Theme : Zodiac signs 10a

In 2011 Romanian postal services issued stamps on the Zodiac theme.
A sheet with 6 square stamps, depicting 6 zodiac signs : Aries, Thaurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo.

First sheet with zodiac signs : Romania 2011

Al stamps on the sheet are preceeded by their symbol  :

At the bottom we see a part of the hemisphere with the other 6 symbols.
There are two zodiac signs that I want to put under your atttention.
First of all my own : Gemini :

Gemini symbol

And secondly : Virgo, because it is symbolised by an angels (or at least a figure with wings).

As you all can guess there's also another sheet, that I will post in my next article.

Theme : Angels 03

Angels symbolising victory, or victory symbolised by an angel, is quite common.
At least on older stamps. Nowadays angels are not often depicted anymore on stamps.
Due to secularisation of the world, or because we don't think of angels in times of peace?

I found more nice examples of winged figures (angels I suppose) on stamps that refer to war, or victory after a war :

two greek airmail stamps, angel figure with laurel wreath

In my previous article i posted some Syrian stamps with the Greek godess Nike, without wings.
Her I have a similar stamp, this time with a winged person, holding a laurel wreath, and presumingly a tambourin at the left foot.

Syria (see angels 02) - winged person with laurel wreath

Another war scene, from Lithuania. In the background a winged person, holding a laurel wreath over the fighting soldiers.

Angel on a Lithuanian stamp

to be continued...

Theme : Angels 02

In my first post on 'angels', I depicted the angel of Victory, angel Bahram.
Sometimes the greek goddess Nike is used to symbolise 'Victory'.

depiction of Nike, Greek godess of Victory

As I presume, the greek gods and godesses had no wings, so the pictures are most likely a mixture between the greek godess and the angel of victory (Bahram).Angels can take on a variety of different forms. In Ezekiel 1:16-21, Isaiah 6:1-3, and throughout the book of Revelation they are described as taking on not only the appearance of men but many fantastical forms. 
A notable example was the angel who took on the appearance of a burning bush. The image of an angel with wings tends to symbolize the spiritual nature of the being. The purpose of the wings being to allow the angel to travel through the ether as well as being a symbol of divine authority. 

Angels appear to us with many forms and shapes. Many times the qualities of an Angel are so delicate that they choose female forms or even masculine bodies with female face characteristics. An Angel will appear to us with the form that is best for us. 

The angel of victory I found on various stamps however is clearly a female form. Maybe, after a brute (masculine) battle, a sweet period of comfort (female) is needed to make the balance?

angel with two laurel wreaths

angel of victory

Victory, symbolised by an armed angel

In Mexico, an angel of Victory was used to celebrate 100 years of human rights.
Another kind of battle that needed (and still needs) an angel to guide this achievement to victory.

angel of victory holding a laurel wreath

to be continued...

Theme : Angels 01

What better topic on Christmas day then my collection of "angels".

To understand about the celestial orders/hierarchy it is important to know exactly what an angel is. Briefly it can be described as: a spiritual being that is believed to be much more powerful than a human. In Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other theologies an angel can be one who acts as a messenger, attendant or agent of God.

There are 9 orders of angels, starting with the 'angels' as the 12th (lowest) order, up to the Seraphins as the highest order. According more specialised information, there are even 3 higher levels then the Seraphins, and 3 lower levels (under the angels); although those last 3 (the confessors, the martyrs and the innocents) are not really counted to the 'angels'.
In this last group, the Saints, the Martyrs ... can be found.

The angels of the Twelfth Order of Angels are the messengers that commune with various life forms within the physical worlds.
These include also the Guardian Angels. Angels are generally depicted with wings.

There are almost 400 angels. The I want to start with, is the angel Bahram.
Bahram is the angel of Victory.

Bahram, angel of Victory

A very nice example is a set from the Barbados Islands, who issued a set of stamps to commemorate the end of the first world war.
A set of 11 stamps were issued in 1920, depicting the angel of Victory.
The full set is quite expensive (both mint and postally used). But it's not my purpose here to show all stamps of this set.
This topic about 'angels' is more like a teaser for collectors who ran out of ideas for a thematic collection.

Barbados - Michel n° 110

Barbados - Michel n° 111

Barbados - Michel n° 112

... to be continued