A number of peace symbols have been used in various cultures and contexts throughout history. This section of our symbols website looks at many of these recent and ancient peace symbols.
Here is our complete list of peace symbols.
 Dove and Olive Branch - The dove and olive branch was used by early Christians and became current in the 18th century. It was popularised by the artist Pablo Picasso in 1949 and became widely used in the post-war peace movement.
The dove represents the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.
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 Peace Sign - the anti-nuclear emblem or the peace sign is one of the
most widely known symbols in the world. It was invented on the request of lord bertrand russel,
head of the british 'campaign for nuclear disarmament'
or CDN and sponsor of mass marches and sit-downs
in London.
The symbol is a combination of the semaphore signals for the letters "N" and "D," standing for "nuclear disarmament". |
 Pax Cultura Emblem - Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947) was the founder of a movement to protect cultural artifacts, whose symbol, a maroon on white emblem consisting of three solid circles in a surrounding circle, has been used as a peace banner. In 1935 a pact initiated by Roerich was signed by the United States and Latin American nations, agreeing that "historic monuments, museums, scientific, artistic, educational and cultural institutions" should be protected both in times of peace and war. According to the Roerich Museum, "The Banner of Peace symbol has ancient origins. Perhaps its earliest known example appears on Stone Age amulets: three dots, without the enclosing circle. Roerich came across numerous later examples in various parts of the world, and knew that it represented a deep and sophisticated understanding of the triune nature of existence. But for the purposes of the Banner and the Pact, Roerich described the circle as representing the totality of culture, with the three dots being Art, Science, and Religion, three of the most embracing of human cultural activities. He also described the circle as representing the eternity of time, encompassing the past, present, and future. |
 Broken Rifle Symbol - The broken rifle symbol is used by War Resisters' International (WRI) and its affiliates but predates the foundation of WRI in 1921. The first known example of the symbol is in the mast-head of the January 1909 issue of De Wapens Neder (Down With Weapons), the monthly paper of the International Antimilitarist Union in the Netherlands. |
 Peace Flag - This rainbow flag originated in italy and is
emblazoned in bold with the italian word PACE,
meaning 'peace'.
The international peace flag in the colours of the rainbow was first used in Italy on a 1961 peace march from Perugia to Assisi organised by the pacifist and social philosopher Aldo Capitini (1899–1968). Inspired by the peace flags used on British peace marches, Capitini got some women of Perugia hurriedly to sew together coloured strips of material. |
 Peace Crane - Within Asia the white crane is the bird of peace. Originally it was the sort of peace that comes with
prosperity and friendship, such that war is not even
considered. the crane took on even greater significance
as a peace symbol within japan right after the bombings
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. |
 Peace Hand Gesture - The peace hand gesture is thought to have begun in Europe during world war II
when a V for victory - and not to be confused with the
catholic gesture of benediction - was painted on walls
as a symbol of freedom from occupying forces.
the sign was widely used by peace movements in the
1960s and 1970s as a symbol of victory for peace and truth.
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