Ichthys

The Eucharistic fish are a common motif of early Christian art and can be found as murals; one of the first works of this kind is found in the crypts of Lucina - Roman St. Callistus catacombs.

The fish symbol and the sequence ICHTHYS played as acrostics and acronym ( or backronym, as there is no clear evidence of the importance of creation-date ) already in early Christianity a prominent role. Following up on the Eucharist was in the wall paintings of the early Christian tombs mostly as the miraculous multiplication of the five barley loaves and two fish to feed the five thousand, symbolized (John 6:1-15 EU), in which Jesus promised His body ( John 6:51 EU ): "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh, ( I lay it down ) for the life of the world. "In addition to individual representation of a fish, the bread basket is made ​​, appeared the motive for the symbolizing representation of the Eucharistic Sacrament on: it always sit seven ( that is, to salvation appointed ) people around a table. On the table there are two or three plates with loaves and fishes as well as wine glasses and bread baskets on the floor.

History and Background

An orally transmitted and later captured in written form version tells that the fish was used as a Christian identification. The Greek word for fish ἰχθύς ( Ichthys ) contains a concise creed ( Ιησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υιὸς Σωτήρ ):

The (I Ch · · Th · Y · S ) symbol consists of two curved lines that represent a fish. Historically not used is of the opinion that it was already used by the first early Christians as recognition and secret signs: A person drew one arc in the sand, the other completed the symbol with the reverse curve and showed itself as a brother or sister in Christ.

The doctor of the Church, Tertullian (ca. 200 AD ) speaks in his treatise on baptism ( De baptismo 1.3 ) of Christ as the Ichthys, a Christian but as a " little fish " who were born of the Ichthys.

The fish can be archetypal and depth psychology interpreted as a symbol of the hidden ( under water) truth that catch it, so shall bring to light. It shimmers initially in secret, slipping the fishing easy, but promises food. In the story of Peter's catch of fish, Jesus proves with it as a guide to truth.

The symbol refers to the sentence from the Gospel of Luke ( Lk 5,10 EU) "Jesus said to Peter, Fear not; You are going to catch any fish, but win people for me. ' "

Use in the Modern

While the symbol of the fish has played after the 2nd century in Christianity hardly any role, it is revived in recent decades.

Since the 1970s, the fish symbol is a million times to see a mark of a Christian spirit on cars, scooters and other objects, initially mainly by Evangelicals. In addition, the icon will appear more often in church logos and graphics, up to the (Wal ) fish of the YMCA at the Expo 2000 in Hanover or guidance symbol of the German Protestant Church Day 2007 in Cologne, as the Hohenzollern Bridge was designed over the Rhine like a huge fish. In part, this symbol is used even outside the churches, often without the knowledge of the background.

Even the word Ichthys is increasingly used as a name, such as nurseries, church services to churches or religious institutions.

Parodies and polemics

As a result of the spread it was also humorous modifications of the fish. So campaigned about the Open Church in Württemberg in church elections with a shark and the slogan church with bite.

A religionsparodistische variant of the symbol makes fun of the rejection of the theory of evolution through radical creationist. Since 1983, there are about the counter-proposal by Al Seckel and John Edwards. To ironically creationism, they developed the Darwin fish, which is labeled instead of " Jesus " with "Darwin" and has as a symbol of evolution legs. Variants thereof show, for example, a fish with legs, holding a tool and is labeled " evolve ". The parody religion Pastafarianismus that worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster, has a similar symbol that represents a schematic flying spaghetti monster and is labeled with FSM.

Cthulhu fish as a symbol of the Cthulhu Mythos

Flying Spaghetti Monster as a symbol of Pastafarianismus

Gefilte fish

Trek - Fish

Not a parody, but as anti-Christian polemics following symbols are used.

Headless fish as anti- religious symbol

Eagle catches fish