What is the significance of the Olympic symbol (rings)?
139828
Olympics were always happening in a period of 4 years in those 12 centuries when sure the original Greek Olympics were practiced – that is between 776 B C and 394, defended as “Pagan” from emp. Theodosius – one year after finally introducing Christianism as official state religion – with imperial edict about the Universal Faith “de Fide Catholica”. Greek Olympics were like known dedicated to Zeus (greatest from Olympic Gods) and were happening in “Olympic city” of Olympia – great religious center dedicated to Zeus’ cult in Elis, Northwest of Peloponnesus, burned by another “zealous” Christian – that is from order of Byzantine emp. Theodosius II in 426. \nThe meaning of Olympics was not dedicated to the spectacle, like following from a Roman slogan of “bread and circuses” dedicated to Roman plebeians, but to the spiritual, moral and physical perfection and achievement (in Olympics were also participating the poets, philosophers and orators), festivities and contests of the Olympics were the most important social and cultural event for Greek Oikoumene – Greek World (in Roman period participation of Roman citizens was also allowed), declaring “Sacred Peace” in whole Hellas, and the Greek system of chronology was also based on period of Olympics, starting with first Olympics in 776 B C, that is how for example start of Roman chronology starting in 753 (legendary date proposed from a Roman author Varro, based on Antique legends) with foundation of city of Rome (A. U. C. – Ad Urbe Condita) was so defined for Greeks as “third year of the Sixth Olympiad”. Olympiad being the period between two Olympic games and 776 the start of keeping official lists of winners in Games – chronology kept in Greece until 394. \nIn 1896 baron Pierre de Coubertin (born in Paris, 1863) was restoring the ancient Olympic games as World International Sports event. Eminent public activist and figure, pedagogue, historian, literary man, fascinated by great Hellenic culture, he was refusing military career for dedicating himself to reform of national educational system, problems of physical education and development of International Sportive Movement, in 1894 by his initiative is hold in Paris International Sportive Congress taking decision of reviving and restoring the Antique Olympic Games which are held in 1896 in Athens (15 centuries after last Antique games). He is the one elaborating fundamental principles of Olympic Movement and of holding the Olympic Games, writing the text of the oath for the Olympic athletes, and is the one elaborating the emblem and flag of Olympic Movement in 1913 as being already in 1896-25 the second president of International Olympic Committee (after Greek D. Vikelas in 1894-96). By his own wish his heart is buried in 1936 in the ancient Olympia – Homeland of the Olympics. \nThe known now emblem and flag of the Olympic movement were established from the International Olympic Committee at Congress in 1914 by proposal of the founder of Movement and president of Committee baron Pierre de Coubertin designing symbol in 1913. The emblem is having the 5 interlocked rings – 3 on the first and 2 on second line, representing the union and brotherhood of athletes from 5 parts of World and of those 5 parts united from Olympic Movement. The idea of Coubertin was that Sport and Olympic movement should spread the principles of the peace, cooperation and union for World. Indeed on 5th Olympics in Stockholm in 1912 the participants came for first time representing all “five parts” of World. Flag and emblem appeared officially only on the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 as the games of 1916 were missed because of First World War. The rings are had both as emblem and present on white flag (symbolizing peace and unity) of the Olympic movement. \nThe five rings are confused from some with “five continents”, what is missed there is that idea was not representing the continents but parts of the
1137552
The Egyptian symbol for 0 is the same as their heiroglyph for Beauty. A zero with a cross on top, representitive of the windpipe:\n           +\n           0
97324
The 5 colored rings symbolize the 5 main paricipating contenents of the world:\nAustralia, Africa, America, Asia, and Europe.
465935
THE CADUCEUS SYMBOL\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus
1052454
- the roundness of the ring symbolizes eternal love.\n- it is worn on the left ring finger to cover the vein that extends from the finger to the heart. eternal love from the heart.
370743
I can't phrase it better than Wikipedia:\n\n"The name ring is an atavism from when contests were fought in a roughly drawn circle on the ground, the name ring continued with the Jack Broughton rules (1743) specifying a small circle in the centre of the fight area where the boxers met at the start of each round. The first square ring was introduced by the Pugilistic Society in 1838, the ring was specified as 24 feet square and bound by two ropes."
518979
The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius." These three Latin words mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger." \n\nBolla, Italian wine brand\nSlogans: Bolla. Open up\n          Wine is a little like love; when the right one comes along, you know it.
99048
There are actually two themes. The one you're probably referring to was written by Hollywood composer John Williams. It's called Summon the Heroes. TV stations don't play it when athletes win medals, but they do blast it whenever the host network goes to commercial, comes back from commercial, or airs a commercial about their stellar Olympic coverage.\n\nThe official Olympic Anthem was written by a Greek composer named Spyros Samaras and it's played far less often. Details on Samaras are sparse, but this page from the 2004 Summer Games in Athens includes a few interesting tidbits. Samaras, already well-known for his operas, worked with Greek poet Costis Palamas on the anthem. As far as we can tell, Palamas wrote the words first and Samaras added the music later. Perhaps we shouldn't admit this, but we didn't even know there were lyrics.\n\nThe anthem was first performed at the Summer Games in Athens in 1896. In 1958, the International Olympic Committee named it the official anthem of the Olympics, and it's been played at every opening ceremony since 1964 (according to Wikipedia). Not bad. Though in terms of royalties, we'd rather be John Williams. Ca-ching!
438690
They are Pagan symbols of fertility originally used in the celebration of Eastre, the welcoming of spring on the vernal equinox.\n\nChristians later adopted Eastre traditions so as to blend in to the Pagan majority while attempting to recruit converts. They also adopted the name and the date as well, until the Constantine changed the name and declared the "Easter Rule" at the Council of Nicaea. The Council of Nicaea was also when the Christian Church adopted the Pagan idea of the trinity to apply to "the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," and was also the meeting at which the cross was made the official symbol of Christianity.
228027
The 26th February was the closing date of the 2006 Olympics.\n\nWhat has Algebra and the Olympics got to do with each other?? :-)
489545
It is a symbol of the band HIM, they created it themselves. My guess would be that if you can find info on the band HIM then you will probably find why they created it and use it.  What it represents to them.
484147
The five colors on the Olympic rings were chosen because the flags of every nation in the world have at least one of those colors incorporated
1590
I'm not sure how to interpret your "hint", but Wikipedia says:\n\nThe Olympic movement uses many symbols, most of them representing Coubertin's ideas and ideals. The best known symbol is probably that of the Olympic Rings. These five intertwined rings represent the unity of five continents. They appear in five colors on a white field on the Olympic Flag. These colors, white (for the field), red, blue, green, yellow, and black were chosen such that each nation had at least one of these colors in its national flag. The flag was adopted in 1914, but the first Games at which it was flown were Antwerp, 1920. It is hoisted at each celebration of the Games.\n\nAre you positive your hinter is reliable? Maybe they meant how the colors (or which there are also five) do not represent the continents?
1165684
The medallion you have is most likely Masonic in origin, possibly a pendant or other type of emblematic jewelry made for the Order of the Eastern Star or another Masonic subgroup.\n\nFor more information on the emblems, see the sources.\n\nHope this helps --
1115152
it symbolizes wearing a ring on your thumb.... why make it something more than what it is.... I have never heard of it meaning anything.
162419
The symbol in the background means juxtaposition of love and hate/anger, or life and death. The symbol is sported as a tattoo by many HIM fans, including professional skater and "Jackass" stuntman Bam Margera
332117
Here is the Kanji symbol for Pride.\n\nhttp://japanese.about.com/bl50kanji_hokori.htm