#Redirect Ichthys
[[Image:Ichthus.png|thumb|The ichthys or fish symbol represents Christianity]] Ichthys ( in the Greek alphabet, also transliteration Ichthus, Icthus, Ikhthus, etc), is the Greek language word for "fish". It refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, used by the early Christians as a secret symbol and now known colloquially as the Jesus fish. == Origins == It is believed that societies of Christians in the early Roman Empire, prior to the Edict of Milan, protected their congregations by keeping their meetings secret. In order to point the way to ever-changing meeting places, they developed a symbol which adherents would readily recognize, and which they could scratch on rocks, walls and the like, in advance of a meeting. Another story suggests that the ''ichthys'' was used as a sort of secret handshake: one person would draw with a staff a single curve, (half of the ''ichthys'') in the sand, and another person could confirm their identity as a Christian by completing the symbol. There are several theories as to why the fish was chosen. It may relate to Jesus as a "fisher of men" or it may be an acronym relating the Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ to the statement of Christian faith "" (''Iēsous Christos Theou Huios Sōtēr'' meaning "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour"). Or it may simply be an adaptation of the mystic/mathematical symbol known as the Vesica piscis. The length-height ratio of the vesica piscis, as expressed by the mystic, Pythagoras, is 153:265, a mystical number known as "the measure of the fish". In the biblical story in which Jesus aids his disciples to catch fish, as told by the Gospel of John, Jesus catches exactly 153 fish. It is thought by some scholars that the story is a coded reference to the Vesica Piscis. The name ''Ichthys'' was associated also with Adonis, the central character in one of the 1st century Mystery religions (specifically, the version used in Syria). Like many other mystery religions, the religion of Adonis adopted certain mystic aspects of Greek philosophy, which may have included the Vesica piscis of Pythagoras. Some theories about the Historicity of Jesus suggest that Christianity adopted certain beliefs and practices as syncretism of certain mystery religions, and this may be the origin of the Icthys into Christian circles. [[Image:Ichthus-wheel.jpg|frame|Overlaying the letters in ΙΧΘΥΣ results in an ''ichthys'' wheel like this one in Ephesus.]] ==Adaptations of the symbol== The ichthys symbol has been re-adopted by modern Christians as a badge, often with the word "JESUS" in the centre of the symbol. Applied to the rear bumper of the car, the symbol is used to indicate to the world that the owner is a Christian. Historically, this adaptation was based on an earlier symbol which included a fish with the Greek letters "ΙΧΘΥΣ" or "ιχθυς" or a small cross. It is important to note that not all cars displaying this symbol do so for Christian reasons. Certain car manufacturers (for example some in the UK), use this symbol on certain brands of car. (for example, the Alfa Romeo) This badge may also be seen in email signature block with the symbols "<><". Another adaptation of ''ichthys'' is a wheel which contains the letters ΙΧΘΥΣ superimposed in such a way such that the final collection looks like a common wagon-wheel. === Parodies of the Icthys symbol === One parody of the symbol is the normal fish with feet attached and the word "Charles Darwin" in the middle. The symbol was adapted as a parody of the "Jesus fish" phenomenon. Some owners of the symbol say it represents their anti-religious worldview while others say it represents their objection to the notion that Christianity is opposed to science. ''See also'' Darwin fish. In yet another version, and eating the Darwin fish, is a larger Christianity fish. One can clearly see the smaller fish is the Darwin fish because the legs are visible, along with some letters that spell Charles Darwin. The intent of this version is to show that despite the challenges, Christ will come again. Another lesser known parody of the symbol is the [http://www.xmission.com/~hastur/magnets.html ichthys with tentacles]. This is supposed to represent one of the fictional Great Old Ones: Cthulhu. In the Cthulhu Mythos stories, Cthulhu is an evil godlike being who would supposedly lay waste to the world if ever awoken from his slumber in the sunken city of R'lyeh. Furthering the satirization of the Ichthus symbols adorning vehicles in the United States, a "Trek fish" depecting a stylized Star Trek starship was developed. Unlike the "Darwin fish" the "Trek fish" is not meant to proffer any socio-ideological view, but simply an affection towards Star Trek. ==Other symbolism associated with the fish== The constellation Pisces comprises a set of dim and scattered stars that trace the images of two widely separated fish joined by a knotted cord. One fish, swimming upward, faces east toward Aries, while the other fish swims westward toward Aquarius along the plane of the ecliptic. The directions of motion of the two fish form a cross, the symbol of the Christian religion -- the upright line of the cross representing spirit and the horizontal line signifying matter. In astrology, an astrological age is determined by the constellation in which the Sun appears during the vernal equinox. Since each sign on the zodiac belt shifts an average of one degree in 70 years, while 360/12 = 30, each astrological age lasts 70 x 30 = 2,100 years. The astrological age of Pisces coincided with the birth of Jesus Christ — approximately 2,000 years ago. Babylonian mythology tells of two fishes that pushed ashore a giant egg, from which emerged the fertility corn-goddess Atargatis and her lover-son Ichthys, who dies and is reborn annually. The myth of Ichthys and the sign Pisces later became connected with Christianity. Directly across the zodiac from Pisces lies the sign of Virgo, symbolizing the virgin grain goddess of ancient Greece and also connected with the Virgin Mary of Christian mythology, whose birthday is liturgically celebrated on September 8, when the sun crosses the midpoint of the sign Virgo. ==See also== * Christian symbolism * Darwin fish * Labarum * Vesica piscis Symbols Christianity
==Yoni / earth mother symbol== Thinking of expanding the article with a section on the pagan symbol of the Yoni - the symbol of the 'Great Mother' - one school of thought is that it was the origin of the Christian symbol (they are virtually identical but the Christian one is tilted 90 degrees.) This predates Christianity by several thousand years. Possibly also mentioning the early paintings of Christ using the symbology of the yoni for depicting him inside Mary's womb. Sources, if anyone wants to check beforehand, are : The Women's encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (B. Walker) Man and His Gods (H. Smith) Religion in Greece and Rome (H.J. Rose) Oriental religions in Roman Paganism (F. Cummon) Bible Myths and their parallels in other Religions (T. Duane) Probably mentioned in some others I'm planning to check out, so dont take this as an exhaustive list. User:The Rev of Bru 15:32, 2 Nov 2004 (UTC) :I think that might be more appropriate in Vesica piscis User:CheeseDreams 20:01, 2 Nov 2004 (UTC) ::Hmm. Well its much more like the fish symbol without the arcs,User:The Rev of Bru :::The arcs should not be on the diagram, this is an error of understanding what "the flesh of the fish" (translated into latin this is "Vesica Piscis") actually is. I think I am going to have to edit the diagram. User:CheeseDreams 20:35, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC) :::I have, in fact, spent some time re-drawing the diagram on the Vesica piscis page, so that the identity with the fish symbol is clearer. User:CheeseDreams 21:36, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC) :: and if the fish symbol was originally a pagan symbol that was simpy adapted for christianity, that should be represented on this page, surely? What does everyone think?User:The Rev of Bru :::That is why I have proposed the merge, below. User:CheeseDreams 20:35, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC) == Darwin Fish == Darwin reference: I don't think that a reference to Darwin is appropriate for an article regarding the biblical and historical basis for ICHTHYS, the abbreviation for a secret code of early Christians. :The Darwin Fish is one of the more important modern reactions to the symbol, and certainly belongs in a paragraph about modern usage. See Wikipedia:NPOV. User:Meelar_User_talk:Meelar">User:Meelar|User:Meelar User talk:Meelar 23:15, 18 Jul 2004 (UTC)
::I agree with Meelar. Discussion of modern usage is certainly appropriate. User:RickKUser talk:RickK 23:19, Jul 18, 2004 (UTC)
::A mocking parody of ICHTHYS hardly belongs in an article which is exclusively about the religious connotation. I recommend making a subsection on modern uses of the fish symbol rather than interjecting it in the middle of the religious discussion. I want to keep it, but try to make the article more unified with a whole analysis of the modern uses. --User:G3pro July 18 2004
:::Making it a subsection would require a lot more information about modern usage than I currently know. Given that the "modern usage" section is currently pretty short, I feel that the article as now written flows well and clearly delineates the ancient and modern usages. There's no need for a subheading at this level of coverage. User:Meelar_User_talk:Meelar">User:Meelar|User:Meelar User talk:Meelar 23:23, 18 Jul 2004 (UTC)
::::How is this article exclusively about the religious connotations of ICHTHYS? The title says Icthys NOT Icthys (religious connotations) User:CheeseDreams 20:57, 31 Oct 2004 (UTC)
:::I would be willing to elaborate on several modern uses of the fish and make it a stub. I would love to explore the reasoning and popularity behind the adaptations for the fish. --User:G3pro July 18 2004
::::Well, you're welcome to create a "modern usage" heading level in the current article--more material would be interesting. Feel free to add your material, but please don't just remove material. Best wishes, User:Meelar_User_talk:Meelar">User:Meelar|User:Meelar User talk:Meelar 23:27, 18 Jul 2004 (UTC)
I added the section on adaptations of ICHTHYS. Please discuss here before making substantial edits to this section.
::Hey, can anybody come up with universal codes to make the Greek characters display properly on all systems? I tried adding standard letters with the two non-standard Greek characters as numerical values. However, the "O" shaped letter--I am too lazy to look it up now--is still not displaying properly and then too there is no guarantee that it will display properly on other moniters. The big thing is trying to get it to display in standard ASCII rather than Unicode.
:::Shouldn't the greek letters be recognizable by all browsers and systems? Look up how to format text properly on the help menu to the side. It's an ampersand followed by the greek letter text. Like this (without the space): & iota;
::::Do the characters show up correctly in your browser? In mine, they're just boxes representing where letters ought to go.
:::::You could try
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#Redirect Ichthys
Ichthys
[[Image:Ichthus.png|thumb|The ichthys or fish symbol represents Christianity]] Ichthys ( in the Greek alphabet, also transliteration Ichthus, Icthus, Ikhthus, etc), is the Greek language word for "fish". It refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, used by the early Christians as a secret symbol and now known colloquially as the Jesus fish. == Origins == It is believed that societies of Christians in the early Roman Empire, prior to the Edict of Milan, protected their congregations by keeping their meetings secret. In order to point the way to ever-changing meeting places, they developed a symbol which adherents would readily recognize, and which they could scratch on rocks, walls and the like, in advance of a meeting. Another story suggests that the ''ichthys'' was used as a sort of secret handshake: one person would draw with a staff a single curve, (half of the ''ichthys'') in the sand, and another person could confirm their identity as a Christian by completing the symbol. There are several theories as to why the fish was chosen. It may relate to Jesus as a "fisher of men" or it may be an acronym relating the Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ to the statement of Christian faith "" (''Iēsous Christos Theou Huios Sōtēr'' meaning "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour"). Or it may simply be an adaptation of the mystic/mathematical symbol known as the Vesica piscis. The length-height ratio of the vesica piscis, as expressed by the mystic, Pythagoras, is 153:265, a mystical number known as "the measure of the fish". In the biblical story in which Jesus aids his disciples to catch fish, as told by the Gospel of John, Jesus catches exactly 153 fish. It is thought by some scholars that the story is a coded reference to the Vesica Piscis. The name ''Ichthys'' was associated also with Adonis, the central character in one of the 1st century Mystery religions (specifically, the version used in Syria). Like many other mystery religions, the religion of Adonis adopted certain mystic aspects of Greek philosophy, which may have included the Vesica piscis of Pythagoras. Some theories about the Historicity of Jesus suggest that Christianity adopted certain beliefs and practices as syncretism of certain mystery religions, and this may be the origin of the Icthys into Christian circles. [[Image:Ichthus-wheel.jpg|frame|Overlaying the letters in ΙΧΘΥΣ results in an ''ichthys'' wheel like this one in Ephesus.]] ==Adaptations of the symbol== The ichthys symbol has been re-adopted by modern Christians as a badge, often with the word "JESUS" in the centre of the symbol. Applied to the rear bumper of the car, the symbol is used to indicate to the world that the owner is a Christian. Historically, this adaptation was based on an earlier symbol which included a fish with the Greek letters "ΙΧΘΥΣ" or "ιχθυς" or a small cross. It is important to note that not all cars displaying this symbol do so for Christian reasons. Certain car manufacturers (for example some in the UK), use this symbol on certain brands of car. (for example, the Alfa Romeo) This badge may also be seen in email signature block with the symbols "<><". Another adaptation of ''ichthys'' is a wheel which contains the letters ΙΧΘΥΣ superimposed in such a way such that the final collection looks like a common wagon-wheel. === Parodies of the Icthys symbol === One parody of the symbol is the normal fish with feet attached and the word "Charles Darwin" in the middle. The symbol was adapted as a parody of the "Jesus fish" phenomenon. Some owners of the symbol say it represents their anti-religious worldview while others say it represents their objection to the notion that Christianity is opposed to science. ''See also'' Darwin fish. In yet another version, and eating the Darwin fish, is a larger Christianity fish. One can clearly see the smaller fish is the Darwin fish because the legs are visible, along with some letters that spell Charles Darwin. The intent of this version is to show that despite the challenges, Christ will come again. Another lesser known parody of the symbol is the [http://www.xmission.com/~hastur/magnets.html ichthys with tentacles]. This is supposed to represent one of the fictional Great Old Ones: Cthulhu. In the Cthulhu Mythos stories, Cthulhu is an evil godlike being who would supposedly lay waste to the world if ever awoken from his slumber in the sunken city of R'lyeh. Furthering the satirization of the Ichthus symbols adorning vehicles in the United States, a "Trek fish" depecting a stylized Star Trek starship was developed. Unlike the "Darwin fish" the "Trek fish" is not meant to proffer any socio-ideological view, but simply an affection towards Star Trek. ==Other symbolism associated with the fish== The constellation Pisces comprises a set of dim and scattered stars that trace the images of two widely separated fish joined by a knotted cord. One fish, swimming upward, faces east toward Aries, while the other fish swims westward toward Aquarius along the plane of the ecliptic. The directions of motion of the two fish form a cross, the symbol of the Christian religion -- the upright line of the cross representing spirit and the horizontal line signifying matter. In astrology, an astrological age is determined by the constellation in which the Sun appears during the vernal equinox. Since each sign on the zodiac belt shifts an average of one degree in 70 years, while 360/12 = 30, each astrological age lasts 70 x 30 = 2,100 years. The astrological age of Pisces coincided with the birth of Jesus Christ — approximately 2,000 years ago. Babylonian mythology tells of two fishes that pushed ashore a giant egg, from which emerged the fertility corn-goddess Atargatis and her lover-son Ichthys, who dies and is reborn annually. The myth of Ichthys and the sign Pisces later became connected with Christianity. Directly across the zodiac from Pisces lies the sign of Virgo, symbolizing the virgin grain goddess of ancient Greece and also connected with the Virgin Mary of Christian mythology, whose birthday is liturgically celebrated on September 8, when the sun crosses the midpoint of the sign Virgo. ==See also== * Christian symbolism * Darwin fish * Labarum * Vesica piscis Symbols Christianity
Ichthys
==Yoni / earth mother symbol== Thinking of expanding the article with a section on the pagan symbol of the Yoni - the symbol of the 'Great Mother' - one school of thought is that it was the origin of the Christian symbol (they are virtually identical but the Christian one is tilted 90 degrees.) This predates Christianity by several thousand years. Possibly also mentioning the early paintings of Christ using the symbology of the yoni for depicting him inside Mary's womb. Sources, if anyone wants to check beforehand, are : The Women's encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (B. Walker) Man and His Gods (H. Smith) Religion in Greece and Rome (H.J. Rose) Oriental religions in Roman Paganism (F. Cummon) Bible Myths and their parallels in other Religions (T. Duane) Probably mentioned in some others I'm planning to check out, so dont take this as an exhaustive list. User:The Rev of Bru 15:32, 2 Nov 2004 (UTC) :I think that might be more appropriate in Vesica piscis User:CheeseDreams 20:01, 2 Nov 2004 (UTC) ::Hmm. Well its much more like the fish symbol without the arcs,User:The Rev of Bru :::The arcs should not be on the diagram, this is an error of understanding what "the flesh of the fish" (translated into latin this is "Vesica Piscis") actually is. I think I am going to have to edit the diagram. User:CheeseDreams 20:35, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC) :::I have, in fact, spent some time re-drawing the diagram on the Vesica piscis page, so that the identity with the fish symbol is clearer. User:CheeseDreams 21:36, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC) :: and if the fish symbol was originally a pagan symbol that was simpy adapted for christianity, that should be represented on this page, surely? What does everyone think?User:The Rev of Bru :::That is why I have proposed the merge, below. User:CheeseDreams 20:35, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC) == Darwin Fish == Darwin reference: I don't think that a reference to Darwin is appropriate for an article regarding the biblical and historical basis for ICHTHYS, the abbreviation for a secret code of early Christians. :The Darwin Fish is one of the more important modern reactions to the symbol, and certainly belongs in a paragraph about modern usage. See Wikipedia:NPOV. User:Meelar_
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