Osiris’s Twin Symbols of Power

“Flail * Crook

The Flail and Crook of Osiris symbolize the two harvests achieved by the farmer and the shepherd and are one of the root sources for all symbols of power, notably the medieval orb and sceptre favored by European royalty. In southern Asia, this is mirrored by the ritual sceptre (the Rodge) held in the right hand and a bell (the Drilbu) in the left of Indian statues. In Buddhist depictions the left hand my hold a Buddhist jewel, whilst the right hand is open in a gesture of sending blessings to the earth.”

Excerpted from: Rogerson, Barnaby. Rogerson’s Book of Numbers: The Culture of Numbers–from 1,001 Nights to the Seven Wonders of the World. New York: Picador, 2013.

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