Ancient Symbols of Authority

Alice C. Linsley

Images of royal persons in the ancient world appear on the walls of monuments and tombs with objects that testify to their authority. These symbols of authority include leopard skins, iron daggers, royal staffs, crooks and flails, feathers, and horns.

Leopard skins

Images of these priests have been found at the oldest known temples. The images show the priests wearing leopard skins as a sign of their priestly authority. Here are two such images.

Iunmutef priest, Egypt

Priest image found at 

Catal Hoyuk

Iron Beads and Daggers

Iron beads were a symbol of royal and priestly authority, and these were worn by priests and warriors. Naqada settlements have yielded decorated pottery, clay figurines and objects made of ivory and iron, as well as alien materials like lapis lazuli, indicating external trade. The civilization advanced due to irrigation, trade, political alliances along kinship lines, and the earliest writing.

The Naqada culture (c. 6000-4000 BC) included the sites of el Badari, Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), Qau, and Gerzeh, where Egyptologist Wainwright discovered meteoritic iron beads, some of the earliest known artifacts of iron. Stone tools dating to 12,000 years have also been found in the area, revealing a long-established human population. The Horite Hebrew shrine city of Nekhen was thriving 5000 years ago. Some paintings found here show figures wearing what appear to be iron beads around their necks.

The ancient Egyptian word for meteoric iron - bja (metal from heaven), and they were metalworkers. Beja corresponds to the Sanskrit word bija, meaning semen or seed. Meteoritic iron was used in the fabrication of iron beads in Nubia about 6000 years ago. These beads may have been perceived as seeds from heaven which brought divine power to the wearer. Meteoritic iron was used in the fabrication of crooks and flails, the symbols of the Egyptian and Kushite pharaohs. These symbols were believed to give the ruler powers from heaven.

The ancient Egyptian rulers accessorized with meteorites. The material was associated with divine power. King Tut's dagger had a tip made of meteoritic iron. The dagger, found in 1925, had a gold sheath.

Commonly, iron artifacts are found in the graves of rulers. Diane Johnson says, "Iron was very strongly associated with royalty and power." The ancient Egyptians had a hieroglyphic sign for “iron from the sky" by the 13th century BC.

Crook and Flail

The crook was another symbol of authority. The prehistoric painting below was found in Sudan. It shows warriors carrying crooks and flails.

These are the symbols of Egyptian rulers. Here is an image of King Tut's crook and flail.

Feathers and Horns

Feathers among the early Nilotic Hebrew represented the authority to judge. They take the form of the letter Y in many Hebrew names: Yitzak (Issac), Yaqtan (Joktan), Yosef (Joseph), Yacob (Jacob), Yehuda (Judah), Yeshua (Jesus), etc. In English Bibles the initial Y became the letter J or I. 

Hathor wears blue to show her deification.

The name "Jesus" (Yeshua) is derived from the ancient Egyptian name Yesu which is associated with royal authority. The feather represents the letter Y and stands for one who judges, measures, or weights. The next symbol represents horns. The idea of God's presence "between the horns" predates Judaism. The horns symbolize divine appointment. Hathor, the mother of HR, is shown overshadowed by the Sun, a symbol of the High God. The sun is cradled in the horns. The horned altar also represents the presence of the High God.

The sedge plant which represents a king, and finally the chick, the symbol of new life or resurrection. (Source: Bill Manley, Egyptian Hieroglyphs, 2012, Thames and Hudson Ltd., London)

The Spindle

The spindle was a symbol of the authority of queen mothers in the Bronze Age. Ancient images often show these high-status women holding a spindle. The queen mother was called "Rabitu" in ancient Akkadian. Some icons of the Virgin Mary show her holding a spindle. 

Hems of Royal Garments

In the ancient world, the hems of royal garments were saved once the garments were no longer worn. To grasp, seize, or touch the hem of a royal garment was a gesture of supplication and devotion. Those who touched the hem of Jesus' robe were seeking healing and they received it.

Related reading: The Authority of Queen Mothers; Symbols of Authority Among the Early Hebrew;

Iron Seeds From Heaven; Gerzeh: A Prehistoric Egyptian Meteorite; The Royal City of Nekhen