Help identifying a type of Maltese Cross

[Big Mikey]

Jamie, firstly, it is a modified swastika and not a Maltese cross. The swastika was widely used throughout the world as a decorative symbol. It has/had various meanings, progress, ongoing life and balance in body, mind and soul. The one you have is similar to one I have seen in a tattooing design book from the 1920s featuring patterns from Micronesia and other Pacific islands, thus the "fish" imagery. I would humbly suggest you take it as a continuation of life and tradition. The FHCAG has given it to you and one day you will give it to one of the children and so on.....I hope this helps.

[Panache]

...I tried reading more fully, but my eyes began glazing over

S L ,

I have a book about rapiers and small swords that reads very much like this page did, great information but very dry and concentrated information. I read it if I am ever having trouble going to sleep.

... Very Nice! I like it! Where did you get it?

B S ,

Thank you the F-H.C.A.G. gave it to me but doesn't recall where she originally got it (she had it in her jewelry box for some years. I suspect it was from the Northern California Renaissance Faire

I've never seen a Maltese Cross that looked like that. Although the symbol looks similar to a wiccan symbol I've seen several times before. I believe it was ment to represent the elements and how they move in unison and balance with each other.

That sounds very cool.

they look to me like four whales...

KT,

That's what I thought.

Jamie, firstly, it is a modified swastika and not a Maltese cross....

When I first saw the word "Swastika" in the responses to my post my eyes did this... !!!

Then I remembered that the symbol was an ancient one that was adopted by Hitler (Sadly this tidbit came from the old Kolchak: The Night Stalker series "Horror in the Heights". episode )

...The swastika was widely used throughout the world as a decorative symbol. It has/had various meanings, progress, ongoing life and balance in body, mind and soul. ... I would humbly suggest you take it as a continuation of life and tradition. The FHCAG has given it to you and one day you will give it to one of the children and so on.....I hope this helps.

I think that is an excellent way to look at it.

Thank you everyone for your help. This little pendant seems to encompass a lot of different things.
The next time I’m asked about it I may not have a definitive answer, but I’ll have some pretty interesting ideas to pass along.

Cheers

Jamie