(More on the Fish)

The Christian Fish Symbol (also called 'The Jesus Fish')

Christian fish symbol

The Christian fish symbol is usually just two simple curved lines. Modern looking and sleek, often seen on car bumpers, it gives many people the impression that it's a new symbol. In fact, its history goes back even further than the cross as a symbol used by Christians.

As early as the second century Titus Flavius Clemens (St. Clement of Alexandria), suggested that Christians identify themselves with a seal engraved with a fish or dove (Paedagogus, III, xi. See also Dove Cross.) Even before that time, inscriptions on monuments (Capella Greca in the Roman catacomb of St. Priscilla and the Sacrament Chapels of the catacomb of St. Callistus) suggest that the fish symbol was familiar to Christians.

Back in the earliest days of the Church, Christians needed no reminder of how Jesus died; they saw it in its most hideous form all too frequently. But the symbol of the cross was too great to ignore. The shape of the cross made no difference to them, as shown by the Chi Rho, of which the Chi (X) formed the cross seen by Constantine in the sky. Also within the tail of the fish was seen embedded the Chi (X), the initial monogram of 'Christ', as well as the Sign of the Cross.

It is understood that after Christ's crucifixion when Christians were persecuted, the fish symbol was used as an identifying symbol that fellow Christians would recognise, but non-Christians would not. Therefore Christians could connect with each other through this secret code without revealing themselves to the oppressors.

So the fish symbol occurred very early in Christian history. Quoting Carl G, Liungman in his magisterial volume 'Dictionary of Symbols' (1991, W. W. Norton & Company, New York,):

Virgo

Phoenician symbol for 'fish'


vesica piscus

"Virgo, is based on the Hebraic letter 'mem' and the Phoenician symbol meaning 'fish'. It became, early on, a sign representing Jesus and the mystery of His virginal birth." (p 38).

Liungman, along with other authorities, sees this astrological glyph starting with the Egyptian hieroglyph, the vesica piscus, the Latin meaning 'air bladder of a fish' and is a sign of virginity or purity.

Mandorla

As with the nimbus or mandorla, this sign may be surrounded by the aurelia or gloria, shining rays of light and is, heraldically limited to surrounding the Trinity or any member of the Trinity, most often, Jesus. (Images of Mary may be surrounded by a mandorla but only if she holds the Christ Child in some way.)

Triquetra

Three of these interwoven form a triquetra; a symbol of the Trinity since there is no end to the line that forms the sign. (The triquetra is the basis of the Carolingian Cross)

The fish in particular, was considered important enough to be mentioned many times in the Bible. Clemens was a Greek theologian and noted that letters of the Greek word for fish, ΙΧΘΥΣ (pronounced Ichthys), made the following neat little acrostic:

At this time, the cross was not used as a Christian symbol, so the fish gave them something simple and easily recognisable, plus a motto that described their Jesus as Christ, God's Son, and Saviour.

This use of the fish might also have been partly a protest against the Pagan emperors of the time, who named themselves Theou Yios (God's sons), which appears on an Alexandrian coin minted during of the reign of Domitian (81-96).

The lowercase Greek character for Alpha (α) is similar to the fish symbol. This may also have had some influence on the decision for Christians to adopt the symbol, since Jesus calls himself "the Alpha and the Omega"1 – the beginning and the end. (See also Alpha and Omega Cross.)

In the fourth century, the cross became a more popular symbol for Christians, and the symbolism of the fish gradually disappeared. But in recent years, some Christian groups have attempted to give their religion a fresh new look by reviving the fish as an alternative symbol. Some argue that this is a healthy 'downgrading' of the cross, which is simply a symbol of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The cross, they say, should not be treated as a god (being mindful not to revere the fish symbol2). Other groups prefer the cross, because the fish symbol doesn't directly reflect Christ's sacrifice. Fortunately for Christians, they can make their own choices.

(See also Jesus Fish Cross, Fish Hook Cross, and another wetsite (sic) that dives a little more deeeply into the subject: http://www.psalm40.org/ixoye.html.)

Which way does the fish swim?

The 'Jesus Fish' is conventionally shown swimming from right to left. And there are two likely reasons for this:

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The Pagan fish symbol

However, let's go back to a time even before St. Clement, since Paganism has been around much longer than Christianity.

Neo-pagans are often quick to point out, that the fish is not a Christian owned symbol at all, but was derived from a sexually related image.

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The New Age fish symbol

Rainbow trout?

Astrologers are often quick to point out, that the fish is not only a Christian symbol, but indicative of the Age of Pisces, which began at the time of Jesus' birth. This is surely more than a coincidence.

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The Indian Hindu fish symbol

Hinduism is another religion that's a few thousand years older than Christianity, and one of their symbols is a fish. One appeared as an avatar (incarnation or physical bodily manifestation) of Vishnu to save mankind from the Great Flood.

The Sanskrit for fish is Matsya and he is usually shown with four arms and a fish tail.

The Chinese Taoist fish symbol

The symbol of the cosmic philosophy or religion of Tao, is yin-yang. This symbol is also popular with New Age followers and shows a couple of fish, Yin and Yang, where Yin's eye is in the Yang fish, and Yang's eye is in the Yin fish.

The Buddhist fish symbol

Mokugyo

In Japan and elsewhere, the fish means well-being, happiness and freedom. It is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols used in Buddhism imported from China. The fish symbolises living in a state of fearlessness, without danger of drowning in the ocean of sufferings, and migrating from place to place freely and spontaneously. The fish symbol is considered Buddhist and consequently the 'Jesus Fish' is a rare sight in these countries.

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So is the fish symbol Christian, or is it from a much older religion such as Paganism, Buddhism, Taoism, or Hinduism?

Above, we pointed out the Age of Pisces coincides with the time of Jesus' birth. But this is no coincidence. Like the cross, the fish is evidence of God's prefiguring, to prepare humanity for the great sacrifice of Jesus.

1 Alpha and Omega : John 1:1-14, Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13
2 Fish symbolism warning : Deuteronomy 4:15-18