Brinton.] ^^^ [lec. 21, 



lithic) Greco-Italic and Iberian remains. So much li:is been 

 "written upon the Svastika, however, that I need not enter upon 

 its archaeological distribution. 



Its prim:iry significance has been variously explained. Some 

 have regarded it as a graphic representation of the lightning, 

 others as of the two fire-sticks used in obtaining fire by friction, 

 and so on. 



Whatever its significance, we are safe in considering it a form 

 of the Cross, and in its special form obtaining its symbolic or 

 sacred association from this origin. 



The widely-spread mystic purport of the Cross symbol has 

 long been matter of comment. Undoubtedly in many parts of 

 America the natives regarded it with reverence anterior to the 

 arrival of Europeans ; as in the Old World, it was long a 

 sacred symbol before it became the distinctive emblem of Chris- 

 tianity. 



As in previous writings I have brought together the evidence 

 of the veneration in which it was held in America, I shall not 

 repeat the references here. 



I believe we may go a step further and regard all three of the.^e 

 symbols, the Ta Ki or Triskeles, the Svastika and the Cross as orig- 

 inally the same in signification, or, at least, closely allied in mean- 

 ing. I believe, further, that this can be shown from the relics of 

 ancient American art so clearl}^ that no one, free from preju- 

 dice, and whose mind is open to conviction, will deny its correct- 

 ness. 



My belief is that all of these symbols are graphic representa- 

 tions of the movements of the sun with reference to the figure of 

 the earth, as understood by primitive man ever^- where, and hence 

 that these symbols are found in various parts of the globe with- 

 out necessarily implying any historic connections of the peoples 

 using them. 



This explanation of them is not entirely new. It has pre- 

 viously been partly suggested by Profs. Worsaae and Virchow ; 

 but the demonstration I shall offer has not heretofore been sub- 

 mitted to the scientific world, ajid its material is novel. 



Beginning with the Ta Ki, we find its primarj^ elements in the 

 symbolic picture-writing of the North Americao Indians. In 



