Power and authority have been represented by various symbols across different cultures and time periods. Symbols allow complex concepts like power to be conveyed in a simple, visual way that is quickly understood. The symbols that represent power tend to invoke ideas of strength, control, status, and rulership. Here we will explore some of the most common symbols of power and authority, and examine why they have come to carry these meanings.
Crowns and Tiaras
One of the most ubiquitous symbols of power and status is the crown. Crowns are worn by monarchs and royalty, indicating their supreme position and authority. The tradition of crowns dates back thousands of years, originating in cultures like ancient Egypt where pharaohs wore elaborate headpieces as a sign of their divinely ordained right to rule. Crowns are made of precious metals like gold and decorated with jewels, demonstrating the wealth of their wearers. Their height adds a physical presence and stature to royalty or leaders. While in medieval Europe kings and queens typically wore large, dome-shaped crowns, smaller tiaras also represent authority and stature as a type of crown.
Crowns visually communicate the idea that the wearer stands above all others in the social hierarchy. The crown bears the weight of centuries of meaning, conveying the wearer’s power immediately to all who see it. Even in modern times when monarchs have less direct power, crowns maintain their symbolic associations with legitimacy, status and sovereignty.
Thrones
Like crowns, thrones derive their symbolic power from their long associations with authority figures throughout history. The throne is the seat representing the power and prestige of high-ranking individuals like monarchs, religious leaders, and dictators. Sitting elevated on a throne literally places rulers above all others nearby, reinforcing concepts of status, hierarchy and power. Thrones often feature impressive ornamentation like gold, jewels, elaborate carvings and vivid colors that aesthetically communicate wealth and station. The elaborate throne historically located in the House of Lords in the United Kingdom Parliament exemplifies how thrones convey authority through impressive craftsmanship and precious materials.
When we describe leaders and rulers metaphorically as being “in power” or “taking the throne,” we mentally evoke images of figures seated in commanding positions on elevated thrones. This demonstrates how the visual and physical presence of thrones has become shorthand for communicating legimate power and authority.
Scepters
The scepter, a ceremonial staff held by rulers during formal occasions, is another lasting symbol of authority and sovereignty. Kings and queens in Europe carried ornately decorated scepters representing their right to govern, a tradition dating back to antiquity. Scepters were seen as instruments that gave rulers power and legitimacy. They were highly visible reminders during royal ceremonies and processions that the holder possessed status and influence. The sight of the monarch’s scepter amplified feelings of obedience, respect and deference from subjects.
Like crowns and thrones, over time the image of the scepter has crystallized into shorthand for signaling power. We talk about wielding, holding or passing the scepter as metaphorical references to the transfer of power and authority from one ruler to the next. Leaders carrying scepters, ranging from kings to ancient Egyptian deities, have become some of the most enduring visual symbols of dominance and status.
Symbols of Justice
The scales of justice and depictions of blindfolded Lady Justice originate from ancient Greek and Roman representations of law, fairness and balance. In medieval Europe, weighing scales became associated with the virtue of fairness and the administration of the law. The blindfold showed that justice should be impartial and objective. Figures of Lady Justice holding scales and swords represent reasoned, ethical uses of power and authority.
Today Lady Justice remains a prevalent symbol of authority in legal settings like courthouses and government buildings. As an allegorical representation of the moral use of power, Lady Justice communicates ideas about truth, fairness, and the legitimate administration of justice and the law. Her iconography aims to portray power wisely governed by ethics, balance and restraint.
Architecture and Monuments
The architecture and monuments commissioned by powerful rulers often represent and reflect their authority. The pyramids of Ancient Egypt were spectacular demonstrations of the pharaoh’s strength, as were the palace complexes and ziggurats of Mesopotamian civilizations. The massive buildings symbolized the tremendous power and capabilities of the societies that produced them.
In Medieval Europe, sprawling castles and fortresses projected a ruler’s military might and dominance over the surrounding countryside. Elaborate palaces like Versailles amplified King Louis XIV’s prestige and supremacy. Similarly in Asia, structures like China’s Forbidden City complex and Japan’s Imperial Palace encapsulated imperial authority. The imposing architecture and scale of these buildings implicitly conveyed the rulers’ far-reaching power and control.
Even today, landmarks like the United States Capitol and other government buildings use their commanding size and appearance to symbolize the authority of the state. Their striking visual presence represents the enduring ability of architecture and design to silently communicate power.
Weapons
Weapons like swords, firearms, and cannons have long stood as symbols of military strength and authority. When displayed in settings like royal portraits or coat of arms, their inclusion indicates the ruler’s ability and willingness to project armed force. A sword at a leader’s side shows their martial authority. Cannons and rifles in historical paintings and insignia represent capabilities in strategies like conquest and colonialism.
Weapons projected hard power – the use of military might to demonstrate and enforce authority over rivals or subjects. Their symbolic meanings evoke ideas like strength, conflict, coercion and victory. Even in modern times when expanded economic power matters more than brute force alone, weapons in symbols and ceremonial displays continue to represent the state’s ability to wield force if required.
Eagles and Lions
The animal kingdom offers many examples of creatures representing dominance and control. The eagle’s keen vision and ability to soar high in the skies have made it a prime symbol of authority and leadership found across cultures, from Ancient Rome to indigenous societies in North America. Eagles metaphorically communicate vision, prestige and dominance over other birds.
Similarly, the lion’s position as the king of the jungle or beasts translates into symbolizing kings, rulers and sovereignty in images ranging from the stone lions outside the New York Public Library to the lion rampant on the Scottish flag. The lion’s fierce power and commanding presence echoes the attributes desired in strong, effective leaders. Images of eagles and lions continue to be incorporated into state imagery like seals, flags, and emblems as shorthand for signaling authority and control.
Mythological Figures
Gods and mythological figures from cultural traditions and religions around the world functioned as symbols of power and control. In polytheistic faiths ranging from Ancient Greece and Rome to Hinduism, gods displayed powers like lightning, war, and wisdom. The supreme gods like Zeus, Jupiter and Indra stood for ultimate authority over men and nature. Even monotheistic faiths represented the omnipotent, absolute power of a deity visually through symbols like the Eye of Providence in Christianity.
Kings and emperors would align or associate themselves with these powerful gods and figures, hoping to amplify their own prestige and authority by association. By adopting mythological symbols, rulers attempted to bask in their aura of dominance and sway over mortals. Even as religion has faded in governance today, the symbolic potency of mythic figures persists in the public imagination.
Conclusion
Across history, culture and geography, symbols have served vital roles in constructing visual shorthand for complex concepts like power. By tapping into ideas of strength, knowledge, righteousness and control, symbols allow power to manifest in concrete ways that engage the senses while also subtly shaping attitudes. A figure on a throne immediately conveys authority, while a crown silently speaks to high status. The meanings clustered in these symbols have accumulated and deepened over centuries of association with leadership.
While the nature of power evolves across eras, its representations maintain relevance by taking on new meanings and contexts. A business executive in a skyscraper may not wield a scepter, but the grand architecture still symbolizes influence. The flags of sovereign states no longer feature axes or spears, but their symbolic power still resonates. Studying how cultures visualized authority and sovereignty over time gives insight into how public perception of power and legitimacy was constructed. Symbols speak a universal language that continues to shape our ideas about authority today.