Really Big Shapes & Symbols!
Earthworks are built in various shapes, from simple circles and images of animals to more complex structures such as the Octagon Earthworks. Notice how these Earthworks consist of a fifty-acre octagon connected to a twenty-acre circle by two parallel walls. What do these shapes mean?
The Earthworks use symbols to communicate ideas. A symbol is a shape or sign that people have given meaning to. Symbols represent big ideas that are worth sharing. We try to understand some of the symbols by what American Indians believe today and the historical references left behind such as a circle has no beginning and no end and is considered a very spiritual place. The square has 4 sides and is considered to represent security and related to the four elements, air, fire, water, earth and the season and the four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. The serpent is viewed by some tribes as mystical, powerful and a part of the underworld. If [tooltip tip=”In today’s world there are a number of different terms that refer to Indigenous People — terms such as American Indians, Native Americans, First Nations, and indigenous. We use these terms interchangeably. We also believe it is important for all of us to be mindful that most indigenous people prefer to have their tribal affiliation recognized. “]Native[/tooltip] communities put in this much effort to build these structures, you can bet that they chose each shape with great intention!
Watch this video to discover what some of these symbols may have meant.
Chief Wilson shares with us about what the 7 curves of the Serpent means to his people—he states that the 7 curves represents 7 gates that a person must go though to achieve enlightenment and that at each curve they had to accomplish something to reach that part of their education (enlightenment). So curves in the serpent, which represent mystical and powerful also means a way to demonstrate one’s wisdom. What ways, in your community, represents wisdom? How does the community know that you have achieved that wisdom?
