The Origin of Faction Symbols?

**Brennus** · 10-15-2009, 17:36

One thing that has puzzled me ever since I started playing Europa Barbarorum three years ago (and yet I have singularly failed to complete a single campaign, but Ive got a good feeling about my current Arche Seleukia game!) is the origin of some of the faction symbols.

Some of them are fairly easy to guess like the Aedui (just look at any Gallic battle standards excavated and you will find a boar sooner or later) or the Getai or Makedonia, but others have been suprising, such a the Ptolemoi.

I was wondering if anyone knew the origin of the Casse and Sweboz symbols (I think I may have seen the Casse symbol on a Gallic vase)? Also could anyone tell me if I am correct in assuming the Arche Seleukia symbol is supposed to be Apollo's lyre?

**anubis88** · 10-15-2009, 17:55

The seleucid symbol is an anchor. It was the Seleucid simbol for power... For the others i don't know

**bobbin** · 10-15-2009, 19:45

Makedon = the vergina sun
Epieros = Molossian hound
Hayasdan = Artaxiad Dynasty emblem as the orontid one is unknown.
Ptolemaioi = Eagle of Zeus, found commonly on ptolemaic coins
Baktria = Leopard and grapes, assoiciated with Dionysos who was popular in the region.
Getai & Sauromatae = a Draco
KH = Pegasus, a common symbol in greece.
Arverni = hammer and cup of Succellos a celtic god.
Pahlava = A Gryphon, common persian symbol.

cant remember the others right now but i think carthages has somthing to do with the goddess Astarte.

**Brennus** · 10-15-2009, 19:52

Nice one Bobbin! I already knew the Getic/Sarmatian one and the Macedonian and Epirote symbols but thanks anyway. Thanks for explaining the Ptolemies but the Baktrian and Arverni symbols are news to me, cheers! Anybody living near Edinburgh by the way? I was in the National Museum of Scotland the other day and I noticed a Dark Age medallion with the Spiral pattern you find on the Caledonian skirmishers shields.

**bobbin** · 10-15-2009, 20:07

Its a form of Triskelion.

**DaciaJC** · 10-15-2009, 20:37

Look here. Most, if not all, of the faction symbols are explained.

**ziegenpeter** · 10-15-2009, 20:45

I love this forum for these kind of threads.
What I'd like to know: Which are the exact findings on which the symbols are based on?
I mean that the Epirote dog is the MOlossan Hound is quite obvious, but did the team make the exact symbol up or is their a finding depicting this dog in this exact way. I know that there are many for the Seleukid ancor and the Mak's star. (Coins afair?)

**team_kramnik** · 10-16-2009, 00:41

On the Seleucid symbol:
http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/...yriaca_12.html

**Macilrille** · 10-16-2009, 00:43

The Sweboz is indeed a Triskele and it has been found in many variations from at least Germanic Iron ASge and to Viking Age in Scandinavia. Probably in Germany as well.