Crook

Crook

Crooks – Decorated stone at Table des Marchands

Described from finds in Breton megalithic art this symbol is named ‘crook’ in literature (e.g. [1] ).

Locations

This symbol can be found in a number of passage tombs in Brittany, including Mané Hroeck, Mané Rutual, Mané Lud, Gavrinis. The backstone of the passage tomb ‘Table des Marchands’ in Locmariaquer shows a number of this symbol. Further the capstone shows a crook next to an axe carving.

Interpretation

The initial name ‘crook’ was given to this symbol, since it resembles the shape of a shepherd’s crook. In Egypt this was a symbol of power and it was also adopted by Christianity (bishop’s crook).

However, recently this symbol is thought to be a depiction of a weapon or projectile, similar to a boomerang. This seems to be supported by the depiction of the symbol next to a hafted axe on the capstone of the Table des Marchands.

In this case the ‘crook’ would been a symbol of power like the axe depictions.

Related symbols

References

[1] E. Twohig, The megalithic art of western europe, Oxford New York: Clarendon press oxford university press, 1981.
[Bibtex]
@Book{Twohig1981,
author = {Twohig, Elizabeth},
publisher = {Clarendon Press Oxford University Press},
title = {The megalithic art of Western Europe},
year = {1981},
address = {Oxford New York},
isbn = {0-19-813193-3},
}