The Key of Life and Ideogram for the Labyrinth: Some historians believe that the meander symbol has a strong connection with the labyrinth, since it can be drawn with a Greek key pattern.Bond of Friendship, Love, and Devotion: Since it’s a sign of continuation, the meander symbol is often associated with friendship, love, and devotion that never ends.The symbolism persisted into the Roman times when meander patterns were used on mosaic floors in bathhouses. Water or Constant Movement of Life: Its long continuous line that repeatedly folds back on itself, resembling squared waves, made a strong connection with the symbol of water.Infinity or Eternal Flow of Things: The meander symbol is named after the 250-mile-long Meander River, which Homer mentions in “The Iliad.” Its unbroken, interlocking pattern made it a symbol for infinity or the eternal flow of things.Here’s what it was believed to represent: The ancient Greece associated the meander symbol with mythology, moral virtues, love, and aspects of life.

What Does the Meander Symbol Mean? A ring with Greek Meander symbol. The meander symbol signified Greek style and taste and was used as a decorative motif.Īlthough the meander pattern has been used in various cultures, it’s closely associated with the Greeks due to their excessive use of this motif. Peter’s Basilica.ĭuring the 18th century, the meander symbol became highly popular in artwork and architecture in Europe, due to the renewed interest in classical Greece. The Romans incorporated the meander symbol into their architecture, including the colossal Temple of Jupiter-and later to the St. An ivory ceremonial shield with a complex Greek key pattern was one of the numerous artifacts found in his tomb. In 1977, archeologists found the meander symbol on the tomb of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. Archaeologists have also discovered it on Mayan carvings and ancient Chinese sculptures.

It was a favorite decorative motif during and after the 4th dynasty in Egypt, decorating the temples and tombs. The meander symbol can also be traced back to many early civilizations, including Mayan, Etruscan, Egyptian, Byzantine, and ancient Chinese. In fact, the oldest found examples are ornaments from Mezin (Ukraine) that date back to about 23,000 B.C.

Although we call it the Greek Key, the symbol pre-dates the Hellenistic period, as it was used abundantly in decorative arts back in Paleolithic and Neolithic periods.

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