The Imperial Eagle / The Aquila - symbolism?!

[Servant of the Emperor]

First, I just leave this link here:
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Aquila

Me and a friend are doing the neo-classic 40k nerd thing and getting our bodies marked with the Aquila. Upper left arm to be emblazoned with it, but we need to be sure there are NO mistakes - tattoos are famed for staying in your skin forever (or becoming a mass of tangled laser burnt skin).

I could have sworn there was a symbolism to the Eagle. More than the one-eyed head, that is.
Am I mad?
Does not the 'crooked claw' represent something?
Is there not a certain amount of "wing lines" on each side, representing something?

I could have sworn I read this and more once, but it seems purged off the Wikis?

[gwensdad]

Well, there's the problem I've seen with some neo-(german political party in WWII) groups using it (in fact when I did a Google image search for it once, it took me to such a site using it without TM)

It is a fairly ancient design, also used in Rome so a general research into non-40K sources may be in order too.

[Skragger]

Its only got one eye cause Gork n' Mork poked da uvver one out! Hur Hur Hur!

Never noticed the feet being different though... excellent idea for a tattoo though! well done!

[Servant of the Emperor]

Well, there's the problem I've seen with some neo-(german political party in WWII) groups using it (in fact when I did a Google image search for it once, it took me to such a site using it without TM)

It is a fairly ancient design, also used in Rome so a general research into non-40K sources may be in order too.

You are perfectly wrong. The Romans and the Germans used a single-headed eagle. Several Slavic nations make use of A two-headed eagle, but this has nothing in common with the Aquila of the Imperium of Man.
But nice try :P

[Gotthammer]

The Byzantine and Holy Roman Empire used the double headed Eagle, while the Germans used it in the 1800s on their coat of arms (probably why neo-national socialist democratic party people like using militaristic double headed ones).

Rogue Trader had a pic with the bits labelled:

head w eye = Adeptus Astra Telepathica
'blind' head = Adeptus Astronomica
Wings = Adeptus Mechanicus
Body = Adeptus Custodes
Claws = Adeptus Arbites and Administratum

[bfmusashi]

You are perfectly wrong. The Romans and the Germans used a single-headed eagle. Several Slavic nations make use of A two-headed eagle, but this has nothing in common with the Aquila of the Imperium of Man.
But nice try :P

I have to point out that the Holy Roman Empire, the First Reich, used the double headed eagle. The aquila is based on this design but scifi'd up a bit. Just be prepared for a negative reaction.

[Servant of the Emperor]

The Byzantine and Holy Roman Empire used the double headed Eagle, while the Germans used it in the 1800s on their coat of arms (probably why neo-national socialist democratic party people like using militaristic double headed ones).

Rogue Trader had a pic with the bits labelled:

head w eye = Adeptus Astra Telepathica
'blind' head = Adeptus Astronomica
Wings = Adeptus Mechanicus
Body = Adeptus Custodes
Claws = Adeptus Arbites and Administratum

It appears to be I have been misinformed then. My deepest apologies. However, I was looking for the specific Aquila of 40k, which is inspired by, as you say, but is not any of the historical eagles.
I coulda sworn this info used to be on Lex! But thanks.

Also, if people have such ill thoughts that they will link to na zis (censored? What?) efore Romans, I have only pity :P but maybe the Cog is better, after all :)

[Grailkeeper]

You are perfectly wrong. The Romans and the Germans used a single-headed eagle. Several Slavic nations make use of A two-headed eagle, but this has nothing in common with the Aquila of the Imperium of Man.
But nice try :P

He may not be wrong, it might be the neo****s who are wrong. It is a cool tattoo tho. Just get it in a place where it is not immediately obvious- eg upper shoulder, and you should be fine. There's pics somewhere of ricky hatton wearing one on a tee shirt

[Drew da Destroya]

I thought the two heads were supposed to symbolize the "twin allied empires" of the Mechanicum and the Imperium of Man (at least before the Heresy, the Mechanicum was an independent empire that still paid obeisance to the Emperor, but weren't beholden to Terra). I remember some versions having lightning bolts clutched in the talons, because the Lightning Bolt was the Emperor's pre-Unification symbol (and the symbol of his Thunder Warriors).

I'm not sure about the feather count or eye count, though.

[Fellend]

Isn't it that one is blind and looks to the past and the other is sees into the future?
Or is it the other way around? Either way, I do remember something like that >.<

[DarkLink]

Yeah, the symbol of the eagle in its various forms is very, very, very, very, very old.