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Balances pp 419–518Cite as

Balance as Symbol and Object of Art

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Abstract

The symbolic use of the balance is reviewed, covering mythology and religion, icons and arts, its use in astronomy and astrology as well as in literature and music. In Old Egypt many paintings show men’s height balances symbolically used for soul weighing. In Greece the fate balance was known. In the Roman Empire the symbolic use changed to justice fairness, and legitimacy of coins and this holds until modern time. In the Bible and the Koran fair weighing in trade are demanded. In the Book of Revelation the balance is symbol for misery. Michael archangel became guide of the deceased to the last judgement and weighed the poor sinner against his good deeds. In the witch balance the mass of the accused was controlled because only a very light person could fly on a broom. In the zodiac the balance indicates one sector and is an important sign in astrology. Several companies and societies use the balance as an icon. In literature and music we have several examples which are concerned with the balance,

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Uniwersytet Maria Curie-Skłodowska, Lublin, Poland

    Erich Robens

  2. Battelle-Institut e.V., Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Erich Robens

  3. Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany

    Erich Robens

  4. School of Science & Engineering, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK

    Shanath Amarasiri A. Jayaweera

  5. Kern & Sohn GmbH, Balingen, Germany

    Susanne Kiefer

  6. Philipp-Matthäus-Hahn Museum, Albstadt-Onstmettingen, Germany

    Susanne Kiefer

Authors
  1. Erich Robens
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  2. Shanath Amarasiri A. Jayaweera
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  3. Susanne Kiefer
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Robens, E., Jayaweera, S.A.A., Kiefer, S. (2014). Balance as Symbol and Object of Art. In: Balances. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36447-1_6

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