Depiction of Bags by Ancient Cultures

Clifford C. Richey
December 2014
It might be helpful to refer to:
academia.edu/Universal-Prehistoric-Depicted-Sign-Language,
when reading this paper, as it explains the use of Form, Imagery, Gesture signs,
Stance, allusion and position as used in composing glyphs.

Illustration 1: Assyrian
The concept behind this paper is not an attempt to interpret the compositions from the various coutures
in any great detail but rather to compare the Imagery of the Bags found within them. We will focus on
the question of the meaning of these Bags and any salient signs found within each composition related
to the Bags and their possible meaning.
In the Assyrian Composition (Illustration 1) we not only see the Bag grasped in th Hand of the Figure
but several (blue-green) Water-drop (particles of water) Forms. Those Forms found in the (tan outline)
Leg-Foot (a long walk or journey) of the Figure. At the Elbow (alluding to the Joint as something that
opens and closes) of the Figure we can see two small Serpent (a stream of water) Heads and Three
Dots in a Triangular Form. This indicates a female-spirit and in association with the Serpent, a female
water-spirit. The Dots form a Face thus indicating, his appearance. The Lower Arm (a warrior). The
Arm is created from Three, parallel, Lines that indicates, a hidden or unseen-pathway. The Thumb of
the Hand (a steward of the Sun) is a Severed Finger pointing a direction, here, below. Next to the
Thumb there is a Circle that means Numerically, the one and Linguistically, his location. The Four
Fingers are Vertical Rectangles, or vertical-place signs. The Number Four indicating the four directions
or everywhere. The place signs are positionally, below. All of this, of course, points to the Bag as the
location that contains the warrior-steward of the Sun. The Upper Arm and Hand also contains Waterdrops and the Hand held in a (brown) Pine Cone, the one that contains seeds, has tiny (blue-green)
female-water-spirits, within it. The Figure has the Face (his appearance) of an Eagle, the sign for, the
daytime Sun and a Human Body. Therefore the Figure represents a human leader whose Title was a
Sun, The Great Sun, a warrior, and steward of the Sun.

Illustration 2: Olmec
In Illustration 2 we see a Olmec composition where a Figure is Sitting (waiting) and carried on the
back of a Serpent (a stream of water). The Form of the Serpent is in the shape of the sign for, taken
upwards. The Figure is holding a Bag in the same manner as in the Assyrian composition. The Form
of the Total composition is one of a (tan) Female Breast that was used as a metaphor related to, the hills
of the Female-earth. The overall (tan) Body belonged the Female-earth. This tells us that the Setting is
one of an event happening within the a hill or the Breast of the Earth. Again, the Arm and Hand of the
Sun described here, as His Face, his appearance as a Mouse, the little one, the Arm and Hand. The
Mouse Imagery or Form was used to distinguish the actual Sun from that other important star, Venus.
As with the Assyrian composition, the warrior of the Sun, the steward of the Sun is described as, in the
Bag.

Illustration 3: HittiteMinoan
The Hittite-Minoan culture (see Illustration 3) used essentially the same signs and methaphors as the

Assyrian. The illustration is only presented here for purposes of comparison.

Illustration 4: Moche
The Moche culture of Peru also had Figures holding Bags. We note that the (tan) Female-earth is very
graphically depicted as a woman lying on her back. We can also see how the Breasts of the Earth were
visualized as hills and mesas by the Moche. The (blue-green) Serpent appears, once again, this time as
within the Body of the earth. But it is noteworthy that the Mouth (a source of water) of the Serpent is
portrayed as just under a Breast or hill of the Female-earth's Body. The (light-blue) Triangular femalespirit sign is also found in this composition and the multitude of these signs creates the outline of Large
Breasts. Within the (red) Circle on th left the Bag has Double Lines creating an unseen-place sign and,
positionally, within it Seven Seed (probably, Mesquite) Pods, The Stance of these Seeds is Leftward
leaning indicating, the seeds, stopped, within, an unseen, place. The Bottom of the Bag is in the Form
of a Black Quarter Circle (the dark underside or the dark underworld) that is positionally, below.
For more information about this composition see:
https://www.academia.edu/8042352/The_Coca_Chewers_Moche_Vessel_Imagery_The_Wonder_of_the_Lunar_
Rainbow

Illustration 5: Egyptian
In the above Egyptian composition we see the (red circle) Bag being held by a female. The scene or
setting is agricultural but the content is cosmological. The color white represents spirit and both the
female and male Figures are clothed in white. The male is the one plowing or cutting the earth while
the female is holding the Bag and is sowing the seeds. The Bag is made up of a Large Horizontal
Rectangle, a great horizontal-place, which is turn contains many small (green) vertical-place signs.
There are vertical Curved (red) Lines on the Left and Right sides of the Bag. These Lines are in the
Form of the gesture sign for arising, In gesture signing the Left indicates the east and the Right
indicates the west. Thus the meaning is, arising, on the east, and west, sides, of the great container.
This refers to the Arm (the warrior) and the Hand, the steward of the Sun, that holds the Bag.
The Seeds, the ones that will sprout or arise from the earth, stemming from the Arm and Hand, the
warrior, the steward of the Sun, and Form the Three Lined sign that indicates, on, a hidden-pathway.
This is the same sign that we have previously seen as making up the Arm and Hand of the Assyrian
Figure.
Behind the female Figure is a vertical row of (blue-green) Lines that mean, a flowing of water (the blue
-green color). Above the flowing sign are (blue-green) Water-drops, particles of water. The Stance of
the particles is downward and the combination may indicate, the rain.

Illustration 6: Color Coded

The (blue) Back of the male Figure is in the Form of a Bird's Head indicating, flight. The flight of the
Arm and Hand, the warrior, the steward, is positioned as, on the side, of the (light-tan) Breast, the hill.
The Breast was emphasized in the composition by the addition of a rather large (pink) Nipple which
normally would not be needed when depicting a male figure. The hair extends down into the Breast and
Forms the Pi shaped sign for a doorway or a portal. The Upper Arm (at the Bird's Beak/Mouth, a
water-source) is the V shaped sign for, an opening. This would refer to a spring or pool of water
from a subterranean source located on a hillside.
The Lower Hand of the Figure is within a (dark-blue) Curved sign that means, held as in a bowl. There
is a small, Triangular of Dots, indicating a female-spirit, positionally, below, the Fingers that are in the
Form of the Zig-Zag sign for, water. The Hand, the steward of the Sun, held as in a bowl, as a femalewater-spirit.
The Upper Arm and Hand is also on the side of the Breast, the hill. According to Garrick Mallery,1
the one on the hillside referred to, a chieftain. The Hand is holding a Whip, the one that strikes.
This can be broken down into what appears to be a Fish (the one who swims, or the swimmer. This
Form is also a Knife, a ray of the Sun. The Fingers of the Hand Form the Zig-Zag sign for, water. The
Thumb has a Nail that is, positionally, on the side of the Form of a (red) Triangle indicating the
Female-earth.

Mallery, Garrick Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And
Deaf-Mutes
First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution, 1879-1880,Government Printing Office, Washington. Ogima, the Ojibwa
term for chief, is derived from a root which signifies "above" (Ogidjaii, upon;
ogidjina, above; ogidaki, on a hill or mountain, etc.). Ogitchida, a brave, a hero
(Otawa, ogida), is probably from the same root.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17451/17451-h/17451-h.htm#page420

Illustration 7: The Whip, The Knife

Illustration 7 shows a closeup of the Hand, the steward of the Sun, that holds the Whip, the one that
strikes. The Knife, the ray of the Sun, The Fingers of the Hand Form the (blue-green) the Zig-Zag
water sign. The Thumbnail Forms the (red) Triangular, Female-earth sign. The Thumb Forms a
Horizontal Rectangle, a horizontal-place, positionally, on the side. The steward of the Sun, the one
who strikes, The Knife, the ray of the Sun, held, in the water, on the side of, the Female-earth.
There are Two Severed Fingers pointing a direction, here, positionally, on the side. The Two Fingers
make the gesture sign for, the two together as one, This sign also represents a merging, or a union, thus
the two united as one. Within the Fingers are a multitude of vertical-places signs that are also, on the
side.

Illustration 8: Two Cows

There are Two Cows pulling the plow. The Cows have Large Bodies and are basically white in color
indicating spirit. The great ones. Further, since the Cows are merged together they should be
considered as one. This Body has Eight (a shorthand, that represents, spirit) Legs, long, and Feet,
walks or journeys. The long, journeys, positionally, below. The great ones, untied as one, their long,
spirit, journeys, below.
Among the (black, darkness) signs found on the Cow's Body we recognize the Blade of the Knife,

located on the Thigh (associative meaning unknown), whose Stance is heading downwards on the Left,
in the east, and upwards on the Right, in the west. We note the (black) Quarter Circle indicating, the
underside or the dark underworld, along the Cow's Back which represents, the ground's surface..

Illustration 9: Two Cows

At the Throat (alluding to a connecting tunnel between the Stomach, a container, and the Mouth, a
water-source, we find the (blue-green) Large Triangular Dots that make up the sign for, a great femalespirit.
The Cow's Ear alludes to an orifice or a hole, positionally, on the side (of the earth). The Cow, as a
large Bodied, animal appears to represent the Female-earth especially since the Cow is female as
indicated by its Udder. This connection between large bodies and the earth is not clear because large
male animal bodies also seem to have been used in this manner.
Generally, Horns were used in association with, a leader. In this composition there are Two Pairs of
Horns that are united at their base. The (light-blue) Horns are in the Form for arising and due to their
being united at their base, we can interpret this as, the two, united as one, arising, positionally, on the
Left, or in the east.
The Eyes of the Cows have a Line extending from their sides. This positions the Eyes as, at the edge or
on the side. We may remember that the Eye was used in many ancient compositions as a metaphor for
the Eye of the Sun, --Venus. Finally, we will point out that the Tails of the Cows indicate descending
Knife Forms (rays of the Sun) direction while the Horns (leaders) indicate an arising. The is some
evidence that the Tails of animals refer to a past tense while the Heads point toward the future tense.

Illustration 10: Egyptian, The Trees of Life

The Trees shown in Illustration 10 are a bit deceptive. The Trunks or Bodies of the Trees are made up
of horizontal-places signs. The signs are Light and Dark meaning, places of light and darkness and are
arranged vertically as levels. There appears to be a count involved in the levels but their meaning, if
any, is unknown.

Illustration 11: Signs Among the Trees

Beginning with the Tree on our Left, in the east, Within the Fork the Tree the Space has been used to
depict a Large Water-drop whose Stance is upwards. The great (in the sense of importance) waterparticle, heading upwards. The Body or trunk of the tree has, the places of light and darkness on it.
The Trunk Forks, diverges, to the Left and Right, to the east and west. Within, the water-particle,
There are Large Seeds (perhaps coconuts), the great ones, who will sprout or arise from the earth. Te
Seeds are Formed as signs that indicate, the male-spirits, the water-particles, with the (green) Stems
in the Form for, taken upwards, and arising. The (blue) Vertical Quarter circle indicates, on the side.
Beneath the Trunk is the (black) Straight Line that refers to the earth's, surface. The Double Lines
indicate, hidden or unseen and within the Lines are the, Vertical, signs for, vertically flowing water.

Illustration 12: Signs Among the Trees

The second tree is colored blue-green to indicate the water within it. The Form of the Tree is that of a
Large Knife, the great Ray of the Sun, the great warrior, All the Branches are in the Form of the
arising sign, There are Nine Branches on each side, in the east and west, that may refer to the nine
levels of the underworld. The Leaves allude to the Trees Hands, the stewards of the Sun, The Leaves
are also in the Form of Water-drops, the water-particles.
The third Tree from the Left has Bunches of Fruit (perhaps Figs), the ones that contain the seeds, the
ones who will arise from the earth. The Bunches are Formed in the shape of Large Drops of Water, the
great water particles, their Stems Form the sign for, arising. Within the water-particles are numerous
Phallic shaped signs that indicate, males. The signs can be further broken down into Rectangular
places signs and the Curved signs for, male-spirits, that were based on the Form of the glans penis. On
the side of each Stem is the (red) Triangular sign indicating, the Female-earth. What could be
considered (green) Broken Branches on the Tree are exactly the same shape and positioned, in the east
and west. These Y shaped signs represent, the one that opens up the way ahead, the scout. The
scout was a metaphor for Venus as it arises before the sun in the east. The Four Upper Branches on
each side of the Tree are the signs for, the arisings, in the four directions or everywhere, positionally,
in the east and west. The Two Top or middle Branches create the sign for, unseen, positionally, at the
center. The center refers to the center of the earth, the cosmological focus on spring sites as portals to
the sky. Such hallowed sites were also often construed as the centers of the cultures as they related to a
reverence for the departed spirits of the cultures.
The fourth tree is similar in meaning to the second tree so we will move on to the fifth tree.

Illustration 13: Tree Five

In the fifth Tree the area within the Forked limbs is Heart shaped. This sign is based on the gesture sign
for surrounded or captured. Within it the is the Form of a, relatively Large (blue) Bird whose Stance is
one of Sitting, meaning, awaiting flight. Compare this Bird's shape with the one on the Farmer's
shoulder in Illustration 3. Directly below is the (white) Form of an Eye (the Eye of the Sun, --Venus).
In contact with the Eye is a (blue-green) Water-drop or a water particle. There two more water-particle
Forms next to it, The upper one is, on the side, of the Female-earth, while the lower one is positioned
as between, the sides of, the Female-earth or at the center. At the base of the Heart shaped area there
is a (tan) Leg a long, and Foot, walk or journey,whose Stance is upward and positioned as, on the side.
Next to it is a (green) Slug whose association is one of moving slowly. The Slug's Stance is upwards
and its Body is a Rightward Leaning Rectangular, waiting-place sign. Its alluded to Eye (the Eye of
the Sun Venus) Left and Right, in the east and west, is a V shaped at the opening sign.
There are several Clusters of Leaves at the Top of the Tree. These odd shapes are created from the
Asterisk shaped or Eight Lined sign that represents a spirit. However like the Cows in the composition
above it, there are the two spirits signs merged together as one. There are Three such signs which are a
form of shorthand for, the many. The two, united as one, the many, positionally, above (high up in the
Tree).

Illustration 14: Tree 6

The sixth Tree is in the Form of a Large Knife (The Great Ray of the Sun, the great warrior). The
Knife appears to be penetrating the earth's surface. The seventh Tree has the overall Form of a Large
V shaped, the great-opening, sign with the singular Trunk forming a Line indicating, the great one,
positionally, within it. The Leaves forming, the three, the many, arisings in the east and west. The
Tree Top forms the signs for, within the opening, positionally, at the center,

Illustration 15: Tree Seven

The overall or Total Form of the seventh Tree is that of a Large Vertical Rectangle, a great, verticalplace. The (light-blue) arising signs at the base of the Tree Trunk are a count of Four, in the four
directions, or everywhere, in the east and west. The signs are, positionally, on the sides. The Bunches
of Seeds are Two to a side and joined together or united as one, the ones who will arise from the
earth, Although quite subtle, the Bunches appear to be Buds and Flowers thus indicating a great
flowering. The Trunk or Body of the Tree is composed of dark and light horizontal-places. of darkness
and light, signs. The (yellow) Line indicates the position of the great one (the Trunk, The Body) as
below. This position was below a (green) a vertical-place sign from which stems more (light-blue)
arising signs. The count of Three on each side indicates, the many, arisings, in the east and the west.
The (red) compound sign at the Top of the Tree means, the one, within, the opening, positioned as on
the surface, of the vertical-place (the surface of the earth).
The (black) Frame of the Panel depicting the Trees is a Large Horizontal Rectangle, a great horizontalplace sign. The number of Trees depicted as Seven appears to be significant and may indicate a
hallowed or revered grove of Trees. This would be because the Trees themselves represented,
cosmologically, the great arisings of the important lineages of the culture. Trees represent a growth, a
progression, or a flowering and, in this case, served as an important cosmological focus and statement.
There are numerous examples that the number Seven has some significance beyond a mere count. We
find historical references to, the seven caves, the seven mountains, the seven hills, seventh stream or
river, and even a seventh heaven.

Illustration 16: Egyptian Subterranean Flowing Water

Illustration 17: Moche Subterranean Stream of water

Illustration 19: Assyrian

Serpents, Streams of Water
Heading East and West
Illustration 18: Olmec
Arising Stream of Water
Summary:
In Illustrations 16,17,18, and 19 we see the how each culture paraphrased subterranean water as part of
their cosmology. Each culture also depicted the Three Triangular Dots that indicated, female-waterspirits, Each culture used Water or the Water-drop Form as a way to indicate that the spirit was
transported by water. Each culture used the Bag and/or the Seed Form and Imagery to indicate the
future sprouting of the spirit or to indicate the spirit arising from the earth. All the cultures used the
Form and Imagery of Bags to represent, the one that contains the seeds. Because each Form usually has
a Body --the Bags, the containers were, metaphorically, aligned with the Female-earth. Each culture
presented in this paper held an, in common, underlying cosmological theme that they preserved through
the use of depicted sign language. The use of depicted sign language is not immediately apparent to a
modern observer. Like the tip of an iceberg some signs, such as the surprising appearance of similar
Bags, among widely disparate cultures create questions that cannot be easily answered without
resorting to depicted sign language as the iceberg hidden below the surface.