The lauburu or Basque cross has four comma-shaped heads similar to the Japanese tomoe. The entire shape can be constructed with a compass and straightedge, beginning with the formation of a square template; each head can be drawn from a neighboring vertex of this template with two compass settings, with one radius half the length of the other. (illustration, right).

Historians and authorities compete to apply allegorical meaning to the ancient symbol–some say it signifies the "four heads or regions" of the Basque Country the lauburu does not appear in any of the seven coats-of-arms that have been combined in the arms of the Basque Country: Higher and Lower Navarre, Guipuzcoa, Biscay, Alava, Labourd, Soule Basque intellectual Imanol Mujica liked to say that the heads signify spirit, life, consciousness, and form [http://www.bcbasque.com/HTMLfiles/lauburu.htm" target="_blank" >^* – but it is generally used as a symbol of prosperity. It was found in old stelas and wooden chests, and has been recovered as a specifically Basque symbol. Many Basque homes and shops display the symbol over the doorway as a sort of talisman. In modern times it has been associated with the swastika. The lauburu has been featured on flags and emblems of various Basque political organisations including Eusko Abertzale Ekintza.

The symbol in its positive form (right-facing) can symbolise life, and in its negative form (left-facing) death. This is the reason why many Basque tombstones display left-facing lauburus. The use of the lauburu as a cultural icon fell into some disuse under the fascist government of Franco, who repressed many elements of Basque culture. For that reason, there is some dispute as to which direction the lauburu faces represents creation (life and good fortune) or destruction (death and misfortune). Some say that what produces the distinctive round heads is the wake created by the rotation of the cross, representing the elements and universe of energy. When rotating clockwise, the wake trails in the opposite direction with the heads facing left, and vice versa.

Etymology

---

Lau buru means "four heads" in Basque, but it could be a folk etymology applied to the Latin labarum.

See also

---

• Sauwastika
• Swastika
• Tomoe
• Electric fan

External links

---

• The Baskian Swastika Lauburu, its symbolic meaning and history
• "La croix Basque, laubaru": demonstrating the layout for scribing the arms

Cross symbols | Basque cultural icons

Lauburu | Lauburu | Lauburu | Lauburu | Lauburu | Lauburu | Lauburu