Kinds of symbols

Actually, things that are of certain meaning for people may be called not only as symbols. Moreover, it is wrong to call those as symbols only as there is a great variety of those. There is no need to mention all kinds of symbols that exist in the world and are of peculiar meaning. It will be enough to mention three main groups of those. The groups are singled out according to the nature of symbols, their meanings and function they perform. For example, there are symbolic object the aim of which is to mark people of certain community out of others and there are symbolic objects that are recognised as protective objects.

So, there are three main groups of such objects the symbols, the amulets and the sigils. First of all symbols, symbol is something that represents or stands for something else, usually by convention or association, especially a material object used to represent something abstract. The phenomenon of symbol is of rather broad meaning and so there even appeared the science that deals with symbols. That science is called symbology. The aim of that science is to study the etymology of symbols and their meanings.

Symbols may not only be the objects of nature or humans' activity but also the drawn pictures people create in order to express certain meaning. Those images are usually the blend of symbols of peculiar meaning, and that blend has its peculiar meaning based on meanings of each symbol of the blend. Those symbols are usually used by different communities created on the base of common interests or beliefs. Those symbols are created as the distinctive marks for those who belong to the community. Those may be tattoos, stripes, tabs anything that will mark a person out of others.

The second group is amulets. The amulets are not the symbolic objects that exchange certain information for people. The amulets are used as a protection against troubles that may occur in one's life. As an amulet certain stone may be represented or a locket with certain images. Sure, no science can prove the effectiveness of such protection though people believe in powers of those and use amulets in order to protect themselves and those they love against evil and troubles. Who knows, whether those objects are indeed provided with some supernatural power or not, though they appeared long time ago and exist till our days. Have you ever seen a shoe nailed over the doorway? That is also an amulet for luck.

And the third type is sigils. Sigils are the symbols that have no certain requirements for their shape and form. There two theories that explains the etymology of the name "sigil". According to one theory it is translated as "seal", and so their nature is determined by that meaning. According to another theory "sigil" is translated as word, and so the sigils are magical worlds that are the verbal shape for wishes of wizard.