History Main / SymbologyResearchFailure

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': The three-fingered hand sign used in the series as a symbol of LaResistance is actually the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_sign_and_salute scount hand sign]] used by scouting organizations around the world.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

** The episode also [[IncrediblyLamePun runs]] with the idea that the bulls in the Running are [[ArtisticLicenseReligion worshipped]] (or used to), and that you shouldn't bother them during the Running because you are ruining a "sacred" moment. In reality, you are not supposed to bother the bulls because you will get [[TooDumbToLive gored or trampled]] - or worse, [[LethallyStupid get some other completely innocent person killed instead]]. The weird thing is that the dialogue does mention that touching the bull will make it more dangerous and liable to attack in that very same scene, but instead of following this to a logical conclusion, the writer throws in some pseudo-religious mumbo-jumbo that isn't needed. In another scene, the so-called cultural experts wonder if the killer's intention is to replace Saint Firmin as patron saint of Pamplona,[[note]]Despite [[SadlyMythtaken common belief]], Saint Firmin is not actually the patron saint of Pamplona, by the way, but the whole of Navarre. The patron saint of Pamplona is St. Saturnin of Toulouse.[[/note]] which again shows the author's poor understanding of Catholicism.

** Guy de Lusignan and Reynald de Chatillon are portrayed as members of the Knights Templar, which doesn't make sense because Templars were celibate and renounced all titles outside the order.

* It is unknown to what extent Saddam Hussein's infamous [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Quran Blood Quran]] was a case of this or intentionally provocative; either way what Saddam ''claimed'' to be a symbol of devotion from him (donating his blood as ink for a copy of the Quran) is deeply insulting to the Muslim community and was condemned by most religious authorities. It also creates a MortonsFork as the copy's continued existence is an insult, but destroying it would be equally forbidden. The current consensus appears to be to TakeAThirdOption by sealing it away forever and forgetting it ever existed.

Can overlap, but is not to be confused with, FalselyAdvertisedAccuracy. Actually, it should be, since there's no field of study called symbology.[[note]]It's actually called [[Creator/UmbertoEco semiotics]].[[/note]]

* ''The Clansman'' and its movie adaptation, ''Film/TheBirthOfANation1915'' outright created the modern imagery of TheKlan by attributing it symbols that the first KKK of the 1870s never used. Namely, the burning cross, which author Thomas Dixon, a Scotsman, took from the [[UsefulNotes/HanoverStuartWars Jacobites]], and the book indeed identifies as "The Fiery Cross of old Scotland's hills!", and the white outfits complete with pointed helmets and horse caparisons that were inspired by Medieval European knights (the first KKK used sack masks like in ''Film/DjangoUnchained'', and sometimes simple robes, at most).

* ''Literature/TheClansman'' and its movie adaptation, ''Film/BirthOfANation'' outright created the modern imagery of TheKlan by attributing it symbols that the first KKK in the 1870s never used. Namely, the burning cross, which Creator/ThomasDixon, a Scotsman, took from the [[UsefulNotes/HanoverStuartWars Jacobites]], and the book actually identifies as "The Fiery Cross of old Scotland's hills!", and the white outfits complete with pointed helmets and horse caparisons that were inspired by Medieval European knights (the first KKK used sack masks like in ''Film/DjangoUnchained'', and sometimes simple robes, at most).

* UsefulNotes/TheSpanishInquisition in ''LiveActionTV/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' (and media referencing them, like ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresIII'') wear the red robes and hats of Catholic cardinals. Technically there was not an inquisitor uniform, but many were Dominican priests, who wear white and black robes.

* In the same vein, uniforms were not really in use in Medieval Europe and only became a thing between the 16th and 17th centuries, about the same time conscription and true national armies came to be. But movie battles would be a mess without being ColorCodedForYourConvenience.

Can overlap, but is not to be confused with, DanBrowned. Actually, it should be, since there's no field of study called symbology.[[note]]It's actually called [[Creator/UmbertoEco semiotics]].[[/note]]

* ''Literature/DigitalFortress'' uses the real fact that UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus is interred in the Cathedral of Seville to claim that he is a saint worshipped in the "Spanish" Church, rather than him being there just as a notable person since churches were common burial places until recently. Not content with it, Creator/DanBrown then [[DanBrowned blows it completely out of the water]] by inventing that his body was butchered and turned into relics that were disseminated in churches through the whole country, with Seville being left as the proud guardian of his [[FlatWhat scrotum]].

* ''Film/TheDaVinciCode'' opens with Robert Langdon conferencing about [[TropeNamer symbology]] in France. He shows the audience an image similar to [[http://www.casadelcofrade.com/s/cc_images/cache_2450697554.jpg?t=1414353132 this]] and asks them the first idea it conjures in their mind. They say "hatred," "racism," and "UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan." Langdon replies: "Yes, yes, interesting. But they would [[CrossCulturalKerfluffle disagree]] with you in Spain. There, they are robes worn by priests." This is wrong. They are ''Nazareno'' suits, worn by lay congregationists during Holy Week processions. They are only worn by priests when the priests don't want others to know that they are priests - the point of the suit, at least in its origin, was to hide the identity of the so-called penitents. It is also unbelievable that a [[WeAllLiveInAmerica French]] audience would think of an American hate group before a tourist attraction in the country next door that is visited by thousands of Frenchmen every year.

** Also partly justified in ''Red Alert 2'' as the Soviet leader is a descendant of [[UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia the Romanov family]], and he may have restored some of the pre-revolutionary antics as long as it doesn't contradict the Soviet socialism. It also may have ''something'' to do with the fact that, if you showed people a photo of buildings in Moscow and asked them to point to the Kremlin (a fortified former palace strongly associated with the government of the USSR/Russia in much the same way as "White House" is used metaphorically to refer to the Executive Branch of government in the US) they'd be much more likely to point to St. Basil's Cathedral (the building with all the onion domes in Easter egg colors, which is just across Red Square from the Kremlin) than to the Grand Kremlin Palace itself (which looks more like a rather nice hotel). The Red Alert games actually avoid this common mistake, as they show both the St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin in most Moscow-based missions, and the objective revolving around the Kremlin (either to capture the Premier or bury the Premier/a usurper under the rubble) point towards the real Kremlin.

** The series' iconic Triforce symbol is actually the second stage of the fractal Pascal's Triangle.

** Early copies of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' infamously included some Islamic symbols that had to be removed in later releases. The music for the Fire Emblem featured a sample of Islamic prayer changing, and the symbol of the Gerudo was a star and crescent that's often used in the real world as a symbol of Islam. The music for the Fire Temple was removed in latter print runs of the Nintendo 64 cartridge, while the star and crescent was removed starting with the [=GameCube=] rerelease.

** Early copies of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' infamously included some Islamic symbols. The music for the Fire Emblem featured a sample of Islamic prayer changing, and the symbol of the Gerudo was a star and crescent that's often used in the real world as a symbol of Islam. The music for the Fire Temple was removed in latter print runs of the Nintendo 64 cartridge, while the star and crescent was removed starting with the [=GameCube=] rerelease.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': There's a piece of artwork for the game that depicts link kneeling before a crucifix. While crosses had appeared in prior games, these could be explained by EarthDrift, whereas ''A Link to the Past'' was the game that started to develop the series' mythology into something that was definitely not Christianity.
** Early copies of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' infamously included an Islamic prayer chant in the music for the Fire Temple, which was removed in latter print runs and rereleases.