The Meanings and Stories Behind Symbols
Have you ever wondered about the real meaning behind some symbols? I have. And here are the ones—iconic signs, logos, car emblems, and tattoos from movies—that I've come across in my life. I find them interesting and educational.
Symbolism is the language of the Mysteries. By symbols men have ever sought to communicate to each other those thoughts which transcend the limitations of language.
The Peace Sign
The peace sign was designed by Gerald Holtom for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958. The vertical line in the center represents the flag semaphore signal for the letter D, and the downward lines on either side represent the semaphore signal for the letter N. "N" and "D", for nuclear disarmament, enclosed in a circle.
Audi's Four Rings
Four interlocking rings symbolised the merger of four automobile manufacturers based in the German state of Saxony: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer became Auto Union AG, then the second-largest motor vehicle manufacturing group in Germany.
Jeep's 7-Slot Grille
The original Jeep that was designed for WWII in 1940 had nine slots on its grille. Unfortunately, the true root of Willys' iconic seven-bar design is a bit of a mystery. The first theory is a simple one, being that it’s merely the result of Willys attempting to steer clear of any lawsuits involving Ford's patent without drastically changing the grille's appearance. The second theory, while less credible, is that the Jeep was the first vehicle to drive on all seven continents before any other one.
The Expendables: Crow On Skull Tattoo
In The Expendables movies, the skull tattoo symbolizes impending death or a willingness to kill. The crow in the tattoo is a bad omen, so the combination of the two tattoos can be interpreted as "You're about to die" or "I am going to bring you death". This is fitting for a mercenary.
Prps Logo: Cherub On Crutches
Donwan Harrell, the founder of Prps fashion brand, created the logo of wounded cherub on crutches but still smiling. The idea of this resilient winged cherub came from Nascar's daring '69 Daytona. It exemplifies the inner angel holding desperately on, "bruised but never broken". The cherub expresses the core beliefs of Prps as creators of wearable art: perfectionism, persistence, and purpose.
Ferrari: The Prancing Horse
The original horse of the Ferrari logo was painted on the fuselage of the fighter plane of Francesco Baracca (a heroic airman of the first world war). "In '23, I met count Enrico Baracca, the hero's father, and then his mother, countess Paulina, who said to me one day, ‘Ferrari, put my son's prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you good luck'. The horse was, and still is black, and I added the canary yellow background which is the colour of Modena (Enzo Ferrari's birthplace)."
Jeep Rubicon Model/Trim
In ancient Rome, the Rubicon was a small river. It marked the official border between Italy and Cisalpine Gaul, the region that was ruled by Julius Caesar. According to the law of the Roman Republic, any provincial governor who decided to lead his troops across the border back into Italy would be declared a public enemy. Julius Caesar crossed the river Rubicon into Rome, led to civil war and before long Caesar ruled over the entire empire. The Jeep Rubicon name means having the ability to go off-road with confidence. It also means that no compromise is possible; we need to look straight ahead.
