Number Eight Powerful Symbol In Ancient Traditions Of Many Cultures
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - The Greeks used to say: "all things are eight" and considered number eight – an all powerful number. According to Pythagoreans, Eight/Ogdoad was related to the goddess Venus. It symbolizes harmony, friendship, sympathy, and love among living creatures.
Eight symbolizes regeneration for many religions and it is one of the most significant ancient symbols that predate Christianity.
Eight Immortals
Sacred number ‘eight’ plays an important role in Chinese beliefs and symbolism.
In ancient Chinese symbol tradition, there are Eight Immortals who are said to know the secrets of nature. These super-humans control all aspects of life and eight tools of power that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called “Covert Eight Immortals”.
Usually depicted together, the Eight Immortals are usually a frequent subject of Taoist iconography because they symbolize the number eight.
The emblems of the Taoist Eight Immortals are: the Sword, Fan, Flower Basket, Lotus, Flute, Gourd, Castanets and Musical Tube.
The Eight Buddhist symbols are: the Jar, Umbrella, Lotus, Fish, Conch-Shell, Canapy, Wheel of the Law, and the Mystic Knot.
There are also Eight Treasures: the coins, books, the stone chime, the pearl, the lozenge (lucky object that symbolizes victory), the mirror, Rhinoceros’ Horn, Artemesia Leaf (Chinese Herb).
Depiction of the Ogdoad with serpent and frog heads (Roman-era relief at the Hathor temple in Dendera). Image via Wikipedia
The exact meaning of these eight symbols is somewhat obscure but in general, they symbolize wisdom, wishes for wealth, aesthetic pleasure and bodily health.
See also:
Legend Of The Eight Immortals Who Know The Secrets Of Nature
Sacred Number Four – Perfect Number And Deep Meaning Behind It
Significance Of Secret And Powerful Number 108 That Has Accompanied Humankind For Thousands Of Years
Number Nine: Sacred Symbol In Ancient Cultures
In Egyptian mythology, the Ogdoad (Greek - "the eightfold") were eight primordial deities worshipped in Hermopolis during the Old Kingdom period (27th to 22nd centuries) and in Gnosticism, Ogdoad, plays an important part. It means seven heavens and an extra, supercelestial region called the Ogdoad.
In astronomical terms, there are seven planetary spheres and an eighth above them – the sphere of the fixed stars.
Number Eight – that symbolizes the descent of the Soul and the Matter and its ascent to its original position - was sacred to the god Dionysus, who was born at the 8th month. The isle of Naxos was dedicated to him and it was granted to the women of Naxos, that their children born in the 8th month should live, whereas it is usual for such to die.
In Christianity, this number symbolizes Salvation and Resurrection, but it also has fundamental Theological concepts. The famous Christian “Chi-Ro” symbol has affinities with the Number Eight and together with the caduceus and the form of the digit Eight itself (two circles touching each other vertically) are the symbols of the number eight.
In the eight pointed Armenian Star, the points are related to Christ; in the west, it is also called the Bethlehem Star, symbolizing the world Jesus came to save; eight is the symbol of newness, often associated with Baptism and Christ’s resurrection, where it is referred to as the “eighth day” of the week.
Left: Eight pointed star depicted in the Margate Seashell. Source; Middle: Inanna's symbol is the eight-pointed star (or rosette), between the pincers of two scorpions on the square face of this stamp seal. Dated c.3300 BC. North Mesopotamia. Source; Right: Baptismal Cross; Ancient coin introduced in 1271 by Duke Meinhard II of Tirol in Meran.
This Greek cross is superimposed on a Greek “chi”, the first letter of the Greek word for “Christ.” It forms a cross with eight arms. Since the number eight is symbolic of death, life, rebirth and regeneration, this cross is often used as a baptismal cross.
In "Images of Nebuchadnezzar: The Emergence of a Legend", Ronald H. Sack cites of Halicarnassus (5th BC):
"The temple of Bêl, the Babylonian Zeus [...] was still in existence in my time. It has a solid central tower, one stadium square, with a second erected on top of it and then a third, and so on up to eight. All eight towers can be climbed by a spiral way running round the outside, and about half way up there are seats for those who make the ascent to rest on...."
The list of the significance of the number ‘eight’ is long.
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
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
Expand for referencesReferences:
Buckhardt, Chinese Creeds And Customs
Sack R. H. Images of Nebuchadnezzar: The Emergence of a Legend
Maris G. A Tree and Its Fruit, A Book about Symbolism
More From Ancient Pages
-
Pharaoh Ramses II Comes One Step Closer To The Gods In The Company Of Hathor, Sekhmet and Ptah – Statues Discovered
Archaeology | Aug 10, 2020
-
Fragment Of Unique Ancient Greek Terracotta Statue Uncovered In Underwater Diggings
Archaeology | Mar 26, 2017
-
Rare Mammoth Ivory Tool Offers Evidence Of Ropemaking In Central Europe More Than 35,000 Years Ago
Archaeology | Feb 5, 2024
-
Violence Was Widespread In Early Farming Society – New Study
Archaeology | Jan 23, 2023
-
Stone Age Friendship Ornaments Examined By Scientists
Archaeology | Apr 25, 2022
-
Ars Amatoria – Ancient Roman Flirting Tips – Could They Still Work?
Featured Stories | Mar 26, 2019
-
John Hawkwood ‘John Sharp’: Feared, English Mercenary And His White Company In 14th Century Italy
Featured Stories | Jun 20, 2020
-
Ancient Nessebar – 3,000-Year-Old History Of Many Civilizations
Featured Stories | Jan 10, 2016
-
Ancient Egyptian Men Used Eye Makeup For Many Reasons
Ancient History Facts | May 9, 2016
-
Neanderthals Decorated Their Caves With Rocks 130,000 Years Ago – Find At Krapina Site Reveals
Archaeology | Jan 19, 2017
-
Voynich Manuscript: Ancient Book Nobody Is Able To Read
Artifacts | Jun 24, 2013
-
Ancient Secrets Of Sacred Lismore – Is There A ‘Second’ Iona In Scotland?
Archaeology | Jul 4, 2017
-
Magical Ring Of Gyges And Its Power To Be Invisible At Will
Featured Stories | Feb 16, 2023
-
Seven Fires Prophecy Of The Anishinaabe People And The Future Of The Turtle Island – Are Humans Standing At The Crossroads?
Featured Stories | Feb 14, 2019
-
Fascinating Discovery Of An Inhabited Underground World In Medieval Wales
Featured Stories | Mar 2, 2024
-
Choctaw Indians’ Legend Of Nanih Waiya Cave Mound – Mysterious Underground Realm Of Their Ancestors And Their Battle With Giants
Featured Stories | Aug 3, 2017
-
On This Day In History: Battle Of Visby, Gotland Was Fought – On July 27, 1361
News | Jul 27, 2016
-
On This Day In History: A Solar Eclipse Occurs, As Predicted By Thales Of Miletus – On May 28, 585 BC
News | May 28, 2016
-
Mystery Of The Horrible ‘Thing’ Found In A Dominican Monastery
Featured Stories | Sep 4, 2023
-
Unique Tomb Of Egyptian Commander Discovered In Abusir Sheds Light On ‘Globalisation’ In Ancient World
Archaeology | Jul 20, 2022