Tracing the icons

Let's discover the origin and meaning of the icons!

Origin icons in the world

1. Peace symbol

The peace symbol first appeared in 1958 during the Nuclear Disarmament Campaign (CND). This symbol is a combination of two symbols D and N (English name Disarmanent (Disarmament) and Nuclear (Nuclear) .The letter N represents two flags in the V inverted in the table. statue, and letter D has an upward flag and the other flag is directed down.

Legend has it that this symbol was invented by the ancient Roman Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) when he ordered the crucifixion to be crucified, implying that the crucifix was broken. . In addition, there are those who believe that this symbol has 'been involved' with demons in the middle ages. Anyway, this symbol is still widely accepted as originating in the late 1950s arms disarmament movement.

2. Medicine icon

The combination of a stick with a snake wrapped around is a symbol of medicine in general. It is said that this symbol is described in the Pentateuch of the Hebrew Bible, when Moses threw his stick down, it immediately burned the snakes (crocodiles) of the dharma. Egyptian monk. The Pentateuch wrote: ' Each of them threw their stick down, immediately they turned into a lot of large pythons. But Aaron's rod alone is swallowing up everything. '

Another legend has it that the Roman god Apollo had a son named Aesculapius who was appointed as the god of medicine and healing. Aesculapius's children are also medical goddesses, Hygeia and Panaceia, a person who is a goddess of health protection (the word 'hygiene' comes from the word Hygeia), a person who is a goddess of healing. In the modern era, the stick figure and the serpent snake are a popular symbol of medical associations around the world.

The symbol of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) also features a snake image. In addition, the 'RX' symbol , which represents the prescription, is also used by the pharmaceutical industry along with the image of a snake wrapped around the cup (the goddess of the god Hygeia).

3. Red Cross icon

Horrified by the poor medical services tragedy for the victims after the French-Austrian Solferino battle in 1859, a Swiss businessman Jean - Henri Dunant proposed the idea of ​​establishing a neutral organization to caring for victims in wartime. The International Red Cross movement officially began in 1863, and in the first Geneva Convention of 1864 recognized the special status of medical workers and wounded civilians on the battlefield.

The Red Cross symbol is printed on a white background , in contrast to the Swiss flag (white cross, red flag background), Dunant's hometown. Accordingly, the internationally recognized white flag is a sign of surrender, and Switzerland is also famous for its neutrality.

4. Smiley icon

American commercial designer Harvey Ball (1921 - 2001) was the first to design the smileys for American Life Insurance Company in 1963.

In order to add morale to the staff , smileys appear everywhere, from buttons, posters to table cards. As a result, smiley print buttons sold and earned huge sales, $ 50 million, in 1971. One paradox is its author, Harvey Ball, only paid $ 45 ( 900,000 VND) copyright for his ' child ', however, according to Harvey Ball's son 'he never regretted that decision'.

5. Icon of Atomic Energy

The international radioactive symbol first appeared in 1946 . Initially the icon was bright red on a blue background, and later they were replaced by yellow and black.

Recently in 2007, after the research that children can not distinguish the radioactive symbol is dangerous, what is the pinwheel toy for black and gold, people are considering making a Other symbols warn of radioactive dangers, ensuring contain deadly elements, need to stay away from combining the familiar red logo in dangerous cases.

6. Biological Hazard icon

This symbol was originally designed by the Dow Chemical multinational chemical company ( based in Michigan, USA) exclusively for its chemical products in 1966 . Later, this symbol symbolizes global popularity for biological danger.

7. Sign of US dollar and British pound

The dollar sign is derived from the Mexican Poetry , known as the Spanish dollar (Mexico was formerly a Spanish colony). This currency is widely used in North America during the American Revolution in the late 18th century.

The most widely accepted story about the dollar sign is probably derived from the acronym of Spain and Mexico as 'PS' (where 'P' is Pea, 'S' is Spain - Spain). Later, the letter S is written into the letter P, which makes the ($) symbol we often see.

For British pound (£) - the official currency of the United Kingdom, derived from the letter 'L', the abbreviation for 'Libra' - the weight unit of ancient Rome , is 0.329 kilograms, derived from the Latin letter of balance, or astrology's "palace of the time".

8. Symbol of Hammer & Sickle

This symbol is known after the Russian October Revolution (1917) about the Russian working class and working people. In particular, the hammer represents the working class in the industry, while the sickle represents the working class in fisheries and agriculture.

9. Male symbol

While the female symbol is the mirror and comb (the symbol of Venus - the Venus), the male symbol is the spear and shield (the symbol of Mars). The famous Swedish automaker Volvo used the male / Mars logo as a logo for its carmaker. People are also considering mounting Volvo's logo with the icon of Venus, to ensure 'gender equality' whenever women sit on the company's car.