Quatrefoil Symbol Was Used By The Olmecs And Maya Long Before It Appeared On Christians Churches
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Today, the Quatrefoil symbol is mostly associated with Christianity. Formed by four circles overlapping on the same diameter, it can be found on stained glass and arches of many churches and cathedrals across Europe. However, the Quatrefoil symbol was used by the Olmecs and Maya long before Christians adopted it.
Depictions of the Quatrefoil have been discovered on many Olmec and Mayan monuments. The Quatrefoil was associated with the Underworld, which is why Maya ball courts frequently bear a quatrefoil cartouche, indicating an opening to the underworld.
Left: A quatrefoil found at Chalcatzingo, Morelos state, Mexico. Credit: Public Domain. Right: Quatrefoil above the West Door of Croyland Abbey showing in relief scenes from the life of Saint Guthlac. Credit: Public Domain
Many Mesoamerican civilizations saw in the ballgame a metaphor for the movements of heavenly bodies. The ball represented the Sun, the Moon, or planets and the court was the cosmos. The ball courts were considered entrances to the underworld.
As previously discussed on Ancient Pages, the ancient Maya believed that the underworld – Xibalba – was a ‘place of fear’. In some ancient accounts, it is a domain of evil demons who plot against heavenly gods. In other accounts, Xibalba is a place of decay, disease and a destination of human souls after death.
Chichén Itzá Mayan Ball Game. Credit: H. M. Herget Vintage
According to the belief system of the ancient Central Americans, the sacred ball game symbolized a mythical struggle of life, death, war, and sacrifice.
In the Popul Vuh, the story of creation, according to the Quiche Maya of the region known today as Guatemala, it is described how the Hero Twins descend to the underworld, Xibalba. There, they play ball against the gods who inhabited this fearsome realm. Eventually, the Hero Twins successfully resurrect their father, the Maize God from Xibalba.
The Olmecs used the quatrefoil symbol frequently. At Chalcatzingo, a Mesoamerican archaeological site in the Valley of Morelos, Mexico, the Olmecs left behind rock carvings depicting a quatrefoil that resembles a horrible face. Carved of stone, Monument 9 is so large that a person could have crawled through the open quatrefoil mouth.
The quatrefoil was often regarded as the opening of the cosmic central axis at the crossroads of the four cardinal directions, representing the passageway between the celestial world and the underworld.
Chalcatzingo Monument 1, El Rey, representing one half of a quatrefoil. Credit: Public Domain
Mesoamerican civilizations also associated the quatrefoil with water rituals. While excavating at Teotihuacán, archaeologists discovered a quatrefoil cave directly underneath the massive Pyramid of the Sun. It was most likely a ritual cave.
Over the years, archaeologists have come across many Mesoamerican sites that offer evidence that people in this region used the quatrefoil a long time ago.
As mentioned earlier, the quatrefoil is widely regarded as a Christian symbol.
Barbed quatrefoil containing relief of The Sacrifice of Isaac (1401) by Lorenzo Ghiberti for the Baptistry, Florence. Bargello Museum, Florence
Some scholars maintain the symbol is of Islamic origin, and it is true that the quatrefoil appears on Moorish and Islamic structures in Spain, Turkey, and all across the Middle East, dating back before the Renaissance when this symbol started to appear in Europe. However, it’s also interesting to note that the Monastery of Stoudous in Istanbul was built in 462 A.D, soon after Christianity became legal in the Byzantine Empire. The arches were the first emergence of the quatrefoil.
See also:
Mysterious Ichthys – Ancient Secret Christian Symbol With A Deep Meaning
Rose Cross – Powerful Symbol That Existed Long Before Christianity
Ancient Symbol Seed Of Life Contains Hidden Secrets Of The Seven Days Of Creation
Ancient Symbol Fleur-de-lis: It's Meaning And History Explained
The meaning of the Christian quatrefoil changed over the years. To many Christians today, the four lobes could signify the four evangelists. The quatrefoil can occasionally also be seen as a stylized crucifix. Also, we shouldn't forget the significance of the sacred number four.
In modern days, we can encounter the quatrefoil symbol almost everywhere. It’s so common that most don’t even think about its ancient meaning. The quatrefoil has become a popular decoration symbol that modern designers have used as inspiration.
Written by Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Florida’s Ancient Calusa Kingdom Developed Sophisticatedly Engineered ‘Watercourts’
Archaeology | Apr 1, 2020
-
On This Day In History: Adventurer Thor Heyerdahl And His Kon-Tiki Reached French Polynesia – On August 7, 1947
News | Aug 7, 2016
-
10 Great Ancient Mysteries Of Africa
Civilizations | Mar 12, 2017
-
Manco Capac: Legendary Founder Of The Inca Dynasty Of Peru
Featured Stories | Jun 19, 2016
-
Courageous Elizabeth Freeman – First African American Slave Who Filed A Freedom Suit
Featured Stories | Oct 24, 2018
-
Nammu: Sumerian Goddess Who Got The Idea To Create Mankind In The Image Of Gods
Featured Stories | Apr 1, 2019
-
On This Day In History: Cyrus The Great And His Army Took Babylon – On Oct 12, 539 BC
News | Oct 12, 2016
-
Clues What Tiggered Climate Change 8,000 Years Ago Found In Scotland
News | Sep 15, 2023
-
Mystery Of The Hidden Wooden Hieroglyphic Tablets And The Unknown White Bearded Men – The Civilization That Died Twice – Part 2
Civilizations | Mar 6, 2021
-
Gnomes – Fantastic Supernatural Creatures Knowing Secrets Of Earth Mountains Rivers And Rocks
Featured Stories | Nov 20, 2018
-
Gilgamesh And Enkidu Undertake A Dangerous Mission To Hunt Forest Giant Humbaba
Featured Stories | Jun 1, 2017
-
Statue of Goddess Hygieia And Eros Unearthed in Ancient City of Anavarza, Southern Turkey
Archaeology | Dec 7, 2017
-
Mysterious Ancient Underground Stone Rings Made By Neanderthals 176,500 Years Ago For Unknown Reasons
Archaeology | May 26, 2016
-
Strange Ancient Mechanical Flying Animals – Mystery Of The Air Castle – Part 2
Featured Stories | Mar 31, 2020
-
Mysterious Otherworldly Creatures Witnessed By Biblical Prophet – What Happened?
Biblical Mysteries | Jun 30, 2020
-
Secrets About ‘Tennessee’s Ancient Egyptian Temple’ Revealed
Civilizations | Aug 15, 2018
-
Zoroaster’s Doomsday Prophecy About Comet Gochihr And Its Similarity With The Apocalypse Of John In The Book Of Revelation
Biblical Mysteries | Aug 17, 2017
-
House Of Borgia – The Most Infamous Family Of Renaissance Italy
Featured Stories | Feb 28, 2019
-
King Tutankhamun’s Large Golden Coffin Was Moved For Restoration
Archaeology | Jul 18, 2019
-
Mysterious Figurine Of Mythical Individual Dates Back To Egypt’s Naqada Culture 4400–3000 BC
Featured Stories | Sep 25, 2016