Paula really liked the vintage sunburst earrings I had on my rack so she had a go at creating her own version. I had used an orangish red glass pearl in mine. Paula decided on orange crackle beads which really does suggest an inferno if you look into the beads! The vivid color proved a good contrast and brightened up what is a subdued metal.



There are many forms of solar symbols of which rayed versions like the one above are still popular today. Rayed depictions of the sun appear on several national flags. One of the earliest symbols is a simple dot within a circle which in Egyptian hieroglyphics meant "Ra" or sun.
The triskelion or triskele is another symbol which may be a sun symbol - the design may interest and challenge wire artisans! It is depicted as three interlocked spirals as shown or as a spiral of three bent human legs.

A related symbol is the ancient Celtic triple spiral which was found in a Neolithic tomb at Newgrange in Ireland. This symbol symbolised the sun, the afterlife and reincarnation.

Newgrange is an amazing site for it is more than just a tomb. The passage and chamber is illuminated by the winter solstice sun. At sunrise on December 21, the shortest day of the year, a thin ray of sunlight starts to penetrate the tomb from the roofbox which was designed to catch the beam (see video). For about 14-17 minutes, around 9 am, the entire chamber is lit. This site was built more than 5,000 years ago - 500 years before the Great Pyramids. Newgrange also predates Stonehenge by 1,ooo years!!
 
Some believe the triple spiral is a symbol of pregnancy, each spiral representing a trimester as the sun describes a spiral in its movements every three months. The three spirals were also drawn in one continuous line which suggest rebirth and reincarnation.

The spirals can be seen on the stone in front of the entrance in the photo by Maxrush (below left). The roof box is the rectangular hole at the top of the entrance. The photo on the right by Jimmyharris shows the entire tomb.



Beader Design #: 470 ______________________________ Original Post by THE BEADING GEM Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips