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e. Christian symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork or events, by Christianity. It invests objects or actions with an inner meaning expressing Christian ideas. The symbolism of the early Church was characterized by being understood by initiates only, while after the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire ...
- Staurogram / Tau-Rho. The Staurogram, or Tau-Rho, is a Greek tau (T) combined with a Greek rho (P), and was used in the early church as an abbreviation for the Greek word for cross.
- Peacock. The Ancient Greeks believed that the flesh of peacocks didn’t decompose after death, and so peacocks became a symbol of immortality. Early Christians adopted the symbol to represent their belief in eternal life in heaven with God, and was often depicted with the Tree of Life.
- Pelican. Medieval Europeans believed that pelicans were particularly attentive to their young, even to the point of wounding itself and letting its young drink its blood when no food was available.
- Ichthys. Ichthys is the Greek word for fish, and it was one of the most important early Christian symbols. Not only did fish feature in several miracles of Jesus in the Gospels, but the ichthys was taken as an acrostic for the Greek phrase “Iēsous Christos Theou Hyios Sōtēr,” which means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
After the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, giving Christians the right to worship Christ, Christian symbols started to appear openly on many objects. Until the Edict, Christians had worshipped in secret and displayed their symbols in the underground Catacombs. Catacombs of St. Domitilla, (c. 150-200 AD) a piece of marble with a very early depiction of ...
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Christian symbols were first mentioned in writing by Clement of Alexandria (153-217 AD) in Paedogogus 3, 11. "And let our seals be either a dove, or a fish, or a ship scudding before the wind, or a musical lyre, which Polycrates used, or a ship's anchor, which Seleucus got engraved as a device; and if there be one fishing, he will remember the apostle, and the children drawn out of the water."
Here are six ancient Christian symbols and their meanings. ... The anchor was an early Christian symbol commonly found in the Roman catacombs and it symbolized safety. This symbol was adapted to ...
- Lesli White
Mar 6, 2021 · Christian Symbols Illustrated Glossary. Without question, the Latin cross—a lower case, t-shaped cross—is the most recognized symbol of Christianity today. However, over the centuries many other markings, identifiers, and distinguishing signs have represented the Christian faith. This collection of Christian symbols includes drawings and ...
Jul 30, 2023 · The Ichthys, or fish symbol, is perhaps one of the most widely recognized early Christian symbols. Originating from the Greek word for fish (“ichthys”), the symbol is a simple line drawing of a fish. This symbol’s significance, however, comes from an acronym of the Greek words “Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός ...
