The Zia sun symbol originated with the Indians of the Zia Pueblo in ancient times. Its design reflects their tribal philosophy, with its wealth of pantheistic spiritualism teaching the basic harmony of all things in the universe.
Four is the sacred number of the Zia, and the figure is composed of a circle from which four points radiate signifying the earth with its four main directions; in the year, with its four seasons; in the day, with sunrise, noon, evening, and night; and in life, with its four divisions, childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age. Everything is bound together in a circle of life and love, without beginning, without end.
The Zia believe, too, that man has four sacred obligations: he must develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of his people. The sun is the emissary of the Great Spirit without which all life on earth would perish.
