The star sign occurs as an equal armed cross formed by the approximation
of four squares, leaving a central uncolored area. It is generally
accompanied by a rain-cloud symbol or bird figures, although likewise
found without them. We often find one arm of the component arms of
the cross missing and two of the remaining arms adherent to a band;
often these crosses have a circular enlargement at the junction of
their arms. A simple equal armed cross is the sole decoration on the
interior of numerous food bowls, and there are several examples of St.
Andrew’s crosses, the triangular arms of which have been interpreted as
representing four conventionalized birds; no example of a cross with
unequal arms has yet been found on Sikyatki pottery.
[Illustration: FIG. 90.—Rain cloud.]
These crosses, like that with four arms representing the Sky god in
modern Hopi symbolism, probably represent the Heart of the Sky. A similar
cross is figured on paraphernalia used in modern Hopi rites or on altar
slabs; when it is represented by a wooden frame, it is called _tokpela_,
and hangs before the altar. The same object is sometimes attached
horizontally to the top of the helmet of the personification of the
Sky god.[35] The swastika is rare in ancient pottery and was not found
at Sikyatki, although a single example was dug up at Awatobi and a few
others were obtained from the Little Colorado ruins.
A multiple cross, formed of three parallel lines crossing three others
at an angle, generally accompanies certain conventionalized figures of
birds and in one example there are two multiple crosses, one on one side
and one on another of a moth or butterfly symbol. The multiple cross is
supposed to represent six canes used in a game, and on a prehistoric
decorated bowl from ancient Shongopovi,[36] we find what appears to be a
highly conventionalized bird figure occupying one-half of the interior
of the bowl, while four figures representing these canes appear on the
other. The bird figure, in this instance, is interpreted as a gambler’s
god, or a representation of the god of chance.