12 Tribes of Israel Emblem Symmetry - Simeon and Manasseh, part 5

At least now in 2012, when you do an Internet search on the emblems for the 12 Tribes of Israel, it's not all that consistent. Almost every tribe has at least two and sometimes more distinct and differing icons. Furthermore different tribes are listed, due to the substitution of Joseph's two half tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, which usually put out Levi and Joseph. On top of that, their listing in the holy texts are inconsistent. There are actually 14 names which can make up the 12 Tribes of Israel. Sometimes Manasseh is listed twice as East and West Manasseh. Consequently this has led to wee bit of diversity.

Part V - Simeon & Manasseh

Flag of Astrakhan
used here to show sword emblem of Simeon

It is the less popular emblems of Simeon and Manasseh that align with a harmonious design, the sword and arrows. Ancient yet modern weapons known to all the ancient kingdoms of earth put a certain kind of gravity between the tribe of Simeon and the tribe of Manasseh.

In many portrayals of the Twelve Tribes of Israel the other emblem associated with Simeon is a castle gate or tower. The castle in particular is thought to be at the City of Shechem. Sword or castle? Which is correct? It all depends on ones point of view. Nonetheless the union of the sword with arrow is an appropriate militaristic match of self defense.

The totem of the sword like the other emblems arise during their final blessings from father Jacob, who chastises Simeon for the cruel and deadly use of weapons. The totem of the castle is based on later chapters. Although the symbol of a castle may be a popular symbol for Simeon, his association with weapons comes much earlier.

The two grandsons of Joseph - Manasseh and Ephraim - are blessed as being as a son rather than a grandson to Jacob. Meaning that the blessings given to Joesph pass on to his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Coincidentally the promotion of Joseph's sons as brothers equal to their paternal uncles Reuben and Simeon, happen right before Jacob blesses the twelve founding fathers of Israel. Jacob also specifies that he is giving Shechem to Joseph and not his brothers with his sword and bow.

Flag of Adygea
used here to show arrow emblem of Manasseh

In any case a bundle of arrows have become one of the many emblems associated with Manasseh. It's beyond me to say where and when this happened. Suffice it to say its been forgotten in the sands of time.

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link to part 6 (Snakes on a plane!................................................................NOT!)
link to part 1 (Which do you prefer cats or dogs?)

12 Tribes of Israel Emblem Symmetry - Asher and Ephraim, part 4

Each tribe within the Twelve Tribes of Israel has a totem, but some tribes have more than one. It's like in the Western Zodiac since some people refer to Capricorn as a goat while others picture Capricorn as a mermaid goat. Which is correct? I suppose it's in the eye of the beholder. The emblems for the 12 tribes of Israel arose in the wake of Jacob's final blessing to his sons, who became the twelve founding fathers of Israel.

Part IV - Asher & Ephraim

The emblem of Asher is fairly consistent - an olive tree. While the emblem for Ephraim varies. But a harmonious totem par excellence for the olive tree of Asher is the grape. Although the grape is a lesser less popular symbol for Ephraim it balances with Asher's olives figuratively and literally. The totem of grapes can also represent the tribe of Joseph. That's fine, since Ephraim was blessed as one the same footstep with his father - Joseph - in the wake of Jacob.

With the match of two treasures from mother earth, a vine and a tree connect the tribes of Asher and Ephraim. Likewise their fruits have deep sacramental significance. Olive oil is painted in a divine light in all of the branches that sprouted forth from the Great Patriarch - Abraham. Olives are mentioned all throughout the Torah and New Testament, even in the highest of Islamic Holy Books. Even before the birth of Christ olives were associated with the realm of the divine in Ancient Greece.

So what's so special about olives? One amazing fact is that these little trees can live for millenia, and still produce fruit. Their root systems are something of a kind of magic, that go deep into the earth. If the upper parts get damaged or cut off, new shoot can arise from the roots, making the olive tree a hardy little tree. The bark of these trees are also totally gnarly, intricate and paradoxically ancient and post modern.



The grapevine too, is seen with holy glory. The paramount Biblical plant par excellence is the grapevine. It is a work of art, decoration, delicious appetizer, religious sacrament and a narcotic. The history of this vine was intricately memorialized in Egypt long before the rise of the Great Pyramids.

Imagine if you had never seen an olive or grape before? You would see two fruits of a similar size and shape. However their ripe flavors contrast like night and day. The grape can be sweet and succulent, while the olive is meaty and sour.

The roots of the olive tree match in magnificence to the vines of the grape....(more to come)

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link to part 1 (a Howling Roar)
link to part 4 (Don't point those things at me!)

Grape Pic By eflon October 11, 2012 http://www.flickr.com/photos/eflon
Olive Pic by Nick Fraser 2005. en:User:Nickfraser by the Dead Sea in Jordan. March 4, 2006. en:Image:Olivesfromjordan.jpg

12 Tribes of Israel Emblem Symmetry - Gad and Zebulun, part 3

Over the ages the Tribes of Israel became attached to certain emblems. Some have two distinct symbols while others have a few. In art and poetry these emblems are powerful icons especially when displayed on a flag. Subsequently they illustrate my fraternal flag idea. Basically flags often, if not always, exhibit a certain kind of harmony. The Twelve Tribes of Israel have taken flight on the flag pole and like the flags of the 50 US states, exhibit a certain kind of "flag symmetry."

Part III - Gad and Zebulun

Gad's icon is usually a tent or group of three tents. The number doesn't matter so much, lest you understand that the totem for Gad is a group of outlaw folk commonly called raiders, bandits, thieves, or robbers. The totem for Zebulun on the other hand is almost always represented by a single ship. The origins of these icons trace back to the account in Genesis when Jacob blesses the Twelve Tribes of Israel on his death bed.

Most of the tribes derive their icons from this account, subsequently the emblems of the Twelve Tribes of Israel have served as a source of inspiration for artists for countless generations.

But the odd common element for Simeon and Gad is, both are external to the blessing. Most of the tribal emblems arise when Jacob uses a direct metaphor or simile. For example it is written that - Judah is like a lion, Benjamin is like a wolf, Dan will be a snake, Issachar is no better than a donkey.


However the emblems for Zebulun and Gad are predictions of men in an occupation. They also apply more aptly to foreigners rather than Israelis. Zebulun is predicted to become a haven for ships? What kind of ships? Ships that bring trade and economy - which includes foreign ships. Gad's emblem refers to a troop of raiders that rob him, subsequently Gad - like Batman - must pursue them, lending us the joke of Gadman the desert avenger. But seriously folks,the raiders could be future Israelis that go bad or robbers of foreign nations.

Also, the emblems of Gad and Zebulun hint at the perpetual dichotomy between the navy and army. Just as there is a captain of the ship and officers, a desert caravan - bandit or merchant - must have a chief with lieutenants. The life of a sailor or roving band of 'land pirates' requires an organized group effort composed of roughnecks as well as a shrewd class of keenly intelligent individuals. Setting camp, maintaining order and navigating a sea or dessert are the important duties for sailors or and an army of raiders.

link to part 1 (who is man's best friend?)
link to part 4 (fruit salad anyone?)

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photo credits
Ship: User:WIBEAN (维基百科，自由的百科全书), upload in commons.wikimedia of 22-02-2006
Troops in Tent: J. David Rogers http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/military_service/football%20at%20Masirah.jpg

12 Tribes of Israel Emblem Symmetry - Issacar and Naphtali, part 2

There is a natural balance in the cosmos - day/night, up/down, positive/negative, etc. Almost any concept or natural phenomena can be cut into two complementary parts. Ancient Eastern mystics from China called this phenomena as the imprint of Yin and Yang. Likewise the Twelve Tribes of Israel can be cut into compliments via their emblems.

Part II - The Tribe of Issac and Naphtali

The popular emblems of Naphtali and Issacar make a fine pair - a donkey and a deer. Note that nearly every tribal totem has two forms, but the totems for Naphtali and Issacar are farily consistent.* Both tribes feature four legged, hoofed herbivores of similar body types. You can think of a donkey as being a deer without antlers, or rather a deer is donkey with antlers.

A sharp dichotomy presented by these emblems is the separation between wild and domesticated. It is also a reflection of our own domestic and wild natures.

Some people easily fit into the 'square' domestic establishment. Some individuals have a knack to do the work of a banker, bureaucrat, and navigate the paper-cubical forest of business with ease and efficiency. Examples of the domestic heavy book and brain load bearer with the "Issacar Trait" are Alan Greenspan and Henry Kissinger.



On the other hand, there are people who have difficultly fitting into the regular 'square' rules of society. Rather their instinct is to let loose and run free in the forest of feelings, music, and art. They dance, mock and run counter to the dominant business-professional way of life. They don't want to carry the heavy burdens of society, not necessarily because they don't want but rather they don't know how or are incapable. Excellent examples include Howard Stern and Bob Dylan. These men exhibit the free bird wild essence of the "Naphtali Trait."

But like Yin and Yang, it is important to not preclude one as being absolutely wild or domestic. Meaning that believe it or not, Greenspan and Kissinger have wild nutty sides, just as Stern and Dylan have conformist square pro-establishment elements.

link to part 1 (it's raining like cat and dogs)
link to part 3 (army vs navy, sort of)
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*The vast majority of emblems of Issachar show a donkey carrying a large burden of supplies. But in 1955 the modern state of Israel issued a stamp series with the Tribe of Issac with the totem of the sun with stars. Which one is correct? It all depends on your point of view, but in a sense they are both are correct. However the association of Issacar with donkey stems from Genesis, star and sun does not.

Photo Credits
Donkey: March 20, 2010 by Marie-France Durieux : http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfdudu/4457254652/
Antelope-Deer: by Sean Gibbon at here

12 Tribes of Israel Emblem Symmetry - Judah and Benjamin, part 1

The Petco Logo with domestic versions of
the Feline and Canine Tribal emblems of Israel

In the modern world, the Twelve Tribes of Israel are attached to certain emblems. Nearly every tribe has more than one emblem, and the origins are somewhat of a mystery. Nonetheless, a harmonious duality is apparent. The foremost example being between the Tribe of Judah and the Tribe of Benjamin.

Of the twelve tribes, Judah's Lion and Benjamin's Wolf are the most consistent. They are fraternal emblems in the universal sense of the canine and feline, or rather as the rivalry between cats and dogs.

The tribe of Judah
A Fearless and Powerful Roar of the Lion

Dog is considered man's best friend, but when it comes to respect and power man could be considered the king of the cats wannabe best friend. Basically man is a fanboy to the King of the Kitties. But the lion in its natural wild state seems to see man as a nuisance or dinner. Nonetheless the size, strength and power of the lion has perpetually enchanted man. Nations all over the world use the King of Kitties in their national seals and flags. Dog may be man's best friend but man would rather be the best friend to the King of Kitties - aka the lion.

Can dogs be found on flags or heraldic emblems? Or even wolves the most ferocious of canines for the matter? Imagine a King Richard the "Wolf-heart?" Didn't think so.

The Tribe of Benjamin
a Mysterious and Enchanting Howl of the Wolf

Ben and Jude also align by direction, the Lion of Judah is associated with the east incidentally partners up with a 'western' tribe of Benjamin. Just in case you forgot, the tribes of Israel were supposed to camp on the certain sides of the ark during their march into the promised land. Since then in mystical kabala-baba talk, these directions have new age kind connotations.

Finally the pairing of totems of the Lion and Wolf occurs between brothers from different mothers who were also rival sisters. The Tribe of the Lion originated out of Leah, while the Tribe of the Wolf came from Rachel. Although sisters, they were fated to compete for their mutual husband's love who seeded the Twelve Tribes of Israel from four wives.

The 'states' of Benjamin and Judah also had geographic significance since their territories were divided right through the city of Jerusalem.

link to part 2 - an Ass and a...

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photo credits

Lion PIC: Originally posted on Flickr at The King, 26 July 2004
Wolf PIC: Wolf_Kolmården.jpg: Daniel Mott from Stockholm, Sweden - 2010-12-23 18:10 (UTC)
Home page of Petco : http://www.petco.com/

Smith Island Flag - Antarctica

Flag of Smith Island Flag
Antarctica

Smith Island is a part of the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. This flag is modeled after the flag of Brazil in honor of Brazil's entry as a polar explorer. However instead of a green field, it has a white filed with green stars. The four green stars represent Octans the Star Compass, the most southerly constellation of our skies.

In 1982 Brazil undertook its first official exploration of Antarctica. Since then Brazil has maintained a based on King George Island since 1984 - Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Base.

Seven Samuari Flag - by Akira Kurosawa

Seven Samurai Flag
Japanese Film by Akira Kurosawa 1954

A flag from one of the greatest and legendary directors from the 1950s - Akira Kurosawa. The Seven Samuari 1954 was an epic ground breaking film for Japan. A small farming village hires Samurai to defend itself from thugs and bandits.

The flag of the Seven Samurai is the typical long banner used in feudal era Japan. It has six circles that represent six samurai and a triangle to represent the non-conformist Kukuchiyo. Along the bottom is the hiragana letter 'ta' which oddly looks like the English spelling for 'ta.' However in this case it represents the farmers.

Something akin to the Japanese version of Citizen Kane or rather Citizen Kane is the American version of the Seven Samurai. Both movies penetrate deep in the respective psyche of their nations. Both Welles and Kurosawa lived though the same time period and were respective artists in the medium of film.

1950s Movie Poster

Japanese Samurai movies were something like American Westerns in their old charm and good guy vs. bad guy mentality. Likewise they have been called spaghetti-samurai drama just as American has spaghetti-westerns.