Significance of SoB/Sororitas Venus symbol?

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**ph34r**

Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone had any idea what the significance of the Venus symbol was for the sororitas or perhaps sisters of battle specifically.

The icon I refer to can be seen on this battle sister as a charm on her belt.

It's basically a cross between an iron cross and a venus symbol, with a skull in the circle for good measure. What does it mean in 40k context?

**ph34r**

iproxtaco wrote:The Cross is obviously signifying religion, as they are devout worshipers of The Emperor and part of the Echlesiarcy, the church. The Venus symbol obviously signifies their pride at being an all female organization.

I'm looking for something a bit more based in canon than "obviously, xyz symbolism". I am aware that venus symbol = female, iron cross = gothicyness, skull = grimdark.

**ph34r**

coolyo294 wrote:Isn't that the symbol of one of SoB orders?

That's the kind of information I was hoping there might be, like that it was the symbol of the Adepta Sororitas. I know the Adeptus Ministorum is this symbol:

And I know the that either the Adepta Sororitas or the Sisters of Battle have the Fleur de Lys as a symbol, but I was thinking that the venus symbol might be the symbol of the SoB/Sororitas, since the Sisters of Battle are a subfaction of the sororitas as a whole.

Psienesis wrote:Could be, but she's also wearing like 2 Inquisitorial seals, carrying a boltgun and has a jump-pack strapped to her back... but no chainsword or flamer in sight, so... I think the picture just takes some artistic license with various Imperial symbols.

Yeah, during 3rd edition the sororitas had their identity muddled a little bit when they were retconned to be the ordo militant of the Ordo Hereticus, so they had Inquisitorial symbols going on.
Also her backpack is standard, not jump pack. The picture is 3rd ed canon.

**ph34r**

Lynata wrote:It's the insignia of the Order of Our Martyred Lady.

http://www.oocities.org/w40ksob/orders/mlady.jpg

Also, the SoB never had any inquisitorial symbols. All Imperial Adepta use an "][" which simply stands for "Imperium". The Inquisition has vertical bars through it (like =][=), whereas the Ecclesiarchy puts a haloed skull (like ]o[). The image posted features the Ecclesiarchal symbol in form of a chaplet as well as a general "Imperium-I" with a couple wings on one of the pauldrons.

The SoB remain the Ministorum's military arm, only occasionally filling the role of the Hereticus' Chamber Militant.

This design is the same as during 2E. It never changed, even as 3E introduced the Convention of Nephilim, and with it the Sisters' alliance with the Inquisition.

Thanks a ton, this what exactly what I was looking for.

**ph34r**