Lauburu

The lauburu or Basque cross has four arms that are shaped like a comma and are comparable with the Japanese Tomoe. This cross shape you meet today at relatively frequent.

Construction

A lauburu is relatively easy to produce with the help of a compass and a ruler. You start with a square. Then, a semi-circle is drawn from the middle of the sides to the square center. The other reduced by half the radius semicircle also starts from the square center. As a final step, the two half- Bow ends are connected to another semi-circle.

Origin of the word

The Basque expression lau buru means " four heads ", " four corners " or " four peaks ". The origin of the word is not clear.

It is also claimed that the word comes from the etymology and had been associated with the Latin labarum. The Latin word may then have been of a different, original Celtic symbol, the so-called Lábaro derived. The Spanish historian Fidel Fita believed, however, conversely, that the Latin labarum, which emerged in the time of Augustus, was adapted from the Basque.

Importance

Historians and other researchers argue about the allegorical meaning of the old symbol lauburu. In some cases, it is claimed that it Laurak Bat, ie the "four heads " or the " four regions " of the Basque Country (Álava, Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa, Navarra ) is. But it appears in none of the seven arms of the regions that make up the Basque Country, including Navarre, Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya, Álava, Labourd, Soule and Niedernavarra. The Basque intellectuals Imanol Mújica has claimed that the heads symbolize the spirit, life, consciousness and form.

Sabino Arana, the lauburu interpreted as a symbol of the sun in order to support his theory of a Basque sun cult (published in Euskadi ). This theory probably based on a false derivation of the term.

The symbol ( turned to the right ) in its positive form symbolize life, and in its negative form ( turned to the left ) death. Therefore, can be found on grave stones Basque often the facing to the left lauburu. However, it is discussed on several occasions even today, which direction for " creation" is, ie for life and prosperity, and what for " destruction ", ie Death and misfortune.

Another interpretation of the Lauburus is that the round heads are caused by the rotation of the cross, and so represent the energetic elements and the energetic universe.

In general, the lauburu is used as a symbol of prosperity.

Distribution and history

The symbol was found on old steles. In the subsequent period, ie after the time of the Antonines to the modern day, could by M. Camille Julián any type of Swastika, be detected in either rounded or straight shape in the Basque Country. Swastikas with straight lines there were not used before the 19th century

In the work of Paracelsus Archidoxis Magicae a symbol that is very similar to lauburu, which was probably painted for the purpose to heal animals appear. M. Colas holds a relationship between the Swastika and the lauburu unlikely. He sees the origin of Paracelsus and believes that the symbol graced the burial of animal and soul healers ( priest).

At the end of the 16th century, the round swastika in the Basque Country appeared frequently as a decorative element; one finds the symbol, for example on wooden chests or graves, perhaps as another form of grave cross. Today we find the lauburu in obituaries Basque nationalists instead of the Christian cross. Many Basque houses bear the lauburu above the entrance; they see it as a good luck charm or talisman.

The use of the lauburu as a symbol of Basque culture was suppressed as other cultural areas under Francisco Franco. Founded in 1930 left nationalist Basque party ANV ( Acción Nacionalista Vasca, basque EAE, Eusko Abertzale Ekintza ) uses the lauburu in their party symbol.