Meaning of astrological and numerical symbols in ancient weapons on blades of types 1414 and 1441
During the Middle Ages and early modern times, the belief in the influence of the stars on human destiny was very widespread. This belief was also reflected on weapons, where astrological symbols, planets, zodiac signs and other magical signs were often engraved.
Symbols and their meaning:
Planets: Each planet had its own influence on man. Jupiter and Venus were considered lucky stars, while Saturn, Mars and comets portended trouble. Mercury was considered “fickle” – it could bring both good fortune and misfortune. The Sun and Moon, although the greatest bodies, had different influences depending on their location.
Signs of the zodiac: Each sign of the zodiac also had its own significance.
Numbers: Some numbers were attributed magical properties. 1, 3 and 7 were considered lucky, 2, 4, 6 and 8 unlucky, and 5 and 9 ambiguous.
Other symbols: In addition to planets, zodiac signs, and numerals, blades could display other symbols, such as hands emerging from clouds and holding a curved saber, or mottos.
History:
The belief in the influence of the stars on human destiny was fully taken into account along with the complex doctrine of their “favorable” or “unfavorable” mutual constellation and their location in the individual “houses” of the zodiac. Each planet had its own sign, as did the individual zodiacal constellations. These signs were engraved on some blades, just like the various lucky numbers.
After closer examination of the “magical” character of the first mentioned talismanic blade, I noticed a strange similarity with the number 1441. Thus, the number 4, though considered unlucky, resembles the sign of Jupiter, the lucky planet. The first sign, which Rambaldi* considers to be the sign of Jupiter, could be 1 (a lucky number), stylized in a way that resembles a squirrel, which we see among the stamps of Solingen masters from the end of the 16th century. And when we combine these basic signs, that is, the squirrel-styled 1 and the two 4’s that resemble the sign of Jupiter, they together form the number 144, which symbolizes the angle that astrologers call biquintilis and consider particularly effective.
Article “Weapons with Astrological and Kabbalistic Signs,” Journal for the History of Arms and Costumes, ibid, 1921, vol. 9, pp. 128ff, figure 1, 2.
Carl Rambaldi
Also in the article Count Karl Rambaldi mentions the talisman on the blade. Rambaldi describes the symbol as a hand protruding from a cloud and waving a bloody sword. It also bears the slogans VINCERE AUT MORI and INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES/AVDACES FORTVNA/JVVAT, and the name GVSTAVVS ADOLPHVS SWECVS.
Particularly interesting are the astrological symbols, which (as the author of the above article notes) correspond to some depicted in Sephacials’ Little Book of Magic.
These groups also include blades from the 16th and 17th centuries marked with the numbers 1414 or 1441 and others. They were usually accompanied by a slightly modified Passau wolf mark. These blades, made in Solingen, were very common and used for a long time, for example as early as the 18th century in the Austrian heavy cavalry. The mark was sometimes called Solingen Wolf after the place of manufacture. The blades of the Passau forge were decorated with the sign of the wolf, which was the protective mark of the city of Passau.
Depicting a mid-17th century North European Walloon sword, the blade bears the wolf of Passau and the number 1441.Depicting a mid-17th century North European Walloon sword, the blade bears the wolf of Passau and the number 1441.
W. Rose states in his article “The Blade Mark 1414/1441 and Related Numbers,” in the Journal for the History of Arms and Costume, ibid, 1935-1936, vol. 14, p. 131, that these numbers represent the double sum of the lucky number 7, that is, 7 + 7 and 7 + 7 = 1414 if read from both sides (1441). In addition, he notes the possibility that the blades indicated certain years of important past events that were remembered.
Interestingly, the blade made by Johannes Wundes shows the number 1479, Johannes Koyler uses the number 1495, Meves Burns 1506, Johann Hartkop 1506, Matthias Wundes 1515, Peter München 1436.
While researching the so-called magical nature of the first mentioned talismanic blade, I noticed an interesting similarity with the number 1441. For example, the number 4, though considered unlucky, is similar to the sign of Jupiter, the lucky planet. The first digit, which Carl Rambaldi considers the sign of Jupiter, can be stylized as a 1 (a lucky number), which resembles the squirrel depicted among the stamps of the Solingen masters of the late 16th century. And when we combine these basic symbols – the squirrel-styled 1 and the two 4’s that resemble the sign of Jupiter, they together form the number 144. This number symbolizes the so-called biquintilis, an angle that astrologers find particularly effective.
Significance of the symbols:
The meaning of the symbols on the blades is not always clear. Some researchers believe that they represent a combination of lucky numbers and planets that were meant to bring the owner luck and protection in battle. Others believe that these symbols may have a deeper religious or philosophical meaning.
Examples:
17th century KINJAL: This blade shows the signs of the Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Saturn, as well as astrological symbols that coincide with some depicted in Cephasial’s Little Book of Magic.
Gustavus-Adolphus Saber: This saber, in addition to astrological symbols, depicts a hand emerging from the clouds and holding a curved saber, as well as the mottos VINCERE AUT MORI and INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES/AVDACES FORTVNA/JVVAT.
Blades from the 16th and 17th centuries: These blades, often marked with the numbers 1414 or 1441, are usually accompanied by a slightly modified Passau wolf mark. They were made in Solingen and were used for a long time, until the 18th century.
Conclusion:
Astrological symbols on blades are interesting evidence of the belief of people of the Middle Ages and early modern times in the power of the stars and magic. Their meaning is still not fully understood, but they give us an idea of the worldview of the people of that time.
So, we can conclude that ancient weapons not only reflected the military strength and status of the owner, but also could have a great symbolic meaning related to astrology and numerical magic.
“Accept the mace sailor from sailorAs a symbol of friendship between usBonded by life at sea and battlesIt is always as strong as steelMay 4, 1944 A. Bogomolov” View on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CtmhPg9r4pt/
The 1914 Japanese Imperial Navy Officer’s Parade Saber is one of the most elegant and luxurious examples of sabers in the world. It was used as a symbol of power and status, and was also a necessary part of officers’ uniforms at ceremonies and parades. This ceremonial saber has a shiny brass spherical head with …
All below presented checkers are museum exhibits. Cossack officer’s checker of the mid-19th century. Bulat blade, with a narrow lob along the edge. Decorated with etching and gilding: floral ornament, on the right side of the owner’s monogram – the letters “P I” under the noble crown. On the edge of the blade is stamped …
Swords and dirks on the island of Formosa After China ceded the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan) to Japan in 1895, the Governor-General of Formosa was established to administer the territory, with a corresponding bureaucracy headed by a governor-general. The distinctive feature of this office was the “double triangle” emblem, which is primarily present on …
Meaning of astrological and numerical symbols in ancient weapons on blades of types 1414 and 1441
Meaning of astrological and numerical symbols in ancient weapons on blades of types 1414 and 1441
During the Middle Ages and early modern times, the belief in the influence of the stars on human destiny was very widespread. This belief was also reflected on weapons, where astrological symbols, planets, zodiac signs and other magical signs were often engraved.
Symbols and their meaning:
History:
The belief in the influence of the stars on human destiny was fully taken into account along with the complex doctrine of their “favorable” or “unfavorable” mutual constellation and their location in the individual “houses” of the zodiac. Each planet had its own sign, as did the individual zodiacal constellations. These signs were engraved on some blades, just like the various lucky numbers.
After closer examination of the “magical” character of the first mentioned talismanic blade, I noticed a strange similarity with the number 1441. Thus, the number 4, though considered unlucky, resembles the sign of Jupiter, the lucky planet. The first sign, which Rambaldi* considers to be the sign of Jupiter, could be 1 (a lucky number), stylized in a way that resembles a squirrel, which we see among the stamps of Solingen masters from the end of the 16th century. And when we combine these basic signs, that is, the squirrel-styled 1 and the two 4’s that resemble the sign of Jupiter, they together form the number 144, which symbolizes the angle that astrologers call biquintilis and consider particularly effective.
Article “Weapons with Astrological and Kabbalistic Signs,” Journal for the History of Arms and Costumes, ibid, 1921, vol. 9, pp. 128ff, figure 1, 2.
Also in the article Count Karl Rambaldi mentions the talisman on the blade. Rambaldi describes the symbol as a hand protruding from a cloud and waving a bloody sword. It also bears the slogans VINCERE AUT MORI and INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES/AVDACES FORTVNA/JVVAT, and the name GVSTAVVS ADOLPHVS SWECVS.
Particularly interesting are the astrological symbols, which (as the author of the above article notes) correspond to some depicted in Sephacials’ Little Book of Magic.
These groups also include blades from the 16th and 17th centuries marked with the numbers 1414 or 1441 and others. They were usually accompanied by a slightly modified Passau wolf mark. These blades, made in Solingen, were very common and used for a long time, for example as early as the 18th century in the Austrian heavy cavalry. The mark was sometimes called Solingen Wolf after the place of manufacture. The blades of the Passau forge were decorated with the sign of the wolf, which was the protective mark of the city of Passau.
W. Rose states in his article “The Blade Mark 1414/1441 and Related Numbers,” in the Journal for the History of Arms and Costume, ibid, 1935-1936, vol. 14, p. 131, that these numbers represent the double sum of the lucky number 7, that is, 7 + 7 and 7 + 7 = 1414 if read from both sides (1441). In addition, he notes the possibility that the blades indicated certain years of important past events that were remembered.
Interestingly, the blade made by Johannes Wundes shows the number 1479, Johannes Koyler uses the number 1495, Meves Burns 1506, Johann Hartkop 1506, Matthias Wundes 1515, Peter München 1436.
While researching the so-called magical nature of the first mentioned talismanic blade, I noticed an interesting similarity with the number 1441. For example, the number 4, though considered unlucky, is similar to the sign of Jupiter, the lucky planet. The first digit, which Carl Rambaldi considers the sign of Jupiter, can be stylized as a 1 (a lucky number), which resembles the squirrel depicted among the stamps of the Solingen masters of the late 16th century. And when we combine these basic symbols – the squirrel-styled 1 and the two 4’s that resemble the sign of Jupiter, they together form the number 144. This number symbolizes the so-called biquintilis, an angle that astrologers find particularly effective.
Significance of the symbols:
The meaning of the symbols on the blades is not always clear. Some researchers believe that they represent a combination of lucky numbers and planets that were meant to bring the owner luck and protection in battle. Others believe that these symbols may have a deeper religious or philosophical meaning.
Examples:
Conclusion:
Astrological symbols on blades are interesting evidence of the belief of people of the Middle Ages and early modern times in the power of the stars and magic. Their meaning is still not fully understood, but they give us an idea of the worldview of the people of that time.
So, we can conclude that ancient weapons not only reflected the military strength and status of the owner, but also could have a great symbolic meaning related to astrology and numerical magic.
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I took the dagger for myself and decided to show it to myself, the inscription on the scabbard is part of the object’s history.
“Accept the mace sailor from sailorAs a symbol of friendship between usBonded by life at sea and battlesIt is always as strong as steelMay 4, 1944 A. Bogomolov” View on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CtmhPg9r4pt/
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