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A -----------------------------
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Adam: Hebrew adama, meaning "earth" and/or "the soil from which all breeds from." Adam represents the first physical state of man or mankind. Adam in artwork can also represent an original beginning (Genesis.) The first man. His creation (Gen 1:26-28; 2:7; 1Co 15:45; 2:13). The history of, before he sinned (Gen 1:26-30; 2:16-25). His temptation and sin (Gen 3; Job 31:33, ftn; Isa 43:27; Hos 6:7; Rom 5:14-21; 1Ti 2:14). The subsequent history of (Gen 3:20-24; 4:1-2,25; 5:1-5). His death (Gen 5:5). Progenitor of the human race (Dt 32:8; Mal 2:10). A type of Christ (Ro 5:14). Brought sin and death into the world (1 Cor 15:22,45). .........................................Return to Index |
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Alpha
and Omega: A
title of Christ, meaning "The First and Last" and "The
Beginning and End" (Rev 1:8, cf. 17; 21:6; 22:13; cf. Isa 41:4;
44:6; 48:12).The Alpha and the Omega are the
first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In Revelations 1:8 (the
traditionally accepted Apocalyptic book of the Bible) God says,
"I am the first and the last. Who is and Who was and Who
is to come." In the same book - states:13 - Jesus says,
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the
beginning and the end." Faith therefore requires it's
followers to believe that God and Jesus are the prime cause, present
motivation and conclusion to all existence and dimensions. Since this
is not evident when portraying the Father or the Son, the A and the
Omega represent that doctrine as well as the union of the Father and Son. |
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Anchor: A
traditional symbol of steadfast safety. If your Catholic
cemetery allows it, it is often used over the grave of sailors. If
not, usually the cemetery will allow you to stylize a latin cross
into an anchor. In Christendom, as shown in Hebrews 6:19, the anchor
symbolizes the assurance that Jesus has given all mankind salvation. We
have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters
the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before
us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.
(Hebrews 6:19). When the anchor is combined with the Dolphin it
represents Christ on the cross. When the men
had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to
hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars
of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.(Acts
27:17) Fearing that we would be
dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern
and prayed for daylight. (acts
27:29)
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Ankh:
also called the crux ansata: According
to the Holisticshop
Dictionary :
The Ankh, with its looped top, is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic
representing the womb, and translated means life. It is a symbol
found widely in Egyptian art, where gods and goddesses are shown
clutching the ankh, the key to the afterlife and immortality. This
symbol was also (wrongly((author's note))) known as the Key of the
Nile, which provided water for Egypt to survive, thus further
reinforcing the image of fertility and reproduction. It symbolizes
the ability for life to evolve and be successful, and reminds us that
life on earth is simply one aspect of creation, and that we are all
eternal beings. According
to the Holisticshop Dictionary. |
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Animals: Although specific animals are listed in this section of the library, in Christian symbolism animals usually represent an amount of things. Such as 12 sheep represent the 12 disciples of Christ. Fabulous and spectacular beasts will represent the forces of nature. Most saints are represented by animals, ex: Christ the lamb, St. John the eagle. See: Ass, bird, dove, eagle
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Apple: The
fall from Grace. The forbidden fruit as well as the symbol of
the knowledge of Good and Evil. When you employ the apple in a
fashion where someone is eating it the symbolism is that of choosing
the "ways" of the material world over those of the
spiritual. But then an apple can also be a symbol of a good
thing as mentioned in Proverbs 25:11 A
word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
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Ass: Humility and patience. The ass is the beast of burden throughout the Bible. A lowly creature, but the one which carried the Savior from harm's way and back again during the times when Herod was set on killing Him. Later on (St. Francis of Assisi) not all too happy with the mule's stubborn nature affixed forever the present image of the animal as representing the "lower" or animal nature found (naturally) in man. Thus we all sit on our ass. .................................................................................Return to Index |
Babylon: Actually
BABALON. Just
as the city of Jerusalem took it's name from a prior pagan god -
Salem - Babylon is the city of the pre-Zoraster god Babalon. In
Christendom, Babylon represents the original source of abominations -
the "mother of harlots." See also CITY.
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to Index
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Bed: Of course, the bed quickly brings to mind a place of solace and rest, dreaming and refuge. But in our craft it will almost always represent the deathbed. The deathbed is alike the employment of an empty chair, the bed poignantly transforms a familiar object into a memento-mori (mention of death.)
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Bee: Bees were thought to practice virgin birth: parthenogenesis. Bees represent the Incarnation of the Virgin Birth. When employed for Old Testament symbolism, bees represent the Land of Milk and Honey - the Promised Land.
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Beehive: Although
not employed much the late 1800's, the beehive is the symbol
of the Virgin Mary. It is also for obvious reasons, the symbol
of the Catholic Church. It has been a popular non-secular monument
design when incorporated with bees, thus symbolizing honey. When
designed as such it symbolizes the abundance of the Jewish Promised
Land because of honey's preservative and aphrodisiac qualities which
in turn represent immortality and fertility. ..................................................Return to Index |
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Careful, birds symbolize the transcendent soul when in spiritual form. When a bird is pictured within foliage (originally from Medieval iconography) it represents the soul entangled in the materialism of this world. Be careful in you work not to allow your birds to look like doves which represent the Holy Spirit.
You
will come across birds used to represent happy couples - love birds.
And several families will want to use birds as signs for children.
Depending on the bird itself, the symbol can be very specific as the
eagle represents the USA and is often the sign of the Empire. In
various forms eagles are found throughout the Bible - especially
Daniel and the Book of Revelations. |
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The Book of Life is not a Christian symbol, although Jewish, it is used through Christendom. When a book is depicted in Christian art it represents the Word of God. The Bible. Often used on the gravestones of clergymen and scholars.
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Depicts the Crucifixion and Redemption but in an indirect fashion. This symbol originates from the Old Testament (Numbers 21:8) Moses is instructed by God to take a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone who dares touches it "shall live." This suggests a "healing" power to the symbol. It crosses over into Christendom through John (John 3:14-15) "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up..." Thus the Crucifixion imagery. And to continue John: "...that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life." Thus the Redemption image. (As with most Western religions, escaping self demise is plainly the ultimate Redemption and thus the essence of "healing.")
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Bread: Bread
has a dual meaning: spiritual as well as physical sustenance. It
depicts the mundane rather than the superlative. Example: "Man
can not live by bread alone." As opposed to the Eucharist being
first bread. Bread should not be employed to depict the
Eucharist because the miracle of the Eucharist is the actual changing
of bread into the body of Christ. Bread also symbolizes the
process of transformation of the spirit from this world to the
beyond. It gets that meaning from the process of making bread;
the different elements and baking. Although it's a tough
message to get across - due to the symbol of the fish - you can
depict Jesus' feeding of the masses with a clever use of bread. Jesus
fed the people fish and bread. See also Fire, Fish, Leaven and Oven. |
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The Resurrection for all the obvious reasons: because it emerges from a chrysalis and subsequently takes flight. Aside Christian symbolism, the butterfly is both a symbol of metamorphosis and beauty.
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The Divine light which illuminates the darkness. Christ as the Light of the World. When you employ two candles (as on any typical altar) you are depicting the dual human and divine nature of Christ. It is common to carve candles on stones for those who "lead the way" as for a father, husband, community leader. See also Cross, Lamp and Light.
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Chair: The chair should be carefully employed. If ornate, it might well be a throne not a chair. If enlarged, but not ornate - it's the seat of God and/or holiness. But a simple chair represents just that; a comfy and favorite respite. The symbol was familiar during the Georgian culture of the early 18th century. When vacant it once represented the remorse for a lost child. Of course, the image here on your left are chairs awaiting Cathy and I somewhere on our paradise island.
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ChiRho: Medieval monogram
of Christ, sometimes spoken of as XP, as it is a combination of
these two letters - X P. The Chi Rho maybe the earliest cruciform
symbols used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first
two letters of the word "Christ" in Greek, chi = ch and rho
= r. Not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion of
Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. The earliest
evidence of the Chi Rho symbol is Constantine's use of it on the
labarum, the imperial standard, in the early 4th century AD.
Lactantius, a 4th century Christian apologist, reports that on the
eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, Constantine had a
vision of God in which he was commanded to mark his men's shields
with a symbol of a shepherd's staff laid cross-wise over a cross.
After Constantine's success at the Milvian bridge, the Chi Rho became
the official imperial insignia. The success at Milvian bridge,
represented by the display of the imperial chirho produced a
unification of the Roman Empire (that is controversial as many see it
as the beginning for the Dark Ages.) Archaeologists have uncovered
evidence demonstrating that the Chi Rho was emblazoned on the helmet
and shield of Constantine as well as those of all of his soldiers.
Coins and medallions minted during Constantine's reign also bore the
Chi Rho. By the year 350 AD, the Chi Rho began to be used on
Christian sarcophagi and frescoes. There is much literature
proclaiming the symbol used before Constantine, however, no such
evidence has reached my desk as yet. ...........................Return to Index |
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Circle: Normadic
tribes arranged their tents in a circle for obvious reasons. Their
world was (and is) dynamic, full of activity, lure and danger and
always in a state of change. The shape of the world is always moving
as opposed to the square of plots, houses and agricultural tribes and
sedentry people. All life begins within this state of affairs. All
life evolves from this state. The circle is a female symbol as
opposed to the square being a male - earth, straight, settled, architectural. .........................Return to Index |
City: The
dwelling place and a microcosm, most artists serving Christian
themes allude to the city wrongly - especially memorialists and
architects. In Christian symbolism there are only two cities:
Heavenly and Babylon. And it is easy to see how the image was
formed. Any economic turn can ruin or boom such large communities.
Even worse, people had to surrender the bliss of rural life for the
loneliness and racket found in cities from time in memorial. Even in
America (that bright "city" upon the hill,") once a
perfect image of dignity through rural family life, until the
Industrial Revolution and the "Big Bucks" came to town and
everyone moved into cities, life changed forever the worse. In your
depictions exemplify the heavenly city as man's ultimate residence
and the dwelling place of the Almighty (Rev. 21-22:5.) The heavenly
city will overthrow Babylon on Judgement Day (Rev. 18.) See
also Babylon and Garden.
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to Index
Cross: The
Crucifixion of Christ. The salvation and redemption of mankind
through the death and Resurrection of Christ. That is the prime
symbolism. When directed at mankind it depicts the crucifixion of the
"man" or "old self. "He who loses his life
for my sake will find it." (Matt. 16:24-25.) When you depict the
cross as timber or in tree form you recall the Fall of Man from the
Garden of Eden. In non-secular imagery the cross represents the
conjunction of horizontal and vertical and the duality in the union
of opposites. The first image shown above is that symbol.Darkness: Since modern man bequests the universe with a beginning - the Big Bang - and with that "event" the birth of space and 'Time,' Darkness as a symbol of the primordial may very well evaporate one day soon. Since we can not say there was a "before" before time existed, this symbol will surely undergo some changes. But darkness as a symbol of the realm of "dark forces" such as hell and evil and the devil will likely survive. (Even the big brains are hard wired to believe in God.)
Desert: A place far from the city. Barrenness, a withdrawal from community and the material world. The desert signifies desolation and abandonment.
Dolphin: A
popular symbol for the western church. As the dolphin has held
for ages the reputation of saving sailors from troubled waters, in
Christendom it depicts salvation through Christ. See also Fish.
Door: Though seldom employed (the Gates of Heaven have surmounted doors) depict the Door to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is Biblical: "I am the door: if any one enters by me, he will be saved..." (John 10:9) More generic, but still Christian the door signifies the entrance to a new life and/or passage from one world into another - thus why so many Cathedral doors are so highly decorated.
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Dove: Holds a unique place in Christen symbolism. Like angels which are messengers of God, and are always a messenger of God, the dove represents the Holy Spirit in all and any depictions. It shows several times throughout the Bible but whether carrying an olive branch to Noah after the Flood or appearing as a flaming Columbine to the apostles at Pentecost or as a snow white dove to Mary during the Incarnation, and to St. Ann at the Annunciation or before John the Baptist and Christ Himself as a direct messeage from God the Father, the dove is the always displayed as the logo of the third person of the Trinity. |
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Dragon: Man's
primordial enemy: the "dark forces." Usually
personified in Satan. The dragon should always be depicted as a
combination of matter and spirit - a serpent and a bird.
E -----------------------------
Eagle: Because
eagles are considered the king of birds, an eagle may represent
Christ Himself and usually depicts the Ascension. Saint John,
one of the four evangelists, was often represented as an eagle. As an
aside: Eagles are often seen on gravestones of Civil War veterans.
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Easter Egg: Renewal of life. Unless you're a master artist, know the trickiness of carving more than one egg on a monument - especially if the viewer finds the number of eggs equal to the number of interred. Best leave that for a MBNA magazine cartoon. |
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F -----------------------------
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Flowers:Individual flowers take on meanings. Flowers en mass symbolize life and fertility. They also strongly suggest the hearth. |
G -----------------------------
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"God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference is nowhere." So said the ancient Alchemist Hermes Trismegistus. Thus Stephen Hawking echoed Hermes many centuries later when the good professor said, "The universe is space whose center is everywhere and circumference is nowhere." Linear and geometric figures are considered Sacred Geometry. Sacred Geometry is a pagan term, it is not Catholic and dubiously cult among Protestants. Multi-sided figures such as triangles, hexagons, etc represent the Trinity and the multi-dimensional aspects of the subject you mean to portray. Some geometric forms do have set symbols: A square = earth, A cube = heaven, octagon = rebirth and the triangle = Trinity.
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Goldfinch: The flower. It's numerous thorns and thistles symbolize the suffering of Christ - particularly the Passion. See also: Thistle and Thorns. |
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Guardian: |
H -----------------------------
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Halo: Often portrayed as a golden light around the central figure in a painting signifying the person as blessed in the sight of God. Christ's halo usually incorporates the cross. The halo functions more as a sign than a symbol; saying 'this is the guy I'm drawing about. See?' Yet, if you place a halo around the head of an ant 90% of your viewers would think you have bestowed the thing with divinity. In that sense, it is a symbol. Be careful not to confuse the halo with an Nimbus. See also: Nimbus. |
