Ever paused to think about the logos and icons that fill our daily lives? From the brands we love to the technology we use, many symbols we see every day have incredibly deep roots. These aren’t just modern designs; they’re echoes from ancient civilizations, carrying stories and meanings far richer than their surface appearance suggests. Get ready to explore 10 familiar symbols and uncover the fascinating ancient histories hidden just beneath their modern uses.
10 The Bluetooth Rune
That little symbol you tap to connect your wireless devices is instantly recognizable across the globe. With smartphones in nearly everyone’s pocket, the Bluetooth icon is a cornerstone of 21st-century visual language. What many don’t realize is that this symbol of modern connectivity has its roots in ancient Viking runes, the writing system of Northern Europe’s Germanic peoples during the first millennium AD.
The iconic logo was conceived by Jim Kardach while he was developing the wireless technology and reading a Viking historical novel. The book featured King Harold Gormsson, known as Harold Bluetooth, who was famous for uniting the tribes of Denmark and Norway. Kardach saw a parallel between Gormsson’s unification efforts and his own goal of connecting various devices. Consequently, the Bluetooth logo artfully combines the runic characters for “H” and “B,” representing Harold Bluetooth’s initials.
While the precise origins of Viking runes are debated, they may have derived from the Etruscan alphabet. The word “rune” itself comes from the German root “-run,” meaning “secret” or “whisper.” This name is quite apt, considering runes were predominantly used by the Viking elite to record significant events and messages.
9 The Celtic Harp
Also known as the Gaelic harp, this instrument stands as one of Ireland’s most cherished symbols. It graces national emblems, coins, and official uniforms, and is notably associated with Irish companies like Ryan Air and Guinness. The Celtic harp, set against a green backdrop, officially emerged as an Irish symbol in 1642. This cemented a bond between the instrument and the Irish people, a connection already forged by ancient bards who played for chieftains and kings.
As a symbol, the Celtic harp is thought to embody several concepts, including the immortality of the soul. It’s one of the world’s oldest musical instruments, with one of its earliest known depictions in Ireland being a Pictish carving on an 8th-century stone cross. Harps are also linked with St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, and are mentioned in the Old Testament as instruments of healing—something to ponder over your next pint of Guinness.
8 The Rod of Asclepius
A universally recognized emblem of healthcare and medicine, the Rod of Asclepius signifies the medical profession worldwide. The symbol features a serpent entwined around a staff, often depicted as a gnarled tree branch. It’s linked to Asclepius, the Greek demigod celebrated for his healing prowess and exceptional medical skill, wisdom said to have been whispered to him by snakes. The importance of Asclepius is even echoed in the original Hippocratic Oath, which began with the invocation, “I swear by Apollo the Healer and by Asclepius…”
The symbol’s power in representing healing arts is tied to the meanings of both the staff and the snake. The rod traditionally symbolizes authority, while the serpent signifies rebirth, rejuvenation, and renewal. The snake also embodies the dual nature of medicine, dealing with both life and death, as its venom can be lethal yet also possesses healing properties. Keep an eye out for this ancient sign next time you spot an ambulance.
7 The Alphabet
Perhaps one of the most fundamental ancient legacies on this list, our modern Western alphabet is a direct descendant of ancient Greek alphabetic writing. Arising around 800 BC, the Greek alphabet was the first fully phonetic script. Though various regional versions existed, the ancient Greeks acknowledged their system’s direct precursor by calling their alphabets “Phoenician letters.” The Phoenicians inhabited regions that are now Lebanon and parts of Syria and Israel.
Among the local Greek variations, the Ionic alphabet, with its 24 letters, was eventually adopted by Athens during its classical period. This version then became the standard across the Greek-speaking world. Given the extensive reach and influence of ancient Greece, later succeeded by the Roman Empire, it’s no surprise that its alphabet profoundly shaped the writing systems of most of Europe.
6 The Swastika
Since the early 1920s, the swastika has been overwhelmingly associated with hatred and terror due to its adoption by the Third Reich. The Nazi party’s repurposing of this ancient and sacred symbol has led to its widespread condemnation in the West. However, for millennia, the swastika served as a holy symbol in Asia and continues to hold immense spiritual importance today. For Buddhists, it represents the footprints of the Buddha. Jains consider it a symbol of one of the 24 Tirthankara saviors, while Hindus associate the right-facing swastika with Surya (the Sun) and auspiciousness, and its left-facing counterpart, the sauvastika, with night and the goddess Kali. The word “swastika” itself originates from the Sanskrit “svastika,” meaning “conducive to well-being.”
The swastika as a spiritual emblem has been discovered globally, appearing in cultures across northern Africa, and among the Mayan, Aztec, and Kuna civilizations in South and Central America. It was also used by numerous First Nation groups in North America, such as the Hopi and Navajo. Examples are found throughout Europe, with the earliest known instance dating back some 15,000 years. It was used by Celtic, Vinca, Greek, and Roman cultures. The discovery of around 1,800 depictions of the symbol at Hisarlik, Turkey, in the 1870s, initially associated it with luck and success at the start of the 20th century. It was around this time that German nationalists began to adopt it, culminating in Hitler’s appropriation of the swastika for the Nazi movement.
5 The Star and Crescent
Today, the star and crescent is a prominent national symbol for numerous countries, including Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Malaysia. It gained widespread use as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire after 1757, featuring on the flag of the Ottoman-Turks. Its frequent appearance on mosques and minarets also led to its strong association with Islam.
The origins of the star and crescent may partly lie in ancient Mesopotamian iconography. In that context, the crescent was linked to the moon god Sin, and the star (often representing Venus) to the goddess Ishtar. However, the symbol in its current, widely recognized form was likely developed in the Greek colony of Byzantium around 300 BC. There, it represented the moon and the goddesses Luna and Diana, with the morning star also being associated with Venus.
4 The Shamrock
The shamrock, its name derived from the Irish “seamróg” or “seamair óg” (meaning “little clover”), is another of Ireland’s most instantly recognizable emblems. You can spot its three-leafed image everywhere on the Emerald Isle. Traditionally, it’s rooted in the Christian symbolism of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, is said to have used the shamrock in the 5th century to explain this concept while converting the Irish people to Christianity.
What’s less commonly known is that the shamrock’s sacred trinity symbolism predates St. Patrick’s teachings. The symbol was originally associated with Danu, the Celtic earth-mother goddess. Possibly a deity of fertility, wisdom, and the wind, the three leaves are believed to have represented her aspects as the maiden, the mother, and the crone of Ireland. Just be sure not to mix it up with the four-leaf clover, which carries an entirely different set of meanings!
3 The Fleur-de-Lis
The fleur-de-lis is used today in a variety of contexts, from purely decorative elements to representations of light, life, and perfection. It is, however, most frequently found in Catholic emblems where it symbolizes the Holy Trinity and purity, and is often ascribed to the Virgin Mary. While it appears as a decorative motif across many European nations, it is most strongly associated with France. Indeed, the symbol has become closely identified with French royalty, thanks to a legend claiming an angel presented a fleur-de-lis to Clovis, the Merovingian king of the Franks.
Translating from French as “flower of the lily,” the fleur-de-lis is believed to be a stylized depiction of a lily or lotus flower. It has been utilized in the art of some of the world’s earliest civilizations. Employed for both ornamental and symbolic purposes, the fleur-de-lis has appeared on Mesopotamian cylinders, Mycenaean pottery, Egyptian bas-reliefs, Sassanid textiles, Gaulish and Mamluk coins, Japanese emblems, Indonesian clothing, and Dogon totems. In many of these ancient cultures, it was often linked to their sacred goddesses.
2 The Skull and Crossbones
A symbol composed of a human skull above two crossed long bones, the skull and crossbones is widely recognized today as a warning for poison, danger, and general hazard. It also evokes images of pirates and continues to be used as insignia for various military and naval units globally, signifying toughness and ferocity. However, in antiquity, this potent symbol often conveyed a profound message, termed “Memento Mori” by Medieval European intellectuals: “Remember, you are mortal.”
The original intent of the skull and crossbones was to serve as a reminder of the fleeting nature of human life and the certainty of death. It was meant to encourage individuals to reflect on the eternal life within and to aspire to spiritual growth. The image taught that while physical death is inevitable, the soul transcends the decay of all things physical.
1 The Black Sun
Another spiritual symbol unfortunately co-opted by extremist ideologies, the Black Sun has been associated with the Third Reich since the 1930s. The specific design used by the Nazis was first prominently displayed at Wewelsburg Castle after renovations overseen by Heinrich Himmler. The Nazi interpretation was a distinct variation on ancient depictions of the “Sun Wheel” symbol. Their version is composed of twelve Sig-runes, which symbolized victory to them and was their adaptation of the Viking Sowilo-rune, representing the sun.
The number twelve holds deep significance in various spiritual belief systems and occult cosmologies. Intriguingly, the Nazi configuration bears a striking resemblance to decorative Merovingian disks from the early Medieval period. The power and influence wielded by the Merovingian kings in Germania during that era may have been something the Nazis aspired to emulate.
The sun wheel itself is a powerful spiritual symbol found in the iconography and religious art of numerous prehistoric cultures worldwide. Across many of these societies, the sun was worshipped as an omnipotent preserver of life. The Sun Wheel symbol is said to invoke the sun’s immense cosmic powers to bless the world with life, fertility, abundance, and peace. Imagery related to a “Black Sun” may also have held significance in German and Norse mythology, particularly in tales of Ragnarök, the apocalyptic end of days. In this story, the wolf Sköll, which eternally chases the sun across the sky, finally catches and devours it, ushering in an age of darkness, regression, and chaos.
As we’ve seen, many symbols that feel entirely modern are actually steeped in ancient history and profound meanings. The next time you encounter one of these icons, whether it’s on your phone, a national flag, or even a warning label, take a moment to appreciate its journey through time. These ancient messages continue to resonate, reminding us of the enduring power of symbolism and our connection to the past.
Which of these symbol origins surprised you the most? Do you know of other modern symbols with ancient roots? Share your thoughts and discoveries in the comments below!
