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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
revamped
{{add'''Sign of Aquila'''l cite}}
The '''Aquila''' is a two headed eagle, and represents the entire Imperium of Mankind. During the times before the [[Imperium of ManHorus 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]] as a whole uses a traditional hand gesture to pledge took hold, the inhabitantAquila's allegiance. While there is some debate means changed to how represent the gesture is made there are generally two themes headed Empire of idea:the Imperium and the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]].<sup>1</sup>
*Chest**The 'Chest' function 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.
==Sources==
*<sup>1</sup>[[Flight of the Eisenstein (Novel)|Flight of the Eisenstein]] by [[James Swallow]]
[[Category: Imperium]]