5. Iconography of Moon

According to Purnanas Crescent Moon stands as a spiritual symbol on the matted hair of Lord Shankara. Ever since, Studies about the Iconography of Moon provide aesthetic knowledge and enthusiasm from a rich historiographical perspective. History of Ancient Civilizations envisages the knowledge about different countries, the people lived there in who realized the natural phenomenon, formation of traditional culture, art, architecture and religion, opened the innumerous windows of the intellectual quotient of skilled researchers, as part of their enthusiasm. The early men of Paleolithic period were impressed by the natural phenomenon that paved the way for study of astrological manifestations in terms of their suppositions against the nature. Over the years, their thoughts and presumptions moved aside to embrace the visible truth, consequent to primary civilizations developed on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamian Region. The Full Moon disc may be confused with other circles, but crescents are peculiar, so they are used as the very obvious Goddess that symbolize the waxing and waning phases of the moon. The word crescent derives from the Latin creare, which means to create. Thus Crescent Moon signifies the creative power of the Mother Goddess.

The Egyptian logograph and Sumerian Cylinder Seal (2400 B.C) represents the Crescent Moon Shape. In world history, the crescent moon has been considered as a symbol of power that has been recurring art and spiritual thought for over 30,000 years. It is seen in religious symbols and even in the flags of nations. The charming sight of the different facets of moon in the sky on every month inspired the man to deliberate that it might be habitat for newlyborn human dreams, as various stars and planets appear with cosmic container-shape. The Mesopotamian and Persians were celebrating Crescent Moon days each month. The Tibetan and Chinese monks have the tradition of lunar adoration in their monthly religious activities based on occurrence of Full Moon rather than the New Moon. The alchemical symbol for silver is associated with the crescent moon in astrology and the emblem used to represent lunar phase in the first quarter is similar to sickle moon.

The bull’s crescent-shaped horns were symbols of ancient sacred bulls in early civilizations. The Minoans provided the source much of the Greek culture and traditions that gave birth to our Western society. The idea of sacred bulls and its crescent horns are still alive as habitual culture in India where many still revere the cow as sacred mother (Gomatha). For many traditions, the sun represents the father as male principle and moon as mother of feminine description. According to Greek, energy of the moon is intuitive, deep, subtle, feminine and psychic. Moon possesses feminine energy, but does not mean to say this vigor is just for women as both men and women have their female and male aspects.

The moon is associated with obstinate soothsayers and knowing ideally without thinking. Symbolization of the moon is a state of one’s universal intention to use his intuitions. Man simply went ahead with his feeling for acquiring something greater than excellent. The Moon has been one of the most antediluvian Goddess symbol universally. It has been worshipped in every religion, even though that fact has been obscured or corrupted throughout the dominated paradigm that placed for a handful of millennia. The primal deity of Persia was Al-Mah related with the moon, whose name became the Hebraic almah, the nubile woman. Of late, the Christians insisted to translate the word as Virgin Mary while it was linked with mother of Jesus. The word Manat was considered as the erstwhile Moon deity of Mecca, who dictate the fate of progeny. Later Mohammadans were masculinized into Allah, who prohibits women to enter the shrines that were once founded by celebrants of the Moon^[1]. The Moon is the eye of the Goddess, the Mirror that sees and reflects everything on the Earth. The Moon is also treated as the Yoni through which all life is born. The Triple Moon is treated as one of the Triple Goddess symbols—the Divine Feminine as Maiden, Mother, and Crone at different phases. Triple Moon symbolizes all the aspects of female power with united intuition and psychic acumen, creative energy, wisdom and expertise.

The moon has different phases that affects us in different ways. The full moon represents illumination, conscious and unconscious and all can be perceived at its different astrological contemplations. The crescent moon symbolizes new beginnings and the making of dreams into reality. Because of the cyclic nature, it is connected to reawakening as how the true essence really becomes immortal. The moon and the lunar calendar are imperative to Islam. The Quranic verse (2:189) says–They ask you about the new moons. They are signs for people to mark fixed periods of time, and for the pilgrimage. Based on this, the moon and its different segments are helpful to indicate the passage of time and to announce the prayer time. The crescent moon is the important symbol since the time of the Crusades, that counter the cross symbol placed on their flags, shields and royal clothes. The Ottoman rulers treated it as a regal symbol and placed on their flags. It was later extended to be placed on minarets, although half and full-moon designs were simply a matter of decoration.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Barbara Walker, Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred Objects, p 345, 346.