Seal of Warsies

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Republic Seal.png

In-Universe History

Data collected from Wookieepedia.

Bendu was a collection of non-confrontational beliefs practiced by the Bendu monks. The symbol of Bendu was a circle connected by eight even spokes, which represented the unification of the galaxy by the Force. Due to their study of numerology, the number eight created by this symbol had great meaning.

Early in its formation, the Galactic Republic had its own symbol, but sometime after the Sith Civil War, they adapted the symbol to represent their own role in galactic unification.

Behind the Scenes

The name "Bendu" may come from George Lucas's original name for the Jedi Knights: the Jedi Bendu.

The idea that Palpatine corrupted the Galactic Roundel is likely based on Nazi appropriation of the swastika, an ancient and benign symbol found in many cultures, to symbolize the Aryan race. Because of acts committed by Germany's Nazi Party regime, the symbol is now reviled by many as a result.

Another similarity between the Old Republic and India is the close resemblance of the symbol in both appearance and meaning to the dharmachakra, a Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu symbol of unity that appears on the Indian flag. This may indicate some link between the Bendu beliefs and dharma. Links between Jedi beliefs and eastern philosophy have been theorised before.

The dharmachakra or "wheel of dharma" is also eight-spoked, and is closely related to the dharmic swastika symbol, indicating another possible connection to Hitler's distortion of the swastika.

In Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War Republic Navy starships are emblazoned with a blue nine-spoke symbol. Coincidentaly, the flag of the Khoonda on Dantooine (3,956 BBY to 3,951 BBY) which appeared 39 years later in Knights of the Old Republic II, had a nine-spoked blue symbol.

The Bendu symbol, having eight spokes, is also similar to the Buddhist's symbol for the Noble Eightfold Path, a wheel formed with eight spokes.

Fen Usage

The Warsies debated which of many dozens of symbols scattered throughout the Star Wars canon would end up as the final logo of the faction. The original Imperial cog was immediately discarded, and of the remaining icons the Clone Wars-era Bendu wheel and the Rebel Alliance Starbird. The Bendu wheel won in a narrow Senate vote, though its use is generally limited to official faction vehicles and stations like New Yavin. The Starbird (and EU variants like the Old Jedi Order seal) remain popular with Warsie civilians.