8 Symbols of Peace and Their Meanings
Peace can be described in so many ways. If you search for its definition, you will find countless results – all worthy of the Miss Universe crown.
Technically, peace is the time when there is no war. Personally, peace for me is being able to live without fear.
And with that being said, let’s go check out another way to express it: through symbols. Here’s a list of symbols of peace in history and their meanings.
8 Symbols Of Peace And Their Meanings
1. Peace Sign
Sometimes interpreted as an upside-down broken “Nero-cross,” which is considered by some as a satanic character or a Nazi emblem, the iconic peace sign is not seen by everyone as innocent. However, the origin of this sign is not so contentious.
The peace sign that we see today was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
It is represented by a vertical line in the center which denotes the flag semaphore signal for the letter D and the downward lines on both sides that signifies the semaphore signal for the letter N. These letters stand for “nuclear disarmament,” encompassed by a circle.
The peace sign or peace symbol is also known as the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) or nuclear disarmament symbol. It is meant to symbolize the threat of nuclear annihilation employed in British anti-nuclear activism from 1958. It has since been recognized as the universal peace symbol.
2. “V” Hand Gesture / “V” Sign
Depending on the manner it is presented and also on the circumstances, the “V” could mean different things. It usually lies on how the hand is positioned. However, here we will only focus on the “V” sign as a peace symbol.
So, a “V” sign is a hand gesture one does to express “peace.” It is done with the index and middle fingers raised and parted to create a “V” shape. The rest of the fingers should be clenched.
The “V” hand gesture as a peace symbol was first adopted in the 1960s by American protesters against the war in Vietnam. It was subsequently used in anti-war protests as a peace sign.
The “V” hand gesture is known and employed throughout the world as a symbol of peace.
4. Olive Branch
While the olive tree has long been synonymous with the Mediterranean landscapes, the olive branch is a symbol of peace and victory linked with the customs of the ancient Greeks.
The olive branch is a symbol of peace and victory associated with customs of ancient Greece. It has been in use as a peace symbol from at least 5th century BC.
The ancient Greeks believed that olive branches warded off evil spirits and symbolized abundance. The olive branch is attributed to the Greek goddess of peace, Eirene, known to the Romans as Pax. In Greek mythology, this peace symbol is also representative of gesture and friendship.
Some say that an olive branch represents peace because olive trees grow really slowly and are not cultivated during war time, therefore they are considered as peace-time trees. In the modern world, the olive branch symbol is widely recognized as a symbol of peace.
3. Broken Rifle
The broken rifle symbol is associated with War Resisters’s International (WRI), but the symbol had been around before the organization was started in 1921.
The first known example of the broken rifle symbol was in the January 1909 issue of the Dutch paper called De Wapens Neder (English: Down With Weapons), published by the International Antimilitarist Union in the Netherlands.
The broken rifle symbol also appeared in the Norweigian pamphlet, Under det brukne Gevaer (Under the Broken Rifle) in 1915.
In 1919, this symbol appeared on the banner of the German League for War Victims. The Anti-Kriegs Museum in Berlin, which was established by a German who had refused military service featured a broken rifle symbol over the door.
In the late 1921, Belgian workers marched through the city of La Louvrière, carrying flags with the broken rifle symbol.
Indeed, no other symbol better represents liberty and freedom – and therefore peace – than the broken rifle symbol.
5. Rainbow Flag
It was in Italy in 1961 that the international peace flag in the colors of the rainbow was first used. It was during a peace march from Perugia to Assisi organized by Aldo Capitini, the Italian pacifist and social philosopher.
This first rainbow flag, sewn hurriedly by some women in Perugia, was inspired by the peace flags used on British peace marches. The march has reoccurred many times since and the original rainbow flag was kept by Capitini’s collaborator.
The rainbow flag typically has seven rainbow-colored stripes with the word “Pace” or “Peace” in the center. It became a symbol of peace across the earth and the sky based on the rainbow that appeared after the Great Flood, which God set to seal the alliance with man and nature.
6. Pax Cultura Emblem / Roerich’s Banner of Peace
The Latin phrase “Pax Cultura” is translated as “Cultural Peace” or “Peace through Culture.” It is the motto of the cultural artifact protection movement which the Russian painter and philosopher Nicholas Roerich founded.
This movement was created in order to protect artistic and scientific institutions and historic monuments in both times of peace and war.
The Pax Cultura emblem, also known as the Banner of Peace, is represented as a maroon on white emblem consisting of a trio of solid circles in a surrounding circle. The three circles symbolize art, history, and science. The surrounding circle signifies the eternity of time, encompassing the past, present, and future.
The Banner of Peace symbol is said to have ancient origins, the earliest known example dating to Stone Age in the form of amulets with three dots sans the surrounding circle.
Since Roerich’s pact, the Pax Cultura emblem has been used on peace banners. This symbol of peace is starting to rise in popularity among tattoo artists these days.
7. The Caduceus Symbol
The caduceus is from the Latin cādūceus; and the Greek kērykeion, which means ‘herald’s wand’ or ‘herald’s staff.’ This staff carried by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is a symbol of peace and commerce.
The caduceus symbol later became the emblem of heralds and ambassadors to signify their sanctity and integrity.
The caduceus is the staff the god Hermes carried as a symbol of peace and commerce. Association with the messenger of the gods made the caduceus the badge of heralds and ambassadors.
The original caduceus was an olive branch with two shoots and decorated with garlands. The garlands were later interpreted as a couple of serpents coiled in opposite directions with their heads facing. To symbolize Hermes’ speed, a pair of wings was fastened to the branch above the snakes.
In the early modern period, the caduceus symbol was also used to represent rhetoric, in association with Mercury’s eloquence.
To learn more about this Caduceus Symbol, click here.
8. The Dove Symbol
In the English language, dove is one of the two species that make up the Columbidae bird family, the other one being pigeon. Dove is the smaller of the two, although this distinction is not consistent, especially in most other languages.
The feathers of a dove are usually white, the color that is often associated with peace, innocence, and purity. Doves are sometimes used as messengers. In symbolism, doves are employed as a representation of peace, love, and innocence
The symbol of dove with an olive branch has been used as a symbol of peace since the early times of Christianity, originating from Noah’s dove after the great deluge.
This particular usage of the dove symbol as a representation of peace was confirmed by Augustine of Hippo in his 5th-century writing, On Christian Doctrine, where it is stated that “perpetual peace is indicated by the olive branch which the dove brought with it when it returned to the ark.”
Religion aside, doves are considered an omen of good luck, particularly in love as these birds are known to mate for life. Dove also symbolizes devotion, beauty, faith, gentleness, and purity.
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