Sun cross

Asun cross,solar cross,orwheel crossis asolar symbolconsisting of an equilateralcrossinside acircle.

Sun cross

"Circled cross" redirects here. For the Christian symbol, seeringed cross.

The design is frequently found in the symbolism of prehistoric cultures, particularly during theNeolithictoBronze Ageperiods of European prehistory. The symbol's ubiquity and apparent importance inprehistoric religionhave given rise to its interpretation as a solar symbol, whence the modern English term "sun cross" (acalqueofGerman:Sonnenkreuz). The symbol meansvillagein Ancient Egyptian (Gardiner symbol O49).

The same symbol is in use as a modernastronomical symbolrepresenting the Earth rather than the Sun. Inpharmacy,sun cross symbol representsvarious/miscellaneous drugs.

AfterWorld War II,variants of the symbol became associated withneo-Naziandwhite supremacistmovements.

Interpretation as solar symbol

Chariot of thegoddessof the SunSólwith solar cross-shaped wheels (Trundholm sun chariot,Bronze Age,Denmark)

The interpretation of the simple equilateral cross as a solar symbol in Bronze Age religion was widespread in 19th-century scholarship. The cross-in-a-circle was interpreted as a solar symbol derived from the interpretation of the disc of the Sun as the wheel of thechariotof theSun god. Wieseler (1881) postulated an (unattested)Gothic runehvel( "wheel" ) representing the solar deity by the "wheel" symbol of a cross-in-a-circle, reflected by theGothic letterhwair(𐍈).

The English term "Sun-Cross", on the other hand, is comparatively recent, apparently loaned from GermanSonnenkreuzand used in the 1955 translation ofRudolf Koch'sBook of Signs( "The Sun-Cross or Cross ofWotan",p. 94).

The German termSonnenkreuzwas used in 19th-century scholarly literature of any cross symbol interpreted as a solar symbol, an equilateral cross either with or without a circle, or an oblique cross (saltire).Sonnenkreuzwas used of the flag design of thePaneuropean Unionin the 1920s.In the 1930s, a version of the symbol with broken arms (resembling a curvedswastika,illustrated below) was popular as a link between Christianity and Germanic paganism in thevölkischGerman Faith Movement.

Archaeological record

Bronze Age

In theprehistoric religionofBronze Age Europe,crosses in circles appear frequently on artifacts identified as cult items, for example the "miniature standard" with anamberinlay that shows a cross shape when held against the light, dating to theNordic Bronze Age,held at theNational Museum of Denmark,Copenhagen.The Bronze Age symbol has also been connected with thefour-spokedchariotwheel,which is attested in Bronze Age Scandinavia, Central Europe and Greece (compare theLinear Bideogram 243 "wheel"𐃏). In the context of a culture that celebrated thesun chariot,it may thus have had a "solar" connotation (compare theTrundholm sun chariot).

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  Ornamental pins, found inSwitzerland,date to the first half of the 2nd millennium BC; their circular heads are incised with crosses
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  Wheel pendants dating to the second half of the 2nd millennium BC, found inZürich.Variants include a six-spoked wheel, a central empty circle, and a second circle with twelve spokes surrounding one of four spokes.
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  A sun disk found in tombs inAlacahöyükdates back to the earlyBronze Age.Notice the three sun crosses on the sun disk.
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  Amber sun cross,Nordic Bronze Age,Denmark.
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  Corded Ware cultureamber sun disc (illustration)

Modern culture

Astronomy

The same symbol represents the Earth inastronomical symbols,while theSunis represented by a circle with a center point.

Commerce

TheAtchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroademblem was a cross in a circle with the words "Santa Fe" across the horizontal bar. In this case, the lines making up the cross were much wider than the circle.

Ethnography

The Sacred Hoop akaMedicine Wheelis a similar symbol in widespread use byNative AmericansincludingPlains Indiansand previously byHopewellcultures. Other indigenous peoples also use or used the solar cross on their symbolism and as decoration practices.

Politics

TheSassanian EmpireinPersiaused a similar solar cross on their banner, called theDerafsh Kavianisymbol.

TheNorwegianfascistpartyNasjonal Samlingused a golden sun cross on a red background as an official symbol from 1933 to 1945. The cross with the circle was associated withOlaf II of Norway,patron saint of Norway, and the colors were thecoat of arms of Norway.

ThePaneuropean Union,a European unification movement, uses this symbol as central element of its flag.

A square cross interlocking with or surrounded by a circle is one of the most popular symbols used by individuals and organisations to representwhite nationalism,white supremacy,Neo-Nazism,and white pride.In itsCeltic crossform, it is used as the logo for white nationalist websiteStormfront.This stems from the use of a circled cross by Norwegian Nazis during World War II.In New Zealand, the Odin's cross was one of the symbols used by on Brenton Tarrant in theChristchurch mosque shootings.

In Germany, a "stylized" circled cross was adopted by a prohibited political party (VSBD/PdA), leading to a ban of the symbol if used within a context of promoting racism (seeStrafgesetzbuch section 86a). Although there were doubts on the constitutionality of the ban, it was upheld in a decision of the supreme court.

In Italy, there is a similar ban based onLegge Mancino(the "Mancino Law",from the Minister of Interior who enacted the law),although there are some examples of the use of the circled cross as a Roman Catholic symbol in Northern Italy.

Tools

A similar glyph is used in tool sets to denotePhillips-headscrews and screwdrivers.

Unicode

There is no formalcode pointinUnicodefor this symbol, though other symbols representing the sun are included. Symbols designed for other purposes, such asU+1F728🜨ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL FOR VERDIGRIS,U+2295⊕CIRCLED PLUSandU+2A01⨁N-ARY CIRCLED PLUS OPERATOR,andU+2316⌖POSITION INDICATORare similar.

Examples

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  Sun wheel
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  Earthastronomical symbol
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  Broken sun cross or "circle swastika" (cf.swastika)
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  Caddosun cross
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  Ashursun cross
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  Sun cross ofAshurand crescent moon ofNanna
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  Shimazu clanmon
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  Former flag ofDaejeon,South Korea(1972–1995) contains small green sun cross in the centre
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  Emblem ofNasjonal Samling
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  Flag ofHirden
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  Emblem of theAtchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway
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  TheCeltic wheel crossis not a sun symbol though superficially similar

See also

• Circled plus (disambiguation)(⊕)
• Astrological symbols– Symbols denoting astrological concepts
• Black Sun (symbol)– Neo-Nazi and esoteric symbol
• Celtic cross– Christian cross superimposed on a circle
• Coptic cross– Cross associated with Coptic Christians
• Cross– Geometrical figure
• Direct sum– Operation in abstract algebra composing objects into "more complicated" objects
• Earth symbol– Astronomical symbols for the planet Earth, alchemical symbol for the element Earth
• Exclusive or– True when either but not both inputs are true
• Ringed cross– Cross enclosed in a ring or halo
• Solar symbol– Symbol representing the Sun
• Swastika– Ancient Eurasian icon and later Nazi symbol
• Tursaansydän– Ancient symbol used in Northern Europe
• Western use of the swastika in the early 20th century– Use of ancient religious symbol