Ancient Symbols Trivia Quiz

Answer: Caduceus

The healing power of snakes dates back to ancient times. Over the years doctors have discovered that the proteins found in snake venom can also be used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Some even believe that the venom, if used carefully and sparingly, can help to slow the growth of cancer cells.

In Greek mythology, the god Hermes carried a staff which was referred to as a caduceus. Originally the caduceus was a herald's protective badge of office until it evolved into the symbol of medicine.

Answer: Cat

One possibility for the connection is that cats are night hunters and the night is associated with the moon. Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt and moon while Artemis is her Greek counterpart. The Egyptian goddess, Sekmet, later merged into worship of the fertility goddess, Bastet. Bastet is depicted with the head of a cat and the body of a woman.

In Japanese folklore malevolent cats have been known to have taken over the bodies of women.

Answer: Chakras

Chakras symbolize the power gained by harnessing one's inner consciousness. Each chakra, of which there are seven, is associated with a major organ of the body as well as a different color and deity. The word "chakra" means wheel in Sanskrit.

Answer: Scarab

Khepri is the god of the rising sun. Due to the scarab's habit of rolling its egg in a pile of dung it was believed to represent the sun's progress across the sky. Scarabs were also worn as amulets in ancient Egypt.

Answer: Anchor

Paul used the anchor for its broader significance as an important instrument of safety at sea during stormy weather. In Hebrews 6:19 he tells the Christians to rely on salvation as "an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast."

Answer: Phrygian cap

The cap was named for the people living in Phrygia, a region of Anatolia which is now part of Turkey. The cap is shaped like a cone with the top part falling forward. During the French revolution the cap was worn as a symbol of liberty. In a famous painting by Eugène Delacroix, "Liberty Leading the People", Liberty herself is wearing the cap.

Answer: Salt

In the Book of Leviticus, salt is decribed as a necessary offering to be given with all Hebrew meat sacrifices because it represented the pure and unchanging bond of God's covenant with his people. Jesus referred to his disciples as the "salt of the earth". In the Arab world, salt represented good faith. In the Greek and Roman cultures it represented purity.

Answer: Iron

This belief in the properties of iron warding off evil may explain why the Chinese hammer extra nails into house posts to drive away malevolent spirits. The Romans had their own custom of driving a nail into a wall of Jupiter's temple every September as a ceremonial act of insuring themselves against disaster.

Answer: Ouroboros

The name comes the Greek words for tail (oura) and eating (boros). In its religious form the Egyptian symbol represented the circular journey of the sun. According to Gnosticism, the symbol represents the endless cycle of nature itself, even suggesting eternity.

Answer: Pentagram

Pythagoras referred to the pentagram as Hugieia, most often translated as "health." Two points of the pentagram represent feminine and terrestrial. The other three points represent masculine and celestial. The sum of the points suggests the balance of harmony between heaven and earth.