Christian Fish Jewelry
Q.Didn't pagans have some 'secret' symbols like the Christians did (the fish on the door)?
A.I thought I'd toss in my tuppence here to check on what we mean when we talk about symbols, wearing them, etc. The reason is that the above statement strikes me as having at its base several different assumptions that I'm not sure apply (or, at least, should be stated). First, what do you mean by "pagan." People in the SCA tend to mean either one of two things by this. Sometimes they mean non-monothestic religions and religious practices which can be traced to period cultures. E.g., Norse religions, Eastern Europe before the Drag Nach Osen, etc. Other times, it refers to essentially modern Wicca, neo-pagan, and New Age beliefs. These modern systems frequently claim to have medieval roots. Adherents therefore frequently maintain that they are tracking period practice by adopting practices of these religions which cannot be documented until modern times. In the first instance, the question is one of pure historical research. Go to the library (or wherever) and look up some of the references on the Sutton Hoo burial, or the Birka dig, or anything else that has yielded some physical evidence. Tracking symbols of the second sort is somewhat more problamatic. Since we don't have any good evidence for these modern practices in pre-modern times (either because they don't exist or were ruthlessly ferreted out, depending on p.o.v.), those interested cannot follow traditional avenues of research. This leads to either disregarding the question of authenticity or maintaining that the practice is, in fact, authentic despite the lack of authenticity. The second question is what is meant by "symbol." When I speak of "Jewish symbols," I am generally refering to the following types of evidence with which I am familiar: 1) Seals (either extant matrices or impressions left on documents). 2) Illuminated manuscripts. 3) Archetectural remains (decorative motifs in Synogogues and known Jewish habitations). 4) Descriptions (of clothing, art, etc.). I don't have nifty evidence about what people wore around their neck as decorative jewelry. Nahum mentioned a source for amulets. I'd love a catalog. I have seen descriptions of amulets, and some descriptions of how they were made. In addition, when I speak of Jewish symbols, I am referring to icons and symbols used by Jews, primarily for decorative purposes. With the exception of the Jew's Hat and the few cases of the Mogen David used for identification, I am not talking about symbols as a means of broadcasting "I am a Jew" to the rest of the world (or even to "those in the know.") The use of the Christian fish indicates a second use for the word "symbol." The use of a symbol as a signal to those in the know (or the world at large) "here be X" (where X is what you are or wish to be perceived as). So, when asking about "pagan" symbols, we need to know what are we talking about. Which of the following questions do we want the answer to: 1) How can modern Neo-pagans identify each other at events? 2) How did medieval crypto-pagans (if they existed) identify each other? 3) Did documentable religious cultures wear jewelry with religious/ magical overtones? 4) Even if they did not, did they use symbols of their religion in some sort of decorative motif that could more easily be transferred to jewelry. Most modern neo-pagans and Wiccans I know outside of the SCA wear a pentacle or other religious symbol in the same way that modern Christains wear a crucifix (some for religious reasons, some to make a statement, and others for shock value) with the additional reason of wanting something in response to the Christian crucifix. I do not know that these reasons would translate to an accurate representation of a period persona. None of this is to suggest any sort of answer to the poster's initial question. Jewelry isn't my area of study. I did wish to point out, however, that there may be many different answers, depending on the actual nature of the quetion, and that the anticipated answer (based on how I read the initial query quoted at the top) may not exist at all.
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