Gothic Symbols

Due to its varied usages, there is a big confusion around the usage of the words 'goth' and 'Gothic'. These words are simultaneously used in the context of a historical tribe, architecture and a widely followed contemporary but largely underground culture. So before getting down to Gothic symbols, let me clear up this muddle first. Goths were an East Germanic tribe in and around the 2nd century A.D., originally from Sweden, that spread in the Eastern Europe during the 4th and 5th centuries. This culture pretty much completely disappeared from Europe by the 8th century, after some of them were wiped out by the Muslim Conquest and others converted to Catholicism.

Now frankly, these people have nothing to do with the contemporary Gothic subculture and its symbols. The Gothic culture and people that we know today is a phenomenon that was slowly emerging at the end of the Renaissance. The intricately designed Gothic architecture was born during this time. According to some, the word 'Goth' entailed something crude and barbaric and hence was used to define this form of architecture as there was 'something dark about it'. The earliest forms of Goth thinking emerged in the writings of some British authors during the 18th century. Stories generally included mad passion between the subjects, death, ghosts and cursed cavernous dark Gothic buildings and castles. Usually these stories dealt with passion and terror at the same time.

An offshoot of the same school of thought is the contemporary Goth subculture. In the latter half of the 19th century, rock and punk bands came up in England whose lyrics and style resembled that of the English authors. The subject matter of these songs too dealt with uncontrolled forms of passion and love that could not be achieved, pain and separation, mainly due to the deaths of both lovers. Goth dressing was the fallout of the way these bands dressed.

What Are and How To Draw Gothic Symbols
Gothic symbols meanings often deal with something dark and sometimes evil and satanic portents. These symbols may have been adapted from various cultures such as the Germanic, Pagan, Christian and Celtic symbols. Some of them may have been slightly modified. But most tend to symbolize death or evil. Some symbols may have been holy to those cultures, but the Goths twisted their meanings and turned them evil. How to draw Gothic symbols is easy as many of the symbols are merely words written in the Gothic script (known as Blackletter). The most common Gothic symbols are:

1. Pentacle: The Pentacle or the Five Sided Star appears in many cultures around the world and is one of the most visible Gothic Symbols. Its five sides represent the 5 elements as understood by the pagans: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. The star is inscribed in a circle which represented wholeness or completeness. Some Goths use the inverted Pentacle to symbolize Satan or death.
2. 666: The number 666 is known across the world as the number of the beast or Satan. Goths often use this number as their symbol on their clothes or accessories.
3. Goat of Mendes: The Goat of Mendes or the Baphomet, is an early Egyptian God of Fertility. This symbol may sometimes be used in isolation or with the pentacle or the reverse pentacle in the background to highlight its Satanic aspect.
4. Ankh: The Ankh is another popular Gothic symbol that comes from Egypt. In Egypt, the Ankh was considered as the key of life and is found on various Egyptian tombs. It is said that it awakens the souls of the dead to a new life.
5. Crosses: The crosses used as Gothic symbols come from Germanic culture. Some Goths use the inverted cross to symbolize death.
6. The Reaper of Death: Death is drawn as a person wearing a hooded cloak, the face unseen and a scythe in its hand to 'reap' the souls of the dead. This is another commonly used symbol and is also known as the Grim Reaper.

There are several other Gothic symbols that are drawn such as the triangle of the fabled group, Illuminati, the Horus eye, the symbol for biohazard, skulls, coffins and various animals considered to represent evil, such as spiders, snakes, etc.

This was all about the Gothic symbols. Gothic symbols are worn popularly across the world, either because the people wearing them want to highlight their atheism and belief in Satan or just because it looks cool!