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Early Christian Signs & Symbols (cat. 12-15)

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Gem with ichthys between two fish


Carnelian
Early Christian, late 3rd century AD
Width: 9/16 inches (1.4 cm.)
Private Collection

Among the earliest images used by early Christian artists was the fish. The fish had long had symbolic associations in various religions, including Messianic significance in Judaism, but Christians found many further meanings for the symbol. The Apostles were said to be "fishers of men" (Mark 1:17), and Jesus performed the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish (Matthew 14: 15-21; Mark 6:35-44; 8:1-8). Especially popular in the third century was the use of the Greek acrostic ichthys, meaning "fish" but also spelling out the first letters of the Greek words for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior". The image of two fish was frequently used by pagans on gems, often with astrological significance (Pisces), but on this example the Christian meaning is made explicit by the word ichthys.

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