The Spiral is an ancient symbol found at megalithic sites across Europe. In some places, such as New Grange, Ireland, there are double spirials and even triad spirals:
Foundation stone at New Grange. Note the double spiral, the Zig-zag pattern,
and the concentric circles (referred to as "cup" marks). Photo by Clara Cohan
Triad spiral found in passageway of the great mound at New Grange.
Spirals in this Native American petroglyph is said to represent water...
...and if a wandering line is part of the spiral, it can mean the "journey" that was taken
to get to the water. Photos by Clara Cohan.
The Wavey Line and the Spiral makes up the design of the Great Serpent Mound:
The Great Serpent Mound is located near Locust Grove, Ohio. Built between
100 B.C. - A.D. 700, by what is thought to be the Adena Cultures.
This sculpted mound of earth is 1348 feet long, 20 feet wide and 2 feet-6 inches high.
Aerial photograph is copyrighted and courtesy of Ohio Historic Society.
From the book, "BUTABU; Adobe Architecture of West Africa" by James Morris. Text by Suzanne Preston Blier.
Butabu is a term that describes the process of moistening earth with water in preparation
for building. These sculpted living spaces are found among the Batammaliba of Togo.
"The visual features of West Africa earthern architecture is its unique play of
texture, shadow, profile, and primary geometrics" - Suzanne Preston Blier
Note the painted/stained zig-zaged tiangular patterns, along with the wonderfully
sculpted wavey lines and lizard beings.
Rich in pattern and form. This complex is in Sirigu, Ghana.
Primal patterns found in a hand-carved Dogon door:
Source: atschool.eduweb.co.uk
A modern adornment is a spiral clay tile embedded into a wall surrounding the
Sanctuary Garden at the Crossings. The Crossings is a retreat-like space in Austin, Texas.
Photo by Tom Spenser
The Circle of the desert Southwest,especially with additional lines, are commonly used to
represent the Sun and /or the Medicine Wheel:
Photo by Clara Cohan
For over a hundred years, the Ndebele, who live in the northern region of South Africa
and in Zimbabwe, have decorated the outside of their homes with designs.
Multi color wall paintings are painted by using their fingers. Early designs were made
with earth pigments, ranging from bright yellow to brown. The pigments were ground
up and mixed with liquid to form a “paint” that was used to decorate door and window
frames, bordered with charcoal.
The earlier patterns are believed, unlike the more recent painted patterns, to have
sacred powers and to have been made in response to demands by the ancestors.
This visual language is constructed through family communications and group
consensus among the women creators . These paintings are a communications system.
They “speak” to the families. The images convey self-identity, personal prayers,
values and emotions.
The
Hausa, a black African
ethnic group live mostly in
northern Nigeria and in
southern Niger. Their
structures are decorated in
much different patterns.
Source: www.nigerembassyusa.org