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Answer: Archers

This symbol's origins can be traced back to the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453). During this war, according to legend, English archers would taunt their French opponents by raising their two fingers, (if they had them). English archers who were caught by the French, had their index and middle fingers lopped off their right hands, ensuring that they wouldn't be able to draw a bow to kill another French soldier in battle.

In the very interesting photo, depicted, an Iraqi citizen, his head turned to disguise his identity, pointedly displays the indelible ink on his finger which indicates he has voted in Iraq's election in 2005. This was the first free election in over 50 years. Election voters had to mark their finger with indelible ink to indicate they had already voted. This eliminated or at least minimised voting fraud. A democratic process indeed though the man shielded his face because he feared repercussions.

Answer: Medicine

The caduceus is the traditional symbol of Hermes. It is depicted by two snakes winding around a winged staff. In some countries, especially the United States and Canada, it is misused as a symbol of medicine. Sceptics argue the correct symbol for medicine is the Rod of Asclepius, which has no wings on the staff and only one snake.

The association between the caduceus, or Herald's Staff, to represent Hermes or Mercury (and thereby commerce) is well documented. Still, any evidence of any symbolic association between the caduceus and medicine or medical practice at that time is very unclear. There is a vague connection between azoth (the ancient universal elusive remedy or medication) and the caduceus. There is a connection between eye medication in the third century bearing the symbol but this was thought to be an allusion to Homer who described the caduceus as "possessing the ability to charm the eyes of men" according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (1972). Hence the association relates to the business of an occultist rather than medical practice.

From the use of the symbol by occultists, it was a small step for the symbol to be adopted by medieval alchemists who used it to represent preparations containing quicksilver. Another step was when Sir William Butts, Henry VIII's personal physician, was the first medical practitioner to adopt it as his emblem. About this time, in 1554, the rod of Asclepius, was used as a frontispiece on a publication of the medical writings of Avicenna, a Persian physician. This is probably the first accurate depiction of either symbol with a definite connection to medicine.

The adoption of the caduceus was depicted on chevrons of US Army hospital stewards by 1856. but this is thought to have been the adoption of the wrong symbol. Hospital stewards were not physicians, nor medically trained but hospital support staff. The next step occurred in 1871 when the Surgeon General adopted the caduceus as the seal of the Marine Hospital Service (which in turn became the U.S. Public Health Service in 1912). However, this designation was presumed to be because of its relationship with merchant seamen and the maritime industry in general.

The final step in this erroneous journey occurred in 1902 when the caduceus was formally adopted by the US Army Medical Department when it was added to the uniforms of Army medical officers. This was controversial but the practice prevailed.

Because of its massive usage, it has now been accepted as a symbol of medicine no matter how erroneous its derivation is. Certainly, this is a case where the original context of the symbol is lost.

Answer: False

This symbol was adopted by Christians as a secret symbol in Rome. Christians feared religious persecution in the Roman Empire. Legend states that when a Christian approached another man who might be a Christian, he would draw the first arc in the dust with a stick. If the other man was a Christian he would recognise the symbol and draw the second arc.

The Greek word for fish (depicted within the two arcs [pictured]), can be interpreted as an acronym which translates into English as "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior". Hence the symbol is now known colloquially as the "sign of the fish" or the "Jesus fish".

However, the original use of the symbol is attributed to the pagans as their sacred symbol. Before the appropriation of the symbol by the Christians, it was believed that the ichthys was the offspring of the ancient sea goddess Atargatis within the pagan canon.

Answer: Ancient symbol meaning "Good fortune"

Unfortunately, the swastika will always be associated with the Nazis and as such is seen as a universal symbol of hate. However, the swastika, which is also known as a gammadion cross, is actually a universal symbol that was featured in ancient religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. It also appeared in ancient civilisations such as the Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and Celts.

Carl Jacobson built a new Carlsberg factory in Copenhagen in 1882. He wanted to adopt a symbol that would bring good luck and prosperity so he chose the swastika, as since ancient times the symbol had always been associated with good fortune. The derivation of "swastika" originated in a Sanskrit word meaning "lucky or auspicious object".

It was used in the trademark of Carlsberg beer until the 1930s when it began to have a more sinister symbology in Germany. Its use by the brewery was discontinued permanently in 1940 but the four elephants remain.

Answer: Resemblance to official symbol of the Waffen-SS

The bolt of lightning was a traditional symbol of sudden illumination and had a secondary symbolic meaning of destruction or ignorance. It is most commonly attributed to Zeus, ancient Greek king of the gods. As such it also represented a punishment of humans by the gods from the skies. In dreams, the lightning bolt represents an image of terrible events and is a symbol of intuition.

However, in Nazi Germany, the double lightning bolt was adopted as the official symbol of the Waffen-SS.

When Ace Frehley, guitarist from the American Rock group, KISS, designed its logo with the "SS" part of the logo looking like lightning bolts in 1973, the resemblance to the Waffen symbol was obvious but inadvertent. To not cause any offence in Germany and other European countries adversely affected by the effects of Nazism, the KISS logo was redesigned with the "reversed Z" look. This produced a still-unique logo that resembled the original but without any offensive connotation.

Answer: False

Dio often gets credit for inventing the sign but he wasn't even the first musician to use it. (Check out the cover of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" with "Eleanor Rigby" single in 1966 - look at John Lennon's hand). Ozzy Osbourne, the vocalist before Dio, was known to flash double peace signs during gigs. Dio thought he should have a symbol too when he took over from Osbourne. Dio then adopted what has become the heavy rock music salute. It might look satanic but Dio told "Metal_Rules.com" in 2001 "It's not the devil's sign like we're here with the devil...It's to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye, depending on which way you do it."

However, Dio learned the symbol from his grandmother who knew its true meaning. The devil horns are symbolic of an ancient Indian mudra called karana, or "gesture of banishing," and it is used to ward off evil.

However, be careful if you use the symbol in the three Baltic states. If you point the devil's horns at someone you are telling them you have had/are having sexual relations with their spouse.

Answer: As a Prussian medal for bravery

The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four "V" or arrowhead-shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles. This cross can trace its history back to the 16th Century and the Knights Hospitaller (Order of St. John, which became known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta), and thereby to the island of Malta. It has no connection with the Iron Cross.

The Iron Cross was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia first issued in the Napoleonic Wars of 1813, and later in the German Empire (1871-1918) and Nazi Germany (1933-1945). During WWI it became a popular German symbol and was used for identification on every German fighter plane (pictured) and tank. After WWI, it became a short-lived symbol of fascism in France and later Portugal. In 1939 Hitler restored the Iron Cross as a German, not Prussian decoration. It was superimposed with a swastika in the centre. After WWII these crosses were replaced with a newer design with a trifoliate Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika.

The adoption of the Iron Cross by outlaw motorcycle clubs in the 1960s was probably a symbol of rebellion and worn for shock value rather than a hate symbol. It then spread to heavy metal subcultures becoming a fashion statement (Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead often wore one when performing). The Anti-Defamation League states that: "an Iron Cross in isolation (i.e., no swastika ) cannot be determined to be a hate symbol".

Answer: True

In some European countries, this symbol is offensive because if directed at a person the 'signaller' is indicating the receiver is a zero. In the Mediterranean and some South American countries, the meaning is even worse as the sign is a symbol for the anus.

In 2019 the Anti-Defamation League added the OK symbol to its "Hate on Display" library, as in some places, especially the Internet, the symbol has white supremacy connotations.

However, it does have a positive connotation other than "OK": This hand gesture originated as a 'mudra' which is a ritual gesture in Buddhism and Hinduism. This symbol specifically is the Vitarka mudra which translates as the 'mudra of discussion', meaning 'teaching and reason'.

Answer: True

In the past, barbers had a far broader role than to cut hair and shave beards. They also acted as surgeons despite having no formal qualifications in this field. They were often employed for bloodletting procedures (as physicians tended to avoid surgery) and, in 1163 a church edict decreed by the Council of Tours forbade monks and priests from practising bloodletting. There was a widely held belief, held for hundreds of years, (peaking in 19th century Europe) that people could rid themselves of sickness by bleeding the illness away. This was messy and barbers sopped up blood with towels and bandages.

These blood-stained tools of trade were often hung outside as a crude form of advertising. It is believed the red and white helix originated from seeing the bloody bandages wrapped around a pole on a windy day.

Answer: Ancient Egyptians

The Ankh is the Egyptian hieroglyphic character that means life and/or living. It is known as the Egyptian Cross, or as crux ansata, (Latin transliteration: "cross with a handle). Over time it took on additional meaning to symbolise life and immortality. Coptic Christians use it as a symbol of life after death. The Ankh, unlike most Egyptian sacred images, did not represent a human-like god with an animal head but was a pure symbol of deity. The symbol has both male and female symbols formed into a single shape: The concept of God in Ancient Egypt was "The All" and so this symbol is fitting.

The hippy subculture, in the 60s, adopted the Ankh as a symbol representing their contempt for materialism and they wore it as a life-affirming sign. The association with vampires and subsequently the Gothic subculture arose from Egyptian gods who were often depicted holding an Ankh to indicate they were the source of life. Similarly, vampires wear an Ankh to symbolize that they take in life, whether it be energy or blood.