Here’s a list of important symbols in world mythology along with their meanings:

Greek & Roman Mythology

• Caduceus – A staff entwined by two serpents, symbolizing commerce, negotiation, and balance (often confused with the Rod of Asclepius).
• Rod of Asclepius – A staff with a single serpent, representing healing and medicine.
• Labrys (Double Axe) – Associated with Minoan civilization, symbolizing power and femininity.
• Ouroboros – A serpent or dragon eating its own tail, representing eternity and the cyclical nature of life.

Norse Mythology

• Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer) – A symbol of protection, strength, and divine power.
• Yggdrasil – The World Tree, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all realms and existence.
• Valknut – Three interlocking triangles, associated with Odin and the afterlife.
• Gungnir – Odin’s spear, representing wisdom, war, and unerring precision.

Egyptian Mythology

• Ankh – The cross with a loop at the top, symbolizing life and immortality.
• Eye of Horus (Wedjat) – A symbol of protection, healing, and divine power.
• Scarab Beetle – Represents rebirth and transformation.
• Djed Pillar – A symbol of stability and endurance, often associated with Osiris.

Celtic Mythology

• Triskelion (Triple Spiral) – Represents motion, progress, and the threefold nature of existence.
• Celtic Knot – Endless loops symbolizing eternity and interconnectedness.
• Awen – Three rays of light, symbolizing inspiration and spiritual enlightenment.
• Claddagh – A heart, hands, and crown representing love, loyalty, and friendship.

Hindu Mythology

• Om (Aum) – A sacred sound and symbol representing the universe and ultimate reality.
• Lotus Flower – Symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and divine birth.
• Swastika – An ancient symbol of good fortune and auspiciousness (misappropriated in modern history).
• Trishula (Trident) – Wielded by Shiva, representing destruction, creation, and preservation.
• Chinese Mythology
• Yin-Yang – A symbol of balance, duality, and cosmic harmony.
• Dragon – Represents strength, wisdom, and imperial power.
• Phoenix (Fenghuang) – Symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and feminine energy.
• Bagua (Eight Trigrams) – Represent different fundamental principles of reality and are used in Taoist cosmology.

Native American Mythology

• Feather – Symbolizes communication with the spirit world and honor.
• Dreamcatcher – Protects from bad dreams and negative energy.
• Thunderbird – A powerful spirit representing strength, thunder, and divine intervention.
• Turtle – Symbolizes creation, endurance, and wisdom.

African Mythology

• Adinkra Symbols – Various symbols representing wisdom, ethics, and philosophy.
• Duan Nkyinkyim – Represents adaptability and dynamism.
• Sankofa – A bird looking backward, symbolizing learning from the past.
• Ananse (Spider Symbol) – Represents wisdom, trickery, and storytelling.

Snakes 🐍

• Rebirth & Transformation – Snakes shed their skin, symbolizing renewal (e.g., Ouroboros in Greek mythology).
• Wisdom & Knowledge – The serpent in the Garden of Eden (Christianity) or Kundalini energy (Hinduism).
• Healing & Medicine – The Rod of Asclepius (Greek) and the Caduceus.
• Chaos & Evil – Jörmungandr (Norse) and Apophis (Egyptian) as destructive forces.
• Fertility & Life Force – Associated with divine feminine energy and primal life force in many cultures.

The Sun ☀️

• Life & Vitality – Bringer of light and sustenance (e.g., Ra in Egyptian mythology).
• Divine Power – Many sun gods (Helios, Apollo, Surya).
• Cycles & Time – The rising and setting sun represent the passage of time and rebirth.

The Moon 🌙

• Femininity & Cycles – Linked to goddesses (Artemis, Selene, Chandra).
• Mystery & The Unknown – Often tied to magic and the subconscious.
• Transformation – The phases of the moon symbolize change and growth.

Birds 🕊️🦅

• Freedom & Spirit – Birds often represent transcendence and the soul.
• Messengers – Carry messages from the divine (e.g., ravens in Norse mythology, doves in Christianity).
• War & Power – Eagles are symbols of kingship and divine authority (e.g., Zeus’s eagle, Garuda in Hinduism).

Fish 🐟

• Abundance & Prosperity – In many cultures, fish symbolize wealth and good fortune (e.g., koi fish in Chinese and Japanese traditions).
• Transformation & Adaptability – Fish can navigate different depths, representing spiritual journeys (e.g., the Christian ichthys symbol).
• Sacred Knowledge – In Hinduism, Vishnu’s Matsya avatar (a fish) saves sacred texts and humanity from a great flood.
• Fertility & Life Force – Fish are often associated with water and creation (e.g., fish goddess Atargatis in Mesopotamian mythology).

Turtles 🐢

• Wisdom & Longevity – Many traditions see turtles as ancient, wise beings that live long lives (e.g., Native American and Chinese myths).
• Creation & The World – The World Turtle carries the Earth in many myths, such as in Hindu and Native American traditions.
• Patience & Stability – Turtles move slowly but steadily, symbolizing persistence and endurance.
• Connection Between Land & Water – As amphibious creatures, turtles often represent balance between different realms.

Trees 🌳

• Life & Connection – The World Tree (Yggdrasil in Norse, the Bodhi Tree in Buddhism).
• Wisdom & Longevity – Trees like the oak and the olive are sacred in many traditions.
• Family & Ancestry – The “Tree of Life” often symbolizes interconnectedness and heritage.

Fire 🔥

• Destruction & Renewal – Phoenixes rise from the ashes; Shiva’s dance of destruction.
• Divine Knowledge – Prometheus steals fire for humanity (Greek).
• Passion & Energy – Often linked to transformation and vitality.

Water 🌊

• Purity & Renewal – Used in cleansing rituals across cultures.
• Chaos & Creation – Many creation myths feature primordial waters (e.g., Nun in Egyptian mythology).
• Subconscious & Emotion – Water is deeply tied to the emotional and spiritual realm.

Endings & Transition ⚰️

• Death often represents the end of a cycle or a transition from one state to another rather than an absolute end.
• In many traditions, it is the gateway to the afterlife (e.g., Ancient Egyptian belief in the Duat, or the Greek Underworld ruled by Hades).
• The death card in Tarot does not signify literal death but rather transformation and new beginnings.

Rebirth & Transformation 🔄

• Many myths connect death with rebirth or renewal, such as the Phoenix rising from ashes or the cycle of the seasons (Persephone in Greek mythology).
• Hinduism and Buddhism view death as a part of reincarnation, where the soul is reborn into a new existence.
• In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (the end of the world) leads to the birth of a new world.

The Cycle of Life & Nature 🌱💀

• Death is an integral part of nature’s balance, ensuring renewal and continuity.
• Many agricultural myths tie death to fertility, such as the dying-and-rising gods (e.g., Osiris in Egyptian mythology, Dionysus in Greek, and Tammuz in Mesopotamian belief).

Judgment & Afterlife ⚖️

• In Christianity and Islam, death is followed by judgment, where souls are assigned to Heaven, Hell, or other spiritual realms.
• The Scales of Ma’at in Egyptian mythology weigh the heart against a feather to determine one’s fate in the afterlife.
• The Bardo Thodol (Tibetan Book of the Dead) describes the journey of the soul after death and its choices before reincarnation.

Darkness & The Unknown 🌑

• Death often represents the mystery of the unknown, symbolizing fear, the void, or the great beyond.
• Many cultures have figures like the Grim Reaper or Charon (the ferryman) as guides to the afterlife.
• In some myths, the underworld is a dark, shadowy place (e.g., Hel in Norse mythology, Sheol in Jewish texts).

Honor & Sacrifice 🩸

• Many warrior cultures (e.g., Norse Vikings, Samurai in Japan, Aztecs) saw death in battle as glorious and a passage to an honored afterlife (Valhalla, the Elysian Fields).
• Death in myth is often linked to self-sacrifice, such as Jesus’ crucifixion in Christianity or Odin sacrificing himself for wisdom.
• Would you like me to expand on a specific aspect of death symbolism?