Kingdom of Pontus: a strange symbol isn't it?

[Gauloisier de la Gauloiserie]

Hello all
Just out of curiosity: why do the developpers of RTW have chosen such a strange symbol for the Kingdom of Pontus?
I tried to search google for other pictures and text mentioning that symbol but without success.

It's a nice symbol, no doubt about it, perhaps one of the most "attractive" and "original" of the whole game, but does it refer to something real or is it a total ficition?
It seems to symbolise the head of an insect, with antenna. There is also a stick with a solar symbol and a moon symbol (am I right?)
Others?
Thank you in advance for your replies
regards,
Drakon

[John I Tzimisces]

Hello all
Just out of curiosity: why do the developpers of RTW have chosen such a strange symbol for the Kingdom of Pontus?
I tried to search google for other pictures and text mentioning that symbol but without success.

It's a nice symbol, no doubt about it, perhaps one of the most "attractive" and "original" of the whole game, but does it refer to something real or is it a total ficition?
It seems to symbolise the head of an insect, with antenna. There is also a stick with a solar symbol and a moon symbol (am I right?)
Others?
Thank you in advance for your replies
regards,
Drakon

Judging by the symbols it just appears to be a scepter and winged helmet. Not really sure what it is supposed to mean...

[Septimius Severus]

Another symbol I find unusual is Dacia's.



What is it supposed to represent? A shield? Doesn't seem too symbolic or special to me.

[Flogger]

Deep down in the RTW files are .DDS images of what the RTW team based the faction icons off.

Here is Pontus:



And this is what I found for Dacia, obviously they didn't choose this one:

[Kaweh]

It's real, it's not fiction:



K.K

[Stalins Ghost]

While researching for IR, I found out that it was actually a Sassanid Persian symbol as well (you'll notice that we used it for their faction Icon). I can't remember the exact details, but I think it was a Zoroastrian symbol. May be wrong though lol.

[hellheaven1987]

I am not sure about Ponus... But I'm sure it is Dacia symbol as I have seen it appears before.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

As KK said, its real. It looks a lot like the moon and star of Islam, aswell.

[Aemilianus]

My theory on the matter (and it is just a theory) is that the Pontic symbol is all about royalty, which the Eastern kings were really big on. The wings likely symbolized heaven or the gods, and the scepter was the royal power. Dacia's symbol was likely religiously based as well, perhaps a mystical symbol about harmony, or a cycle of rebirth and death (circles were used for that). Anyway this is just analysis of the symbols themselves, while I don't have any evidence I thought it would be fun to try it.

[Kaweh]

Stalins Ghost is right about it being a Persian symbol... The pic I provided actually IS one showing Persian units. I've also seen it while being in Persia (wanted to see Persepolis) on different paintings showing battle or fighting scenes...

K.K

[Mímirswell]

In Anabasis, Xenophon describes a royal standard of Achaemedians as "a kind of golden eagle, with wings extended, perched on a bar of wood and raised upon a lance."

The Crescent Moon symbol was also the symbol of the Sumerian god Sin and as a result was an oft incorporated symbol of the Persian Dynasties. Source: wiki