An auction of a Thracian coin – minted in the city of Apollonia Pontica (in modern-day Bulgaria) in the 4th or 5th century BC – was halted by eBay on the grounds the listing was ‘hateful or discriminatory’

thracian-coin-2255ne03b-23-08-16The Thracian coin from the 4th or 5th century BC that was removed from an eBay auction on the grounds the listing was ‘hateful or discriminatory’.

Munich-based auctioneers Numismatik Lanz listed the coin on the site earlier this month but were told it was classed among objects that ‘glorify or trivialize National Socialism’ which eBay prohibits on its German site.

When the decision to remove the item was questioned – at which time bidding had reached €48 – the auctioneers were told: “We are aware of the fact that the symbol on the article you have listed was also in use in other countries and during other periods.

“However, within the current legal framework, a swastika is considered to be an anti-constitutional icon and not allowed. We therefore had to remove your listing.”

The swastika (also known as the hakenkreuz, gammadion cross, cross cramponnée, pellahydren, or tetraskelion) (as a character: 卐 ) is an ancient religious symbol that generally takes the form of an equilateral cross, with its four legs bent at 90 degrees. It is considered to be a sacred and auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism and dates back to before the 2nd century BC. It continues to be commonly used as a religious symbol in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Western literature’s older term for the symbol, gammadion cross, derives mainly from its appearance, which is identical to four Greek gamma letters affixed to each other.[4] The name swastika comes from the Sanskrit wordsvastika (Devanāgarī: स्वस्तिक), meaning “lucky or auspicious object”

It has been used as a decorative element in various cultures since at least the Neolithic. It is known most widely as an important symbol, long used in Indian religions, denoting “auspiciousness”.

A mirrored left sided swastika was adopted in pre-World War I-Europe and later, and most notably, by the Nazi Party and Nazi Germany prior to World War II. In many Western countries, the swastika has been highly stigmatized because of its use in and association with Nazism.

So unless eBay with to risk serious religious offence, they need to take a long hard look at themselves – ‘Shame on you eBay’