Zia Pueblo Sun Symbol

       

 

This image, The Zia, is an ancient Zia Pueblo sun symbol. “Zia” meaning sun. The Zia are an indigenous tribe based at Zia Pueblo, an Indian reservation in the state of New Mexico, US... The Zia are known for their pottery and use of the Sun symbol.                                                
Zia is an Arabic name meaning Light. Light emitted from objects such as the Sun and the Stars rather than the reflected light of the Moon. It is named Noor.

The Sun Symbol

The Zia Indian sun symbol represents the earth’s four directions, the four seasons, the four periods of each day and the four seasons of life and also mans four sacred duties: to cultivate a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and to uphold the welfare of his people. This ancient symbol is found on pottery, art, and other Zia Pueblo artefacts.
Consisting of a red circle with groups of rays pointing in four directions, it is painted on ceremonial vases, drawn on the ground around campfires, and used to introduce newborn children to the Sun along with other sacred rituals.
The number four is considered sacred by the Zia Indians, and can be seen repeatedly in the four points radiating from the crimson circle. It’s outreaching lines which extend in the four directions of the compass, give the symbol sacred meaning to the Zia. The sacred number four symbolizes the Circle of Life: four winds, four seasons, four directions, and four sacred obligations. The circle binds the four elements of four together

The Zia Sun Symbol is the sole symbol featured on the Flag of the State of New Mexico. The red sun honours the Indian Nations, on a yellow field (yellow was the royal colour of the Spanish crown carried by the conquistador Coronado in 1540, the date of his entrance into New Mexico, at Zuni and the first recorded European contact with North American Indian people)

The new state flag was designed by Dr. Harry Mera of Santa Fe, New Mexico, an archaeologist familiar with the Zia sun symbol found at Zia Pueblo on a 19th century pot.
The salutation, “I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures," was many years ago commonly recited in New Mexico public schools after the United States pledge of allegiance.
It is the firm belief of Zia Wolf-Sun that as we cross cultures and nations in our virtual worlds, that this “Zia symbol of perfect friendship” be a reminder to us all, of of our obligations to respect and treat in the right way everyone we should meet in course of our virtual travels. Let it be so!!