Swastika Research Paper

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Assignment Swastika: Modern Age – Colonialism 14-5-2016
Rik Overtoom 186928

'BBC: The story of the Swastika' discusses the long path of an ancient symbol that has been used all over the world as an expression of good fortune. The sign also has refers to other cross symbols that illustrate the sun and the four seasons; alias the universal flow. Nowadays the Swastika is frequently used in such a fashion by Hinduists and Buddhists, as well as by those who follow pagan traditions, which I will discuss later. Without the Swastika symbol many rituals would lose their meaning, as it is a custom decoration at celebrational days, as well as an everyday reminder at an enterence for example.

Unfortunately for this rich tradition, the Nazi regime choose …show more content…
If they see a swastika, they see death, while it can mean the opposite for another at the same time. This hate/love relation is obviously 'perculiar', but it is not the only example where the swastika causes confusion since the symbol has been used for different reason all over the world. Personally, I was intregued by the popularity of the symbol in, and around Europe, passed though the ages by artifacts. Even during the interbellum of the World Wars the symbol was widely used, often as a reference to native religions, as it was just another cross symbol.

Also in Poland, the country that suffered most during WWII, look-a-likes of the swastika were the earliest sources in honour of the pagan Gods. For example the symbol of the 'Hands of God', which is thought to refer to the balance of the Universe, which became an emblem for slavic neopagaism, expressing their critique towards the Catholic Church. Another important sign was the sun wheel, representing the endless circles of life. Such a symbol was in essence a methophor for nature's acts. House with Hindu symbols 'Hands of God' 'Slavic Sun Wheel' 'Nazi
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Swastika Research Paper

By definition, the swastika is a primitive symbol or ornament in the form of a cross. As the illustration below shows, the arms of the cross are of equal length with a section of each arm projecting at right angles from the end of each arm, all in the same direction and usually clockwise. The big thing that bothers me is the fact that it was used by the Nazis and while wearing this symbol a lot of people died through the power it had or rather effect it had on people. The fact that it was used with…

Words 540 - Pages 3