Colonial Patch the ancent connection...
 

I found this totaly by accadent whule looking for asian geometric patterns to use in a some of my artwork.

http://www.firedragon.com/~cfleets/c...s/cw_patch.gif

The design in the center of the Galactica flight patch is based on Indian sacred Geometry called Sri Yantra

Sri Yantra Mandala Has been used as Good Luck Sacred Geometry symbol in India , China and Tibet since many hundreds of years

http://alumni.cse.ucsc.edu/~mikel/sr...sriheader.jpeg

Edit: See attachment for SriYantra header picture.

BST

here is a paper on the history of the Sri Yantra
http://alumni.cse.ucsc.edu/~mikel/sr...sriyantra.html

here are some nice examples of the shape in use
http://alumni.cse.ucsc.edu/~mikel/sriyantra/sriart.html

http://www.sriyantras.com/image.html


Edit: See attachment for crystal sri yantras

BST

Excellent find, Hito!

So in addition to Mormanism, Christianity, Islam, and Greek polythesism, Larson or one of the other creative minds behind Battlestar Galactica drew from Hindu tantric tradition. Those who complain that it was all Morman based would probably be surprised.

I did know about the Mandala.

The crystal piece is an excellent find and wouldn't have looked out of place on the original show!

Well done.

Peter

The creators were nothing if not eclectic, I agree. Don't forget the Egyptian influence as well, though, in the list.

Nice mandala, I agree.

So, challenge - is there any major world religion or mythology that Larson didn't plunder for ideas?:D

Agelastus is right.

I started to note the Egyptian influence, but since I was just focusing on religious conotations, I left it out. However, I was in error in doing so. Egyptian pharoahs were the personification of the Egyptian gods on Earth, and were worshipped by the people. The pyramids were their monuments, final resting places, and shrines where they were worshipped by the people, including after their deaths. The Egyptian-like ruins on Kobol should definitely qualify as a religious conotation.

One of Hito's referenced papers mentions the angles of the triangles matching those of the Great Pyramids, too. Another tie-in, however oblique.

And I also agree, I think it would have been neat to have seen that crystal on Adama's desk or at least in his possession with other important artifacts relating to either Kobol or the colonies.

Curiously enough, the pyramid connection is important in my oft mentioned, never to be finished fan-fic.

When I've finished what will be collectively known as part one "The end of the beginning" I'll probably mail it to some discerning but far to busy people for their opinion....................including you, LucianG

Good find Hito!

:muffit:

They just didn't "dig deep enough"!

Thanks, Hito, for the link to the art of the Sri Yantra. The examples that impressed me the most were the carving on copper plate and the crystal. They're beautiful.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

BST :)

Wow...I just thought it was a bunch of triangles....echo "good find"!

Great work!

Excellent Find Hito
 

Sad that this design won't be back for the Mini, however, Great Find regardless!

That is a really cool find. Like so many have said already: what religion didn't Larson & the design staff allude to in the elements of BSG? It certainly increases my respect for them trying to be as thorough as possible in giving us hints that the 12 Colonies were indeed our brothers & sisters across the heavens.

Great work Hito.
:warrior:

Wicca.

THERE'S a religion they didn't use. :naughty:

(Frankly, I don't know if it really existed in 1978, but there you go.)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

PS - Way to go, Hito.

Are you kidding? Wicca is older than Christianity.

And my take on the Egyptianess of it was that it was due to Tut fever.

Actually, "Wicca" doesn't really exist, per se. It's a catch all phrase for any belief system which existed in the world which did not survive the ascendancy of the Judeo-Christian/Muslim faith(s). (The monotheistic trinity) Most of the Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, Shinto, etc, survived through sheer number and relative (at the time) isolation. Beliefs in less populous and more expansion-targeted areas did not fare so well- Druidism, any eastern european or Nordic beliefs, Native American practices- all wiped out, to a great extent by religiously 'ordained' imperialistic expansionism. All religions equally valid, all relegated to the realm of metaphysical superstition. So it goes for the loser in any battle.

Imho.

To Agelastus...
 

We had some pretty good discussions on these matters in these two threads:

http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums...&threadid=2441

http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums...&threadid=2442


Check it out!

Truly a shame
 

That all of the mythology which was the heart of BG (IMHO) has to be stripped and replaced with eye candy and sex.

3rd...
 

Great animation...

We look like before and after photos:thumbsup:

bump!

Great job on the find! And I really thought it was just some random design!

Kristi
a very tired and exhausted jedi

*BUMP*

OH MAN! Excellent thread!!!! Thanks JJ!!!!!

If only Hito was still here!

Great find! After all these years were still learning more about BSG. It is truly a classic.
Amber:D

I don't really agree with this. Wicca does seem to have it's own identity separate from the other ancient belief systems. I'm not well versed on it other than having a friend that is very involved and I was a participant in a Wicca hand fastening ceremony for 2 other friends. I am not a fan of weddings and my husband and I usually skip them and just go to the reception but the hand fastening was really fun. Over the years Wicca may have incorparated many of the other Pagan beliefs systems but I don't think it is a catch all for them.

I like the Sri Yantra picture.
:colwar:

ditto on the great find.

nightscape

No witches? Hades, they had Belloby........

That sure is an interesting find. I didn't realize that the patch had any significance other than it looked like a bunch of pyramids stuck together.

If Adama had his way, they would have addressed her as "Sorceress" Belloby instead of Siress Belloby. :LOL:

BST

Colonial Symbols
 

Don't forget this one:

Edit: Please see attachment 1.

a symbol seen around the show, in particular on the Pyramid card decks and military vehicles like the LandRam, commonly referred to as the ancient Hebrew Star of David. Not as commonly known, this symbol can be broken up into other various symbols in alchemy, in particular the four classical elements:

Edit: Please see attachment 2.

...and also the Masonic Square & Compasses if you remove the two horizontal lines from the original image.

Edit: Please see attachment 3.
(Picture taken from cover of "Born In Blood" by John J. Robinson)

Edit: Please see attachment 4.

Hito, you're the man! Thanks for sharing that with us.

I have wanted for years to talk to the BG costume designer to figure out where he drew all his imagery from....because it so scattered and so terrific.

Since you're on a roll Hito, can you find an answer for a question that has plagued me since 1978? What is the emblem on Adama's medallion? On DVD, you can see it a little more clearer, but I have no idea what they based it on.

Actually if anyone can find this out (I've actually been considering writing Richard Hatch to see if he knew) I'd really, really, really, really appreciate it.