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Aquila

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File:Imperial eagle.jpg
The Aquila, symbol of the Imperium

The Aquila is a two headed eagle, and represents the entire Imperium of Mankind. During the times before the Horus Heresy, the two headed eagle was blind-folded on one side, and the other had eyes. The backward facing blinded side represented looking back into the past, while the forward facing sighted eagle was looking into the future. After the Heresy, and the Imperial Cult took hold, the Aquila's means changed to represent the two headed Empire of the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus.1

Sign of the Aquila

The sign of the Aquila is a hand gesture to show one's allegiance to the Imperium. There is some debate to how the gesture is made there are generally two sides:

  • Chest
    • The 'Chest' variation of the Sign of the Aquila has its user place their hands flat on their chest with their thumbs interlocked. This makes the image of the Imperial Eagle on the chest with the thumbs forming the head and the straight fingers symbolizing the wings.
  • Cross
    • In Catholicism, many Catholics cross themselves to draw an imaginary cross over their bodies. Borrowing from that idea it is proposed members of the Imperium of Man simply touch their forehead for the head of a bird, shoulders for the wings, and chest for the body. While this idea is not as widely accepted as the 'Chest' method, many agree it adds realism and depth to the mysterious gesture.

Weaponry

The Aquila is also displayed on Space Marine power armour, and stamped on weapons produced for the Imperium in its Forge Worlds. Bolters, lasguns, tanks, and every other piece of weaponry are oftentimes displayed with the Aquila on them.

Sources