Celebrim
Legend
I think your original suggestion is a good one. I think that it is a simple matter of using a stylized form. For example, the symbol of mars is a spear and shield, but its not a literal spear and sheild in sybol form.
So the symbol that means 'quill' might simply be a verticle line that meets narrow curve that points downword. I think that would look very tasteful tattooed on your forehead, or at least as tasteful as anything tatooed to the center of your forehead can be.
Most of the time, a holy symbol is much less direct than that though, and depends on some iconic story about the diety. Once you know the story, then just about anything can be the symbol for any diety.
In the case of a knowledge diety, the symbol might be related to a mythic quest by which the deity acquired his knowledge, or to the quest for knowledge of a saintly follower who impressed the diety (and may have founded the religion).
Some ideas other than quill.
1) Lantern: The diety may be worshiped as the bringer of truth, and thus figuratively 'enlightenment'. Hense, symbolically, he is represented by a lantern (abstractly, a diamond set within a rectangle).
2) Book: Rather than the quill, he may represent the knowledge of the universe itself - the book. Think of the symbol for an open book on its side.
3) Scale: The diety may be an empirical diety, who discovers things by testing and experiment - the diety of science and reason. Scales are normally represented by two triangles connected at the top by a line. In this incarnation, the diety may pick up unexpected duties - like serving as the expert witness when souls are judged, the diety responcible for weighing a person's good and bad deeds.
4) Fire/Olive Branch/Plow: As the diety of knowledge, the diety may be especially associated with some gift of knowledge or invention he gave to the first sentient beings - fire, an olive tree, or the plow.
Personally, in my campaign the answer would probably be, "All of the above." The same diety would probably be worshiped in five or more different forms, by five or more different churches, with five different symbols, and while many would suspect it none would be completely sure whether the worshiped the same deity. Furthermore, there might be sharp disagreements between the followers over the matter, and frankly, as a DM I wouldn't consider it my job to iron out the problem and set things straight. I might not even hold an opinion on the matter, considering it a campaign mystery that doesn't need a solution (until I think of a reason why it should).
So the symbol that means 'quill' might simply be a verticle line that meets narrow curve that points downword. I think that would look very tasteful tattooed on your forehead, or at least as tasteful as anything tatooed to the center of your forehead can be.
Most of the time, a holy symbol is much less direct than that though, and depends on some iconic story about the diety. Once you know the story, then just about anything can be the symbol for any diety.
In the case of a knowledge diety, the symbol might be related to a mythic quest by which the deity acquired his knowledge, or to the quest for knowledge of a saintly follower who impressed the diety (and may have founded the religion).
Some ideas other than quill.
1) Lantern: The diety may be worshiped as the bringer of truth, and thus figuratively 'enlightenment'. Hense, symbolically, he is represented by a lantern (abstractly, a diamond set within a rectangle).
2) Book: Rather than the quill, he may represent the knowledge of the universe itself - the book. Think of the symbol for an open book on its side.
3) Scale: The diety may be an empirical diety, who discovers things by testing and experiment - the diety of science and reason. Scales are normally represented by two triangles connected at the top by a line. In this incarnation, the diety may pick up unexpected duties - like serving as the expert witness when souls are judged, the diety responcible for weighing a person's good and bad deeds.
4) Fire/Olive Branch/Plow: As the diety of knowledge, the diety may be especially associated with some gift of knowledge or invention he gave to the first sentient beings - fire, an olive tree, or the plow.
Personally, in my campaign the answer would probably be, "All of the above." The same diety would probably be worshiped in five or more different forms, by five or more different churches, with five different symbols, and while many would suspect it none would be completely sure whether the worshiped the same deity. Furthermore, there might be sharp disagreements between the followers over the matter, and frankly, as a DM I wouldn't consider it my job to iron out the problem and set things straight. I might not even hold an opinion on the matter, considering it a campaign mystery that doesn't need a solution (until I think of a reason why it should).
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