Zvekir symbolism
Today, in the age of modern bells, the zvekir has lost its original meaning, but still retains a strong symbolism. The concept of door knocking is used in many Bosnian sevdalinka, and is a metaphor for the arrival of a guest. In the poems, zvekir refers to the doors of Bosnia, which for centuries have been wide open to all well-intentioned visitors.
Today, Zvekir is one of the symbols of the city of Sarajevo. It is found on the coats of arms of the museum in Sarajevo and the institutions of the Sarajevo Canton.
It is interesting that the word Zvekir has exactly the same meaning among all the peoples of the former Yugoslavia. Even the British Empire could not resist its powerful symbolism, so the entrance to the residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in London’s 10 Downing Street, is also decorated with a massive lion’s head rattle. One of the oldest bells is located in France on the north side of Le Puy Cathedral, and dates back to the eleventh century.
