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The word “obelisk” derives from the Greek word “obeliskos,” which means a spit or a pointed object for roasting. A celebratory monument originating from Ancient Egypt, obelisks are a rectangular pillar with a tapered top forming a pyramidion (a miniature pyramid) set on a base. By definition, an obelisk is an upright 4-sided monolithic pillar that …
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IHS is a monogram symbol-a motif of multiple letters interwoven in a decorative design. Monograms are graphic symbols that are used as a sign of identity. IHS stands for the first three letters-iota-eta-sigma-of the name Jesus in Greek. A Christogram-a combination of letters (a monogram) that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ-IHS …
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Lambs are sheep less than one year old. The lamb is a symbol of the fragility of life in many cultures. Christians, in particular, have adopted the lamb as a religious icon. It is undeniable that the lamb is one of the most prominent symbols of Christianity. A sacrificial animal, the lamb represents Jesus Christ as …
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An urn is a vessel with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal. A proud symbol of elegant beauty that holds our earthly remains, the urn is a symbol of death. It is believed by many cultures that the body is turned into dust as the spirit floats away towards the …
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An evergreen tree of the Mediterranean region valued for its aromatic leaves, the laurel is a type of wreath. Worn on the head as a symbol of triumph in Ancient Rome, the symbol of the laurel wreath actually comes from Greek mythology-the Romans, who admired Greek culture, adopted this famous symbol. The national divinity of …
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Regarded as sacred in Ancient Egypt, the often brilliantly colored scarab is a stout-bodied dung beetle of the Mediterranean area. The insect with a hard shell-like back held great significance to Ancient Egyptians as they believed that the beetle’s dung ball was representative of the world-the dung beetle kept the world forever revolving like its ball …
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A common motif in Greek art, the meander or Greek key is a decorative device constructed from a continuous line that takes repeated right-angled turns. The meander was among the most important symbols in Ancient Greece. For the people of Ancient Greece, the meandros (meander) symbolized eternity and infinite love. The famous pattern is named after the 250-mile-long …
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National Great Outdoors Month is celebrated each year in June. National Great Outdoors Month aims to encourage people to get outside and contribute to the preservation of natural spaces. The month-long celebration inspires people to enjoy the world we live in by exercising, volunteering, or just enjoying nature. During National Great Outdoors Month, we celebrate our nation’s vast …
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Throughout history and across cultures, hair has functioned as a symbol with deep meaning. The folicular signifer has different meanings in different contexts. A widespread feature of funeral customs relates to the mourners’ hair. People of Jewish faith observe strict mourning for seven days. During shiva (the Hebrew word for “seven”), the week-long mourning ritual in Judaism, …
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During the month of May, we celebrate the cultures, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. The first Japanese immigrants came to the U.S. in May 1843 and it was during the same month in 1869 that the transcontinental railroad was completed, a major feat achieved primarily through the hard …
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