, parties, festivals, chess, drunkenness, ecstasy and the theatre to name a few. Similar to the God Bacchus, her symbol is depicted as a bunch of grapes, but without a glass.

Aphrodite

Probably one of the best known Greek goddesses is Aphrodite and she is always associated with beauty, love, desire and pleasure. She is seen as a symbol of romance and cleanliness, like her Roman equivalent Venus. She is often described as purity and innocence and is connected to roses and scallop shells.

Athena

Athena is the Greek Goddess of reason, wisdom, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, battle strategy and handicrafts. Like Minerva, she is often seen with an owl, which is a sign of wisdom.

Hades and Persephone

Hades and Persephone have a big connection with each other: firstly Hades is known as the King of the Underworld and is associated with all things evil, including translating his name into Hell.

The story connecting the pair is fascinating. According to legend, Hades was obsessed with Persephone and duly abducted her. After taking her to the underworld, where she held the title of Queen, she agreed to stay on one condition, that half of the year she would spend under the ground in the world of the dead, and the other half of the year she would spend above the ground in the living world with her mother.

Her symbol shows the difference between light and dark, representing earth and hell.

Hades' symbol is seen on many ancient military armies across the world, and apart from being known for the underworld connection, he is also known as the King of the Dead and wealth.

He is often seen with his three headed dog called Cerberus, the guardian of the underworld.

Hades' Roman counterpart is Pluto

Artemis

Artemis is known as the Goddess of the hunt. Like her Roman counterpart Diana, her symbol is depicted as a bow and arrow, and she is also connected with the wilderness, animals, the moon and young girls and is associated with the deer.

Hera

Hera is the Queen of the Gods, and is the Goddess of the skies. She is the representative of women, marriage, childbirth, heirs, kings and empresses.

Hera is the wife of Zeus, and although she was the goddess of marriage, the stress and heartbreak she suffered after many of her husband`s infidelities, caused her to be associated with jealousy and regret.

She is often seen  wearing of a diadem and a veil.

Her Roman counterpart is Juno.

Demeter

Demeter is the Goddess of grain, agriculture, harvest growth and nourishment. These are shown by the symbol of a scythe, which also has a connection with farming.

She is often seen with sheaths of wheat, a winged serpent and as carrying a lotus staff.

Hestia

Hestia is known as the Virgin Goddess of the hearth, domesticity and chastity. She is the Greek equivalent to Vesta and is often depicted with the symbol of a hearth and a kettle.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus is the God of fire, metalwork and crafts and is the representative of ironmongers and forges. Married to Aphrodite, he is the Greek counterpart of Vulcan who was connected with volcanoes.

This is the first part of Robert Grindley's article on 'Signs from the times'. In the next and final part, to be published soon, he looks at signage from the Aborigines to the modern day computer world.