Logo/Symbol Lookup

July 14, 2008 7:31 AM

A while ago, years, i seem to recall a webpage that would allow you to search for the meaning of particular graphic symbols or logos. There are at least 2 that I'd like to try to find out what they mean. One is on a bumper sticker and it looks like an A with a V superimposed over it, in a circle. This is in Cincinnati area. The other is crudely reproduced from memory here. The more I look at it, it looks like a religious symbol. 2 questions: 1. What are these Symbols? 2. Is there a site that would allow me to identify other random symbols/iconography on my own?
posted by TuxHeDoh to media & arts (7 comments total)

The A with the V over it, perhaps some kind of Masonic symbol?
posted by JaredSeth at 7:36 AM on July 14, 2008

symbols.com?
posted by vacapinta at 7:36 AM on July 14, 2008

I think your second symbol is a Chi-Rho symbol. It is indeed a religious symbol, made from the first two letters in the Greek spelling of Christ's name.
posted by xbonesgt at 7:38 AM on July 14, 2008 [1 favorite]

Symbols.com seems to be what you're looking for. It has a few facets that you can search for a symbol with. I agree with you that the second symbol seems religious.
posted by jessamyn at 7:39 AM on July 14, 2008

I agree with xbonesgt that your second symbol is almost certainly a Chi-Rho.
posted by greycap at 7:52 AM on July 14, 2008

Perhaps a stylized Chi-Rho - for sure, this symbol had a Triangle at the top, and a horizontal line below the triangle.... It was on a sign, that was round, and painted, in red black and white if it matters, red and white stripes along the outer edge, a circle of white in the middle with the symbol inside the white circle. I've only seen it in the one place, so it's not like it's prevalent and there may not even be a correct answer, unless the person who made the sign reads this question.
posted by TuxHeDoh at 9:23 AM on July 14, 2008

For the stylized Chi-Rho, one of the stories that my Classics teacher in high school told us was that it was a way for early Christians to identify one another secretly. The first person would inconspicuously draw the Chi sign on the ground with their foot and then if another person drew the Rho on top of it, they could identify themselves both as Christians. Not sure how much truth there is to this, as it would be pretty easy to discover, but I always thought it was a neat story.
posted by perpetualstroll at 10:36 AM on July 14, 2008