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Symbols
Symbols of Imazighen
Symbols of Christians
Symbols
in Mogador Essaouira
The
gate of the old town is inscribed with the Islamic Crescent,
the Star of Davidand the Scallop of Santiago.
Read more about the Scala of the port here! (Internal link)
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Barakat Mohammed
Arabic calligraphy and reads “Barakat
Mohammed. The meaning in English:
" blessing of Mohammed – prophet of Islam".
It is dating from 18th century at the foundation
of the town by the Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah al-Qatib
( Mohammed III c. 1710-1790), calling about divine
protection of the town.
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The Star of David
Rose with eight petals,
thus Arab and Muslim
Rose with six petals
""Rose of Mogador"
A five pointed star also called the arabic
star
on a house in Hanchane
Hanchane
Six petal flower - with many names
Six petal flower, symbol of love.
Aphrodite´s Flower representing the Godess
and Divine sexual energy. The number six is associated
with femininity and considered a perfect and Divine number.
The "Seed of Life" (Egg of
life, Solar Mandala) is formed from seven circles
being placed with sixfold symmetry, forming a pattern of circles
and lenses, which act as a basic component of the Flower of
Life's design. The Seed of Life is a symbol
depicting the seven days of creation in which
the Judeo-Christian God created life.
The Flower of Life (Creation Mandala)
is the modern name given to a geometrical figure composed
of multiple evenly-spaced, overlapping circles. They are arranged
to form a flower-like pattern with a sixfold symmetry,
similar to a hexagon. The center of each
circle is on the circumference of six surrounding circles
of the same diameter. It is considered by some to be a symbol of sacred geometry, said to contain ancient, spiritual value depicting the fundamental forms of space and time.
The six petals are said to symbolize the
six days of creation or the six kingdoms:
Animal, Human, Plant, Mineral, Angelic and Unknown. The Flower
of Life has the same shape as a snowflake symbolizing water
which is essential to all life. Another possibility is that
the center is based on seven circles - six
for the petals and one in the center. Seven
is a mystical prime number associated with the Virgin.
The flower of Afhrodite
The Flower is composed of six Vesica Pisces, the number six being the sexual number especially sacred to the Goddess Aphrodite.
Pythagoreans called six the perfect number, while the feminine and sexual connotations encouraged the Catholic Church to call six “the number of sin”.
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A selection of symbols, carved in sandstone on the portals
of doors in the medina.
Intepretation of the symbols.
1. The Star
of David, a Jewish
home. Under the star, two symmetrical elements, which symbolizes
the living couple in this house, but having the form almost as
a scorpion to move away the bad eye and the evil.
2. With the Rose
with four petals, this house belongs to Christians.
At bottom in form of two signs, face to face, symbol of love of
thoose which lives this house.
3. Without star and religious membership, Two
interlaced sheets which symbolize love of the couple owner of
the house and in the medium the incipient flower which symbolizes
their offspring.
4. Five snakes
guards in top and an eye in lower part, It is a Muslim
house since the five is crowned for them and the snake protects
from the evil eye in lower part, plus two other
symmetrical snakes which symbolize the couple residing in this
residence and which keep between them the
Star with five branch points of Islam.
5. A flower
with five petal and seven sheets on the stem,
symbol of a Muslim family.
6. A Rose
with eight petals Arab, thus Muslim,
and with two symmetrical animal forms symbolizing love of the
living couple in this house.
7. The Star
of David marks the presence of an Jewish family.
With two identical and symmetrical forms which symbolize the couple.
8. The date in the middle; an eye to stop the
evil eye, With two identical and symmetrical sides from the same
family.
9. The Rose
with eight petals, thus Arab and Muslim,
with two branches of symmetrical olive-trees which symbolize that
the couple which saw lives peacefully. The olive-tree being the
symbol of peace or a couple which triumphs insofar as these branches
are carried by the winners in reward.
Piece of a silver dirham minted in Mogador in 1792 and on which is engraved a rose with six petals called "Rose of Mogador"
The pentagram
on the Moroccan flag
was introduced in 1912, when Morocco was placed under French
protectorate.
Fivepoint star
The mosque Sidi Magdoul
Khatim
The eight-point star
as a symbol marks early human understanding of the intellegent
order that underlies our universe. Today, it carries religous
and mystical associations. Known as the khatim
(seal of the prophets)
in Islamic cultures.
The star of David
L’Étoile de David – La Maguen David
( Dafina.net External link)
Signes distinctifs imposés
aux Juifs durant l'histoire (Dafina.net)
See also below:
The Seal of Melchizedek
Six petal symbols framed by a
Hexagram.
Drawings of the Flower of Life
by Leonardo da Vinci's 15 century C.
Some of these symbols are used as witchcraft symbols for protection. Se picture here.
Witchcraft (also called witchery or spellcraft) broadly means the practice of, and belief in, magical skills and abilities that are able to be exercised individually by designated social groups, or by persons with the necessary esoteric secret knowledge.
Everything You Need To Know About Mandala Meaning (East Asian Cultures)
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Seal of Solomon on obverse
of Moroccan 4 falus coin
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The Seal of Solomon
In Medieval Jewish, Christian
and Islamic legends, the Seal of Solomon
was a magical signet ring said to have been possessed by King
Solomon, which variously gave him the power to command
demons, genies (or jinni),
or to speak with animals.
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The flower of life
The seed of life
Cultural
and traditional symbols |
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The Hand of Fatima (Hamsa Hand ) with the evil
eye
as decor of Cafe Hendrix Diabat.
According to traditional
Islamic culture, the five fingers of Hamsa represent the five
requirements of Islam, which are:
1. To profess your faith,
2. Pray,
3. Give Alms,
4. To Fast,
5. To undertake a Pilgrimage to Mecca
The five fingers of Hamsa also represent the prophet's
family (ahl al-bayt). Prophet Muhammad
represented by the thumb, Ali by forefinger,
Fatima by middle finger, Hasan
by ring finger and Hussein
by the little finger.
The "hamsa" is also a popular Jewish symbol depicting five fingers that serves as a reminder of the metaphorical "hand of God". It is derived from the symbol from the letter-form 'chamesh', which is the number five. For the Hindi and for the Jains, the symbol has roots in both 'hims' and the sanskrit verb 'hinasti', which leads to the interpretation 'ahimsa' means 'do not injure' or 'do not hurt'. In Buddhist texts 'ahimsa' (or its Pali cognate 'avihimsa' is the first of the five precepts (pancasila) which is to always abstain from killing.
Traditionally the liver, not the heart, is considered to be the symbol of love in Morocco.
https://www.factretriever.com/love-facts
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Hamsa Hand - The Hand of Fatima
Hamsa is the hand of Prophet
Muhammad's daughter Fatima. It is the symbol
of patience, loyalty, faith and resistance against difficulties.
According to common belief, it tells of the Fatima's struggle
for dignity and her tough life. Thereby, purity, goodness and
truth are blessed.
For centuries, Fatima’s Hand has been a powerful talisman
for good luck and one of the most popular amulets in
the world of Islam for protection.
It is hung on the walls of the house as engraving in silver or
gold or it is painted in red. It is believed that a house protected
by the Hand of Fatima will not catch fire.
In Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, ornaments of Fatima’s
hand have the same meaning as evil eyes.
In these countries, the miracle of the hand is given a great deal
of importance.
A red painted hamsa hand at the top of a fishingboat mast.
Red and green - the coloos of the Moroccan national flag.
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THE EVIL EYE
Wearing evil eye jewelry is
in fashion .
It is said they will keep you protected
while being fashionable.
The 3,000-year-old secret
to a successful business?
(BBCVideo about protection from the evil eye)
The evil eye symbol
as a pattern on carpets
Souce: The Fabric
of Moroccan Life
http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/fabric/eye-symbol.html
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MEANINGS OF COLORS:
RED is the color of love and blood therefore,
it is associated with energy, strength, power, determination as
well as passion and desire. It is the most powerful color for
protection against the Evil eye.
DARK BLUE is the traditional
color for good karma, positive energies and protection against
the Evil Eye.
LIGHT BLUE is the color of
the sky so it symbolizes truth and provides direct protection
against the Evil Eye.
Some people, life forms and geological formations possess baraka,
a blessing from God. Baraka can be transferred to symbols and designs that have protective
power to ward off the "evil eye."
The "evil eye" is a stare or glance that can bring illness
or misfortune to individuals.
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By the middle-ages, the
eight-point star is widely used as a symbol in Islamic
art. It is called khatim or khatim sulayman,
seal of the prophets, as in signet ring. The phrase “ seal
of the prophets” is also used in the Koran
and has particular ideological meaning for Muslims.
Moroccan zillij artisans also refer to the eight-point star as
sibniyyah, sabniyyah, which is a derivative
of the number seven sab’ah.
In the middle the 16 petals fower
...
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Zellige
Zellige (zillij or
zellij) is terra cotta tilework covered with enamel in the
form of chips set into plaster. It is one of the main characteristics
of the Moroccan architecture.
Zellige is typically a series of patterns utilizing colorful
geometric shapes. This framework of expression arose
from the need of Islamic artists to create spatial decorations
that avoided depictions of living things, consistent with the
teachings of Islamic law.
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Symbols of political parties
Detail of door dedoration, Marrakech, Morocco.
This piece of wood decoration displays in the center the 12 petals "niloufar" (Persian meaning lotus or water lily), a representation of the purity of heart and mind.
The Suddha "heart" chakra is associated with air and a 12-petalled red lotus
(in Kundalini practise)
Symbols of Imazighen
(Berbers)
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yaz [z]
Amazigh
(Free Man) or "Berber" Symbol
YAZ Graffiti
Mellah
Essaouira Medina
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Berber signs
The ancient Berber script,
Tifinagh, was developed around 500 BC, from the Pheonicians.
The Symbol represents Freedom
seen by the Imazighen of North Africa.
It was used in the war as a weapon and also represents the last
letter 'Z' of the Tifinagh Alphabet. It is aslo called the
AZA sign of the Imazighen people used in the
middle of the Amazigh flag.
The flag is composed of blue, green, and yellow
horizontal bands of the same height, and a Tifinagh letter
yaz or aza.
Each color corresponds to an aspect of Tamazgha,
the territory inhabited by Berbers in North Africa:
blue represents the Mediterranean
Sea and the Atlantic Ocean;
green represents nature and the green mountains;
yellow represents the sands of the Sahara
Desert.
The yaz symbolizes the "free man", which is the meaning
of the Berber word amazigh, the Berbers'
own name for themselves. It is in red, the color of life, and
also the color of resistance.
The Berber flag thus symbolizes the entire Amazigh
people, living in harmony with their land, Tamazgha.
Les tatouages berbères (External link in French Dafina.net)
Le drapeau amazigh quelle explication? (AmazighWorld.org)
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Territorial
Haha
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Current
since 1915-11-17
created by Yusef of Morocco
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National flag and state ensign
of Morocco
The flag of Morocco is made of a red
field with a black-bordered green pentagram.
Red has considerable historic significance in Morocco,
proclaiming the descent of the royal Alaouite family from the
Prophet Muhammad via Fatima, the wife
of Ali, the fourth Muslim Caliph.The red background
on the Moroccan flag represents hardiness, bravery, strength and
valour, while the green, five-pointed star represents
the Solomon’s seal.
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Coat of arms of Morocco
The current coat of arms of Morocco (formally;
the royal coat of arms) was introduced 14 August 1957. It was
developed by the graphic artists Gauthier and Hainaut
and shows a green pentagram on a red background before the Atlas
Mountains and a rising sun. The royal crown is on top. Two
lions function as the holders of the shield. The ribbon underneath,
the Arabic inscription is written: (If you glorify
God, he will glorify you) (Qur'an, Verse 7,
Sura 47).
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Publicite Tide 1969 (Video from Dafina.net)
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The Lion
The Barbary Lion (Panthera leo leo),
often considered the national emblem of Morocco.
The last known Barbary lion in the wild
was shot in the Atlas Mountains in 1922.
The national fotball team of Morocco is called " The
Lions of the Atlas"
Classic TIDE advertisment from 1969
Thanks to the mother's advice about the new detergent TIDE succeeds wife with the white laundry!
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ALLAH
The name of God
The word Allah, in Arabic.
1. alif
2. hamzat wa
3. lam
4. lam
5. shadda
6. alif khanjariyya
7. ha
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Allah
painted on the door to the tomb of Sidi Yacoub
The eight pointed star
The eight pointed star (Khatim) is prevalent throughout most of the Muslim world. It can be seen on flags, mosques, and Qurans.
This is not really a symbol of Islam per se. But Muslims have always used geometry and shapes to express themselves artistically. This is mostly because Islam generally looks down upon drawing, painting, or sculpting images of living creatures.
So Muslims of the past used Arabic calligraphy and shapes to create beautiful Islamic designs. The 8 pointed star is a result of this.
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Regraga
in Essaouira
Detail of painting by Roman Lazarev
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The color green
The color green has a special place in Islam.
It is used in the decoration of mosques, the bindings of Qur'ans,
the silken covers for the graves of Sufi saints, and
in the flags of various Muslim countries. Green has been associated
with Islam for many centuries. The color green was the color used
by Muhammad’s tribe on their flags. According
to Muslims the color green symbolizes nature and life. In the
Qur'an (Surah 76:21), it is said that
the inhabitants of paradise will wear green garments of fine silk.
The color green has been considered especially Islamic for centuries.
Crusaders avoided using any green in their
coats of arms, so that they could not possibly be mistaken for
their Muslim opponents in the heat of battle.
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Crescent at the mosque of Frina
The minaret
of the Ben Youssef mosque.
The minaret is topped with 3
copper balls of decreasing size,
a traditional design in Morocco.
There is a common idea that the 3 balls on top means that
there is a Friday prayers serviceat that specific mosque, but there are a lot more about the meaning of the balls on the minaret. Read more in Architectur Mosques
The cresent on a pharmacy door
The green pentagram and the moon crescent
on a ship
99 names of Allah.
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The crescent
An Islamic symbol , the
crescent as a religious symbol has joined the ranks of the Christian
cross and the Jewish star of David.
Before Islam, the crescent was the symbol of
Sassanids and after capturing Persian lands,
the crescent has been adopted by Muslim Arabs
and later by Islamic faith.
Note that in the case
of an astronomical crescent, such as the moon observed in the
sky, the outer arc will be 180° (a half-circle as previously
mentioned), while the Islamic crescent symbol (hilal) is generally
shown with an outer arc significantly greater than 180° (as
seen in the illustrations here).
The crescent was not a symbol used for Islam
by Muhammad, as Islam is against appointing "Holy
Symbols" (so that during the early centuries of Islam, Muslim
authorities simply didn't want any geometric symbols to be used
to symbolize Islam, in the way that the cross symbolizes Christianity,
the menorah was a commonly-occurring symbol of Judaism, etc.).
This is why early Islamic coins were covered with Arabic writing,
but contained no visual symbols.
The crescent is Islam’s accidental
symbol most commonly associated with pharmacy.
Morocco alternates between green crosses and green crescents.
Number 7 in Islam
There are seven verses in the first sura (chapter) in the Qur’an
During the rituals of Hajj, the pilgramage to Mecca, pilgrims walk around the Kaaba seven times.
Pilgrims also walk/run between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah seven times.
Pilgrims are also required to throw seven pebbles at each of the three walls representing the Devil.
Number six in Islam
There are six, for Sunnis, Articles of Faith (belief in One God; the angels of God; the books of God; the prophets of God; the Day of Judgment ; and the supremacy of God’s will).
Number 5 in Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam
Sources:
mysticalnumbers.com
Barnaby Rogerson's: Nineteen Islamic Numbers
Prayer beads
Prayer beads are also known as Masbaha, Sibha or Tasbeeh and are an important symbol used in Islam to help with meditation. Islam prayer beads have 99 individual beads, each bead represents one of the ninety-nine names of Allah, the one hundredth name is known to Allah alone. The beads help the user to count the number of prayers said.
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Christian symbols
Picture from: http://www.somemormonstuff.com/images-icons-and-the-christian-cross/
The fact that Jesus, the lord and savior, was put to death on the cross
made it the most prominent symbol for Christians around the world.
The ichthys or ichthus, from the Greek ikhthýs (1st cent. , "fish" is a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending
beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish. The symbol was adopted by early Christians as a secret symbol. It is now known colloquially as the "sign of the fish" or the "Jesus fish"
The Seal of Melchizedek
Symbol on door portal in
Hanchane
Six petal flower inscribed in two squares,
45 degrees offset,
creating an eight-point star. The
Seal of Melchizedek is the symbol of Christ.
The
meaning of The Seal of Melchizedek
(External link)
Anchor  
Christians adopted the anchor as a symbol of hope in future existence
because the anchor was regarded in ancient times as a symbol of safety.
It brings together the cross and nautical Christian symbolism
and it symbolizes the Christian hope in Christ amid a turbulent world.
Scallop shell on the entrance door of Bab el Mersa
The shell of St James
The seashell's spiritual meaning
In Christianity, scallop shells are symbolic dating back to ancient times,
as they represent protection of pilgrimages.
The scallop shell is also associated with the apostle James.
Two eightpoint stars in two geometrical figures (eight points) linked together.
Decoration of a door portal made of sandstone.
See this graffiti on the wall here
A symbol of this type used
by the Japanese emperor has 16 petals.
"Flower signs" with this number of "petals"
were also used in the Euphrates culture around 2000 B.C. The
sign appears with 12 petals on a procession relief in Persepolis,
dated back to around 500 B.C., on a bronze mirror from about
200 B.C. in China, and on a wall painting from Benin, Africa,
and the sixteenth century.
Number symbols
Number seven in religion and mythology.
Number seven in Islam - se above Symbols in Islam
The seven saints of Marrakech, usually called Sbaatou Rijal (the "seven men" *)
The theologian Abderrahman al-Hamadani said that God created seven heavens, seven stars, seven earths and the hell with seven floors and seven gates. He added that God had adorned the world of seven words - la-ilaha-illa-allah Mohamed-Rasoul Allah ("There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the prophet of God") - and the world in seven provinces .
When a woman gives birth, she must withdraw with her ??newborn in the room where the delivery took place during a period of seven days, and the child is baptized at the seventh day.
During circumcision, a circumcised child and his mother make a seven-day retreat in a room of the house because circumcision is considered a "second birth".
Similarly, after the wedding, the couple are isolated for seven days in the bridal chamber. This practice would provide, according to Mohammed Boughali essayist, "to prevent the secret wife disrupt domestic harmony by the power that it brings" until "space which it has been integrated is used to his presence. "
Finally, after his return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, the pilgrim cloister seven days in his room.
The Seed of Life is a symbol
depicting the seven days of creation in which
the Judeo-Christian God created life.
The Flower of Life is based on seven circles - six
for the petals and one in the center. Seven is a mystical prime number associated with the Virgin.
*) A number of holy women are also worshiped. Celebrated by the Gnawa brotherhood in Fez, Lalla Mimouna is probably the best known. But Lalla R'Kia is sought by many women who are unable to have children. Lalla Mahla is itself famous for its beauty and scholarship. Sometimes these women have become holy simply because their marabouts fathers had no male offspring ...
The seven colors of Gnawa
Liens en français:
Maroc: à la découverte des sept saints de Marrakech (Dafina.net)
LE CHIFFRE 7 DANS LE JUDAÏSME, par Jacques Hadida
LE CHIFFRE 7, par Jacques Hadida
Le fil rouge des kabbalistes
Le chiffon jaune, par Sarel
Le 13, mon nombre préféré.
Related topics (External links in English)
:
Alain.R.Truong: The meaning and history of the colour blue explored
in exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Essaouira, symbol and example of tolerance
The history of the Moroccan coastal city is based on peaceful coexistence and respect between religions
The Fibonacci spiral: an approximation of the golden spiral created by drawing circular arcs connecting the opposite corners of squares in the Fibonacci tiling; this one uses squares of sizes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 and 21.
Fibonacci Numbers (Wiki)
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