The migration of symbols

 

By E. Goblet d'Alviella. Distributor: Lulu. $34.99. 348 pages. Paperback CQ. 2016 (1894).

Count Goblet d'Alviella (1846–1925) was a Belgian lawyer, rector of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, a Professor of the history of religions, a prolific writer and a Masonic scholar. The migration of symbols, is one of the foundations of archaeological and cross-cultural studies on symbolism.

Using the Swastika, the Tree of Life, the Winged, the Trident and the Caduceus, he explores major themes regarding symbols using psychological, historical, cultural and anthropological knowledge of his time.

While these branches have evolved and new discoveries have been made since the introduction of his work, the methodological approach along with the thoughts of Mr. Goblet d’Alveilla remain vital to all who seek a deeper understanding of the field as well as those of esotericism and Freemasonry.

The work includes 169 illustrations and over 400 references. All illustrations have been compared with the original ones and graphically enhanced. All references have been updated when necessary. The sections ‘Biography’ and ‘Works cited’ are new to this edition.

 

Contents

 

  • Forward by Eric Serejski
  • Introduction by G. Birdwood
  • Postscriptum
  • The author’s preface
  • Chapter I. On symbols common to different races
  • Chapter II. On the gammadion or swastika
    1. Geographical distribution of the gammadion
    2. Different interpretations of the gammadion
    3. Probable meaning of the gammadion
    4. The birth-place of the gammadion
  • Chapter III. On the causes of alteration in the meaning and form of symbols.
  • Chapter IV. Symbolism and mythology of the tree
    1. The sacred tree and its acolytes
    2. Signification of the sacred tree amongst the Semites
    3.  The paradisaic trees of the Aryans
  • Chapter V. On the transmutation of symbols
  • Chapter VI. The winged globe, the caduceus, and the trisula
    1. The winged globe outside Egypt
    2.  The origins of the Caduceus
    3. The transformations of the trisula
  • Conclusion
  • Addenda
  • Biography
  • Works cited
  • Index
  • List of plates
    1. Frontispiece: Apollo and the Gammadion.
    2.  [Gammadions : The two groups.]
    3. Table illustrating the migrations of the gammadion [as of 1894]
    4. [Symbolism of the Tree (1)]
    5. [Symbolism of the Tree (2)]
    6. Migrations of the eastern type of the sacred tree.
    7. List of figures
    8. Ideogram of Anu.
    9. Solar crosses.
    10. Hieroglyph of the hammer
    11. Triscèle on the shield of Enceladus.
    12. Bas-relief of Eyuk.
    13. Arsacian Intaglio.
    14. Ancient Indian coin.
    15. Jewels from Mykenae.
    16. Jewels from Mykenae.
    17. The hand of God.
    18. Assyrian symbol.
    19. Chaldean cylinder.
    20. Caves of Kanheri.
    21. Gammadions.
    22. Varieties of the gammadion.
    23. Tombstone from Juslenville.
    24. Libyan sepulchral stele.
    25. Altar in the Toulouse museum.
    26. Cross on a runic stone from Sweden.
    27. Ancient Indian coin. [Seal-Ring, Kosambi.]
    28. The Nandyavarta. [. Colebrooke]
    29. [Expression of the solar motion]
    30. Varieties of the triscèle.
    31. Symbols on Lycian coins.
    32. Whorl from Hissarlik.
    33. [Gammadion and solar disk]
    34. Cretan coin.
    35. Gallo-Belgian coin.
    36. Engraved shell from the Mississippi mounds. [Shell Gorget – The Bird.]
    37. Hindu symbol.
    38. [Gammadion and Cross –E. Harroy]
    39. Cretan coin.
    40. {Putative Apollonius ad Rhynacum’s coin
    41. Fusaïole or whorl from Ilios.
    42. Assyrian cylinder.
    43. On an old Christian staff.
    44. Samson killing the Lion.
    45. Mithra slaying the Bull.
    46. Jewel from Mycenae.
    47. Punic stela.
    48. Coin of Paphos.
    49. [Representations of the Omphalos – Sacred stone with two doves]
    50. Coin of Thuin.
    51. Assyrian thunderbolt.
    52. [The god of the atmosphere]
    53. Dorje.
    54. Degeneration of the Temple type.
    55. Polynesian carvings.
    56. The perron of Liege.
    57. Heraldic perron.
    58. Coin of R. de Zaeringen.
    59. Coin of Jean d’Aps.
    60. Column of Hildesheim.
    61. The Pyr of Augsburg.
    62. Buckle from Envermeu.
    63. Buckle from Eprave.
    64. Seal of Liege ad legata.
    65. From the Cathedral of Torcello.
    66. From the Athens Cathedral.
    67. Cloth from Masulipatam.
    68. Rudimentary forms of the sacred tree
    69. Varieties of sacred trees
    70. Conventional trees of Assyrian bas-reliefs.
    71. The acolytes of the sacred tree.
    72. [Tree and animals]
    73. Stele from Cyprus.
    74. Terra-Cotta Vase from Curium.
    75. Gallic coin.
    76. Antique cameo.
    77. Tomb at Kumbet.
    78. Hittite cylinder.
    79. Persian cylinder.
    80. Lion Gate of Mycenae.
    81. Tibetan symbol.
    82. a. Bas-relief on a sarcophagus.
    83. Christian sculpture of the third century.
    84. Wooden sculpture at Canossa.
    85. Seal of the R. Inst. of British Architects.
    86. Chaldean cylinder.
    87. Assyrian bas-relief.
    88. Inflorescence of the male date-palm.
    89. Assyrian bas-relief.
    90. Bas-relief of Khorsabad [enamelled archivolt]
    91. The Dragon and the Hesperides.
    92. Hindu symbols.
    93. Rouelle and chrism.
    94. Egyptian chrisms of Philae.
    95. [Metamorphosis of the Triscèle] Coin of Aspendus.
    96. [Metamorphosis of the Triscèle] Coin of Aspendus.
    97. [Metamorphosis of the Triscèle] Lycian coin.
    98. Lunar triskelion.
    99. Triscèle and crescents.
    100. Triscèle from Mycenae.
    101. Sacred stone of Byblos.
    102. Stone of Damascus.
    103. Moabite cylinder.
    104. Ansated cones
    105. Key of life.
    106. Ephesian Artemis.
    107. Coin of Cyzicus.
    108. [Amulet from Serapeum]
    109. [Thessaly Stele and Key of Life]
    110. [Crus Ansata and India]
    111. [Semitic Inscription and Key of Life]
    112. [Variations of the Key of Life]
    113. [Sign ‘Sa’ and so called Sacred cone with arms and a head].
    114. [Sacred cone]
    115. [Key of Life]
    116. [Coin of Cyprus]
    117. Syrian amulet.
    118. Winged globe of Egypt.
    119. Winged globe of Phoenicia.
    120. Wingless Phoenician globe with uraei.
    121. Vase of Citium. Cesnola.
    122. Sacred tree of Phoenicia.
    123. Winged disk of Asia Minor.
    124. Winged circle of Assyria.
    125. Anthropoid winged circle.
    126. Egyptian globe.
    127. Mesopotamian globe.
    128. Ahura Mazda.
    129. Combination of the winged globe and the thunderbolt.
    130. Coin of Tarsus.
    131. Mesopotamian Aureola.
    132. Avatar of Vishnu.
    133. Chakra of Vishnu.
    134. [Human face with wings and moustaches].
    135. Stone, Sun symbol. Uxmal.
    136. Greek caduceus.
    137. Punic caduceus.
    138. Assyrian standard.
    139. Hittite caduceus.
    140. Variety of Greek caduceus.
    141. [Abbreviated Winged Globes]
    142. Libian Caducei {Caducées libiques.}
    143. Persepolitan sculpture.
    144. [Caduceus transition]
    145. [Caduceus transition]
    146. [Caduceus transition]
    147. Mesopotamian cylinders.
    148. Varieties of Indian caducei.
    149. The trisula.
    150. Trisula of Amaravati.
    151. Trisula on blazing pillar.
    152. Coin of Krananda.
    153. Sculpture of Buddha Gayâ.
    154. Ancient coin.
    155. Cave of Baja.
    156. Caducei and trisulas.
    157. Cylinder of Chalcedon.
    158. Coin of the satraps of Tarsus.
    159. [Flying Scarab]
    160. Caduceus on an amphora.
    161. Trisula of Sanchi.
    162. Idol of Jagannath.
    163. Trident of Siva.
    164. Egyptian lotus.
    165. Bas-reliefs of Borobudur.
    166. Bas-reliefs of Borobudur.
    167. Thunderbolt of Elis.
    168. Sculpture of Borobudur.