When one thinks of “Christian symbols”, one probably thinks immediately of of the cross, the sacred heart, the tree of life, the IHS symbol and the Jesus fish. But what are the true origins of these symbols, and did they ever carry any other meaning? You’ll probably be surprised to learn their roots may not be as tightly linked to Jesus as they are protrayed. The Star of David on the other hand, is a very widely-recognized Jewish symbol; however, its religious significance has spanned the likes of Rastafarianism, Ritual Magick, Hinduism, and yes, even Christianity. In addition, many symbols associated with Christianity figure prominently in art, where they hold unique significance, and as such, have over the years lead to the development of Christian art symbols. On the opposite end of the spectrum are a variety of lesser-known, although no less significant, ancient symbols. These symbols have many speculative meanings – with many considering them to be secret manifestations of societies wishing to maintain a low profile while still promulgating their beliefs. Their origins and meanings have been linked to such clandestine organizations as the Freemasons and the Knights Templar. Such symbols include: the chevron, pentacle and even the skull and bones. Even the cross has been to shown to have ancient variations that put into question its current usage. Indeed, these symbols have been found in a variety of intriguing contexts. The chevron, for example, has been linked to Leonardo da Vinci’s student, Pontormo, whose painting of the “other last supper” has sparked interest due to its peculiar use of what appears to be the all seeing eye. The skull and bones for its part, also has a very rich and dynamic history. Beyond its popular link to the pirates, the skull and bones actually comprised ancient ritual worship, with ossuaries and tombs linked to their history. Indeed, the symbol of the skull and bones has a particularly interesting past, with its links to the Knights Templar, Jesus’ crucifixion, and secret societies in general.

The chevron in its most basic sense is a V-shaped symbol that today is so ubiquitous that it can be found on anything from architecture, to the badges of military officers, to the local gas station. Unfortunately, however, this omnipresence has served to obscure the origins and meaning of this ancient symbol in a religious context.

In fact, this ambiguousness has not been lost on modern scholars. There is still much debate over which religious sects (if any) can claim ownership of the symbol, and more specifically, how the symbol relates to other so-called �secret symbols�, such as the All-Seeing Eye and the Compass. Indeed, Dan Brown was not the first to assert that the Chevron might be a symbol of the secret brotherhood of the Freemasons.

All-Seeing Eye

The symbol of the All-Seeing Eye represents the Supreme Being, and appears to have its origins with both the Hebrew and the Egyptians, who conceived the eye as being a symbol of God�s watchfulness over humanity and the universe as a whole. Indeed, the Egyptians used the symbol to represent Osiris, their most supreme God, using it to decorate all of their temples. In the Book of Proverbs, the meaning of the symbol is made clear when King Solomon says, �The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good� (15:3).

Within the context of Freemasonry, the first representations of the All-Seeing Eye seem to have come in 1797 with The Freemasons Monitor when Thomas Smith Webb states,

…and although our thoughts, words and actions, may be hidden from the eyes of man yet that All-Seeing Eye, whom the Sun Moon and Stars obey, and under whose watchful care even comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, and will reward us according to our merits.

The Compass

In addition to the All-Seeing Eye, the symbol of the chevron comes to us in the form of the crossed compass and set-square, a traditional icon of the Freemasons. The tools themselves are meant to symbolize God as an architect of the universe. This idea stems from the platonic philosophy espoused in Timaeus, which the Freemasons have interpreted as Plato�s message of God as the Great Geometrician.

In this way, the compass itself represents the realm of the spiritual, while the square represents the physical. Combined, they form a hexagram, symbolizing the union of earth and heaven, mind and body.

The angle itself has been a point of contention both for Freemasons and non-Freemasons. Whether the measurement of the angle bears any particular significance is as yet undeter