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The Macedonian Sun is undoubtedly the oldest symbol in the world that still survives as cultural symbol of the Macedonians. This 8-rayed and 16-rayed Macedonian Sun had been cherished by the Macedonians for over 3,000 years. It appears on the coins, military equipment, and art of the ancient Macedonian kingdom, and continued to be National Insignia of the Macedonians throughout history to modern times. The Macedonian sun is found in the icons and frescoes in the churches throughout the whole territory of divided Macedonia, and speaks of volumes of tradition as the Macedonian nation had cherished it for centuries.
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/image001.gif[/img]
Detail from a Painting in a Macedonian Tomb
(3rd century BC)
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/image002.jpg[/img]
Macedonian jewelry
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/image004.jpg[/img]
The Mother of God(11th century)
Ohrid
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/Ikona2.jpg[/img]
The Mother of God(13th century)
Ohrid
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/ICONA3.jpg[/img]
Virgin (14th Century)
Ohrid
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/icona5.jpg[/img]
The Mother of God Pelagonitisa 1422
Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration, Zrze – Prilep
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/ikona4.jpg[/img]
Mother of God with Christ (16th century)
Monastery of St John Forerunner, Slepce – Demir Hisar
Bellow are two Macedonian ethnologic decorative objects that contain the Macedonian Sun symbol. These are jewelry, a specific part of the numerous Macedonian women's folk costumes. On the left is the "tepelak" from the 18th century bearing the eight rayed Macedonian Sun, and on the right is the "pafta" from the 19th century bearing the sixteen-rayed Sun.
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/SUN1.jpg[/img]
Tepelak" (18th century) and "Pafta" (19th century)
Macedonia became independent country in 1991 and on its flag adopted the ancient old Macedonian Sun. To commemorate the independence, the Macedonian postal system issued a stamp depicting the Macedonian flag in 1992.
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/image004.gif[/img]
Flag of independent Macedonia 1991
[img]http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/Macedoniansymbols/images/stamp.jpg[/img]
Stamp of the Republic of Macedonia
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