The flags and the flag poles of the Geto Dacians were adorned with a warrior's symbol, a spear with a strange beast at its tip. The beast had a wolf's head and a snake's body and tail and it's also famous thanks to the depictions on Traian's Column. But what is the meaning of the wolf, the spear and the snake? Let's find out!

The wolf defines solitude and wilderness, disobedience and courage, a positive symbol, considering his abilities (night sight), that make him a hero of the fiery elements, like the Sun and also a mythical warrior. Greeks and Northern peoples also see the wolf in the same image, as a combat symbol.

Analyzing the image of the wolf, we discover a totem-like symbol, that, from a Freudian point of view can stand for the father killed in a certain ritual, in order to protect the entire tribe. We must also mention the myth of the White Wolf, some sort of Cerberus, guiding the dead to the "other side".

It's also important to notice that among the most important agricultural occupations in the Carpathians area, there was the shepherding, so the wolf was the main threat towards sheep, the only means of the existence for the locals. Thus, they respected and feared the beast, but they fought it each time they had the chance, aided by dogs and using fire to scare wolves away.

The White Wolf is a solar symbol, but also an earthly one, like the female wolf that fed Romuls and Remus, the two founding fathers of Rome. Moving on to another symbol, the snake stands apart from all the other animals, since it has no feet, no hair and its veins drip cold blood. In many cultures, the snake is considered the opposite of man and the Bible certainly created a bad reputation for this reptile, hunted ferociously by avid believers.

Many associate the snake with the dragon, that in turn is associated with the devil. Since we've mentioned dragons, we must talk about Saint Gheorghe, a patron of agriculture, who slew the famous "Balaur" (dragon or snake in Romanian) with the aid of a spear, thus becoming the symbol of a steady life and the reason for nomads to stop living on the go and have a normal life. Gheorghe's name signifies “the one that takes care of the earth, performs agricultural activities”.

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Spread the word about Romania! Share this article and let others know about the experiences Romania has to offer.

Subscribe to Newsletter: