The Swastika
The Cross Among The American Indians
Mexico,
about 8 inches high, of fine red ware, highly polished, with an elaborate
decoration. Its interest here is the Maltese cross represented on each
side, with a point and concentric circle, from the outside of which are
projecting rays. This may be the symbol of the sun, and if so, is shown
in connection with the cross. This style of cross, with or without the
sun symbol, is found in great numbers in Mexico --- as, for example, the
great cross, pl. 20 form the
temple at Palenque. (1) It would be an excellent thing to dissect and analyze the Swastika material we have found; to generalize and deduce from it a possible theory as to the origin, spread, and meaning of the Swastika and its related forms, and endeavor, by examination of its associated works, to discover if these were religious symbols or charms or mere decorations; and, following this, determine if possible whether the spread of these objects, whatever their meaning, was the result of migration, contact, or communication. Where they the result of similar, but independent, operations of the human mind, or were they but duplicate inventions, the result of parallelism in human thought? This investigation must necessarily be theoretical and speculative. The most that the author proposes is to suggest probabilities and point the way for further investigation. He may theorize and speculate, but recognizes what many persons seem not able to do --- that speculation and theory are not to be substituted for cold facts. He may do no more than propound questions from which other men, by study, experience, philosophy, or psychology, may possibly evolve some general principle, or a theory pointing to a general principle, concerning the mode of extension and spread of culture among separate and independent peoples. When the facts shall have been gathered, marshaled, arranged side by side, and each aggregation of facts shall have been weighed, pro and con, and its fair value given "without
ENDNOTES:
1. Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, p. 33, pl. 14, fig. 5. [Back]
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