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Ichthys

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Quaestor23 (talk | contribs) at 22:23, 28 November 2009 (The alt spelling should certainly be ichthus, although I would make that the main spelling and "ichthys" the alt (see Talk page under Spelling/Transliteration Variants)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The ichthys has been used to represent a number of ideas.
The ichthys as adopted as a Christian symbol.

Ichthys or Ichthus (Greek: ἰχθύς, capitalized ΙΧΘΥΣ or ΙΧΘΥC) is the ancient and classical Greek word for "fish." In English it refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish, said to have been used by early Christians as a secret symbol[1] and now known colloquially as the "sign of the fish" or the "Jesus fish."[2]

History

Symbolic meaning

An early circular ichthys symbol, created by combining the Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ, Ephesus.

The use of the Ichthys symbol by early Christians. Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) can be read as an acrostic, a word formed from the first letters of several words. It compiles to "Jesus Christ, God's son, savior," in ancient Greek "Template:Polytonic", Iēsous Christos Theou Huios, Sōtēr.

  • Iota (i) is the first letter of Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), Greek for Jesus.
  • Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos (Χριστóς), Greek for "Christ" or "anointed".
  • Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), that means "God's", genitive case of Θεóς, Theos, "God".
  • Upsilon (u) is the first letter of huios (͑Υἱός), Greek for Son.
  • Sigma (s) is the first letter of sōtēr (Σωτήρ), Greek for Savior.

Historians say the twentieth century use of the ichthys motif is an adaptation based on an Early Christian symbol which included a small cross for the eye or the Greek letters "ΙΧΘΥΣ".

An ancient adaptation of ichthus is a wheel which contains the letters ΙΧΘΥΣ superimposed such that the result resembles an eight-spoked wheel.

Fish in the Gospels

Fish are mentioned and given symbolic meaning several times in the Gospels. Several of Jesus' twelve disciples were fishermen. He commissions them with the words "I will make you fishers of men."

At the feeding of the five thousand, a boy is brought to Jesus with "five small loaves and two fish". The question is asked, "But what are they, among so many?" Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish to feed the multitude.

In Matthew 13:47–50, Jesus compares God's decision on who will go to heaven or to hell ("the fiery furnace") at the end of this world to fishers sorting out their catch, keeping the good fish and throwing the bad fish away.

In John 21:11, it is related that the disciples fished all night but caught nothing. Jesus instructed them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat, and they drew in 153 fish.

A less commonly cited use of fish in Christ's life may be found in the words of Matthew 17:24–27, in which, upon being asked if his Teacher does not pay the temple (two-drachma) tax, Simon Peter answers, "Yes." Christ tells Peter to go to the water and cast a line. He says that a coin sufficient for the tax will be found in the fish's mouth. Peter does as told and finds the coin.

The early Christian church

The ichthys is seen in first century catacombs in Rome.

According to tradition, ancient Christians, during their persecution by the Roman State in the first few centuries after Christ, used the fish symbol to mark meeting places and tombs, or to distinguish friends from foes:

…when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company. Current bumper-sticker and business-card uses of the fish hearken back to this practice. The symbol is still used today to show that the bearer is a practicing Christian.

— Christianity Today, Elesha Coffman, "Ask the Editors", [3]
Funerary stele with the inscription Template:Polytonic ("fish of the living"), early 3rd century, National Roman Museum

There are several other hypotheses as to why the fish was chosen. Some sources indicate that the earliest literary references came from the recommendation of Clement of Alexandria to his readers (Paedagogus, III, xi) to engrave their seals with the dove or fish. However, it can be inferred from Roman monumental sources such as the Capella Greca and the Sacrament Chapels of the catacomb of St. Callistus that the fish symbol was known to Christians much earlier. This Christian symbol might well have been intended to oppose or protest the apotheosis of the Roman emperor during the reign of Domitian (AD 81 - AD 96).[citation needed] Coins found in Alexandria referred to him as Theou Huios (Son of God). In fact, even earlier, since the death and deification of Julius Caesar, Augustus (Octavian) already styled himself as divi filius, son of the divine (Julius), and struck coins to that effect. This practice was also carried on by some of the later emperors. Another probable explanation is that it is a reference to the scripture in which Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 people with fish and bread (Matthew 14:15–21, Mark 6:30–44, Luke 9:12–17, and John 6:4–13). The ichthys may also relate to Jesus or his disciples as "fishers of men" (e.g., Mark 1:17). Tertullian, in his treatise On Baptism, makes a pun on the word, writing that "we, little fishes, after the example of our ΙΧΘΥΣ Jesus Christ, are born in water."[4]

Pre-Christian Use

The fish symbol may have existed before Christianity, possibly representing several goddesses;[5] it has been associated with Aphrodite, Atargatis, Dagon, Ephesus, Isis, Delphine, and Pelagia.[6] Barbara Walker, in her book The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, suggests that Ichthys was the son of the sea goddess Atargatis and that his symbol was a representation of sexuality and fertility.

Revival and adaptations of the symbol

The Fish Mission

The 20th century popular revival of the ichthys symbol dates from 1965. At this time the Evangelical Union at Sydney University, a branch of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, confronted by the disenchantment of students brought on by the Vietnam War and a perceived anti-Christian sentiment within the university, held a mission to students. The committee in charge of the promotions of the activity looked for a symbol which was distinctly Christian and which might excite curiosity by its apparent novelty and decided upon this ancient sign, which was drawn simply with two arcs, and no inscription.

Traditionally, up-coming events at the university were advertised in chalk on the bitumen paths. The campaign for the Fish Mission began by drawing the ichthus symbol on pavements all around the university. [7] Silk-screen prints in bright colors on a white background were stuck with flour glue to the rises of walkway stairs throughout the campus. The unexplained early campaign provoked much speculation and interest. Querulous cartoons appeared in the student newspaper Honi Soit. As the advertising campaign progressed, more information was revealed.

Following the success of the Fish Mission publicity campaign, the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students used the symbol more widely on campuses around Australia. From Christian Unions of students it quickly spread to the churches.

Bumper sticker

Members of the University of Queensland Evangelical Union used the ichthys symbol when they formed a temporary Christian commune to be a witnessing presence at the Aquarius Rock Festival at Nimbin in May, 1973. From this time the display of the ichthys symbol, sometimes in combination with an Aquarius Festival sticker in the rear window of Kombi vans became common. The car bumper sticker followed quickly.

The symbol was rapidly adopted for use by other Christian bodies within Australia such as the Church Mission Society from whose shop near St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney could be purchased small items of jewelry with the ichthus motif. From Sydney the use of the motif was taken to Asia by university students who had been resident at International House which had close ties with the A.F.E.S.. The ichthys symbol was soon in use among Christians across the world.

Numerous parody bumper stickers and badges have also appeared (see below).

The "Jesus Fish" has become an icon of modern Christianity. Today, it can be seen as a decal or emblem on the rear of automobiles or as pendants or necklaces as a sign to the world that the owner is a Christian. It is incorporated into business logos or in business advertisements and listings in telephone books. It is also seen on clothing. Versions of this include an Ichthys with "Jesus" or "ΙΧΘΥΣ" in the center, or simply the Ichthys outline by itself. This badge may also be seen in e-mail signatures with the symbols "<><".

Music Festival

Ichthus is the name of an annual large outdoor Christian music festival is held every year in mid-June in the town of Wilmore, Kentucky.

Parodies of the ichthys symbol

File:Darwin fish ROF.svg
A Darwin fish is an ichthys with stylized legs
Main article: Parodies of the ichthys symbol

Distortions of the Ichthys symbol in modern culture rely on its use as a "Jesus fish" symbol of Christianity.[8] Examples include:

  • An ichthys-style symbol with legs, representing naturalistic evolution. Occasionally it has "Darwin" printed inside.
  • A stylized symbol for the "Flying Spaghetti Monster", the deity of a parody religion called The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its system of beliefs, "Pastafarianism".
  • An ichthys-style symbol with the word "gefilte" written inside, a reference to the common Jewish food, gefilte fish.
  • A "Viking" fish carrying a shield and wearing a horned helmet, with two icthys at the end of a spear, (among other variations) is sold on T-shirts and coffee cups by CafePress.
  • An ichthys-style symbol with a shark fin with the word Linux inside.
  • In email signatures as "<++<" symbolizing the ichthys being reduced to its bones.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.ely.anglican.org/education/schools/collective_worship/documents/icthus.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-goldberg1apr01,0,5893988.column "Evolution of religious bigotry"
  3. ^ October 26, 2001 - Ask the Editors - Christian History
  4. ^ http://ccel. org/fathers2/ANF-03/anf03-49.htm#P11466_3245563 §1
  5. ^ "Origin of the "Christian" Fish Symbol". albatrus.org. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  6. ^ "Fish (ichthus), cross, and crucifix". religioustolerance.org. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  7. ^ From 1932 to 1967 a mysterious person had walked the streets of Sydney writing the word "Eternity" in a flowing Copperplate hand. His identity became known as Arthur Stace and after his death students from the National Art School cut a stencil from his writing and painted the word all around the footpaths of Sydney, including several examples at Sydney University. This, in part, provided inspiration for the apparently-mysterious use of the ichthys symbol.
  8. ^ Mark D. Stucky (Summer 2006). "Middle Earth's Messianic Mythology Remixed: Gandalf's Death and Resurrection in Novel and Film". Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. XIII.
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