Banner of Peace: the unifying Sign of the Trinity at the crossroads of cultures and civilizations

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the evolutionary idea оf the Sign of the Trinity presented in the works of great Russian artist Nicholas Roerich.The idea of the Banner of Peace was born in the space of Russia, and belongs to the outstanding national thinker, artist, researcher and public figure, Nicholas Roerich, the author of the international Treaty on the protection of artistic and scientific institutions and historical monuments. This Treaty, which went down in history as the Roerich Pact (1935), is the basis of the modern international legal system for the preservation and protection of cultural property in peacetime and wartime.To protect cultural property, Roerich created a special Banner – the Banner of Peace or the Banner of Culture – a distinctive flag with three amaranth spheres surrounded by a red circle on a white background.In the center of the white banner Nicholas Roerich depicted the sign of the Trinity – the oldest, universal symbol. The artist noted that this sign represents the past, present and future unified by the circle of Eternity, and also can be interpreted as religion, knowledge and art in the circle of Culture. In all nations the sign of Trinity signifies the eternal divine Principle, is a symbol of aspiration to the Higher world.Trinity in unity was a common idea for many ancient peoples, the basis of their religion and philosophy. Indian Trimurti includes Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer and Reviver. The Trinity of Egyptians contained one female and two male principles: Isis, Osiris, Gor (mother–father–son). In the Orphic philosophy the highest triad consisted of Chaos, Chronos and Fanes. In Zoroastrianism, the highest deities were Ahuramazda (personification of the positive principle in the world), Mitra (embodiment of light) and Anahit (goddess of fertility). The Supreme Trinity of gods with the Etruscans were Tinia, Uni and Minerva, and the Romans – Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.The symbol chosen by Nicholas Roerich for the Banner of Peace has been the most common one among the peoples of the world from ancient times (Paleolithic, Neolithic). Nikolas Roerich notes that Chintamani – the oldest idea of India about the happiness of the world –contains this sign. And we can find the same image in the Temple of Heaven in China. Also, Tibetan Three Treasures tell the same story. In the famous painting by Memling the same sign can be seen on Christ’s chest. It is also depicted in the image of Strasbourg Madonna. The same sign is placed on the shields of crusaders and emblems of the Templars. The famous Caucasian Gurda sword has the same sign. It can be found in philosophical symbols as well. It is also in the images of Gesser Khan and Rigden-Japo, in the Tamga of Tamerlane. It was on the coat of arms of the Pope. It can be found in ancient Spanish paintings and Titian’s painting. It s in an old icon of St. Nicholas in Bar. The same sign is in the ancient depiction of St. Sergius. It s in the images of St. Trinity. It s in the coat of arms of Samarkand. The sign of the Trinity is on Ethiopian and Coptic antiquities. It is also on the rocks of Mongolia. It s on Tibetan finger rings. The horse of happiness on the Himalayan mountain passes carries the same sign shining in the flame. It s on the breast fibulas of Lahul, Ladakh and all the Himalayan highlands. It s also on Buddhist banners. Following in the depths of the Neolithic, we find the same sign in the pottery ornaments.It is for this reason that Nicholas Roerich chose the universal sign, which passed through many centuries and millennia, for the unifying banner. The artist believed that no one can claim that the sign of Trinity belongs only to some belief or based on certain folklore. Roerich concludes that with many interpretations of this sign, the diversity of approaches remains a valuable indicant of its enduring significance for the world culture.