These examples of the swirl-cross from Central Mississippi Valley ceramics provide a general realm of meaning for the symbol. They point to a connection with the Underwater Serpents who rule the Beneath World, a realm of meaning which can be generalized to refer to the waters or the Beneath World itself. As a symbol of the Beneath World, the swirl-cross can also be used to indicate a location on the world axis, which explains the frequent appearance of the swirl-cross as a symbol of the Center
