Commonly Found Symbols in Art and Literature

1. Commonly Found Symbols in Art and Literature ANIMALS and BIRDSAss - Commonly found in pictures of the Nativity, Flight into Egypt, and the Entry into Jerusalem, the ass with the ox represent the lowliest of animals to recognize the Son of God. The donkey also represents stubbornness and steadiness. Beast with a man's face - a symbol for the Gospel of MatthewBirds - the "winged soul" or the spiritual in opposition to the materialistic.Christ often is seen holding a bird or one tied to a stringButterfly - a symbol of the resurrection, usually in the hand of the Christ Child additionally with the stages of the caterpillar representing life and the chrysalis representing deathCalf - symbol of the Gospel of LukeCamel - represents temperance because the animal could go for a long time without water. Often used to represent the exotic OrientCock - a symbol of vigilance because it crows early in the morning, but also of denial and repentance because of the association with Peter's denial three times before the cock crowed.Dog - flattery, depravity, and contemptDove - a symbol of gentleness, truth, wisdom, purity, or peace or as a representation of the Holy Spirit. When combined with the number seven, the doves represent the seven gifts of the Spirit. A dove with an olive branch represents the Flood or peace. A dove on the shoulder represents creative imaginationFish - early symbol for the church because the Greek word for fish [ichthus] is also an acrostic for Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Savior

2. Eagle - a symbol of the resurrection because by legend the eagle renews itself by flying near the sun and plunging into water. It also represents Christ and the virtues of courage, faith, and contemplation. The flying eagle is the symbol for the Gospel of John.Goat - represents the damned at the Last JudgmentGriffin - invincibility, watchfulnessLamb - a common symbol of Christ who is called the Lamb of God in the Bible.If Christ is seen as the shepherd, then the lamb is the erring sinner. If seen with John the Baptist, the lamb represents John as the forerunner of Christ. If the lamb has a halo and stands on a hill with four streams, the scene represents Christ standing on the Church, with the four Gospels and the four rivers of Paradise to refresh the Church on earth.Leopard - a signifies sin, cruelty, the Devil, or the AntiChristLion - associated with strength, majesty, and courage, the lion has become a symbol for the resurrection and associated with the Gospel of St. Mark because he deals most heavily with the resurrectionOx - associated with sacrifice for the Jews, the ox represents the Jewish nation or patience and strength. It can also mean suffering and labor.Peacock - a symbol of immortality, often in scenes of the Nativity, because by legend its flesh does not decay. The "eyes" of the tail represent the all-seeing ChurchPelican - in legend the pelican pierces its breast of feed its young with its own blood; hence it represents the sacrifice of Christ on the CrossRaven - solitude, melancholy, wisdom, or conversely, the lower mind, the devil, evil, sin, or deathShell - the scallop or cockleshell represents pilgrimageSheep -congregation of the faithful, innocence, simplicity, love or charityStork - associated with the Annunciation because it announces the coming of spring as the Annunciation announces the coming of Christ to Mary. It has become a symbol of prudence and vigilance, piety and chastity.

3. PLANTSApple - because the Latin word for apple and evil are the same, the legend goes that the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden was an apple. Hence it becomes the symbol of temptation, of death, of the Fall of Man, of deceit, of procreation, and occasionally, of autumn, and as a herald of spring. The apple also becomes a symbol of Christ, the new Adam, who took man's sin upon himself. Mary is sometimes seen with an apple because she is the "new Eve."Cedar - associated with majesty and beauty as the cedar of Lebanon, it has come to mean the Messiah and his kingdomCherry - the sweet red fruit means the sweetness derived from good works and issometimes called the fruit of paradiseCypress - associated with death because of its dark foliage and the fact that when cut, it never springs up from its rootsFig - a symbol of lust because Adam and Eve made aprons of fig leaves after they had eaten of the Tree of Knowledge and knew they were naked. The tree itself is a symbol of fertility.Grapes - in bunches with grains of wheat represent the Eucharist, the wine and bread, respectively. Can represent the labor of Christians in the vineyardLemon - a symbol of fidelity in loveLily - a symbol of purity and hence of the Virgin Mary. The fleur-de-lis, a lily variety, is the symbol of royalty, particularly of France, and then is given to Mary as Queen of HeavenOlive - a symbol of peaceOrange - symbol of purity, chastity and generosity, often seen with the VirginPalm - symbol of victory, especially the martyr's triumph over death

4. Rose - a red rose is a symbol of martyrdom, motherhood, and divine love; and a white rose is one of purity and chaste love, while if red and white, the Virgin Mary. The rose can also mean completion, perfection, the heart, God, the beloved, beauty, and paradise. According to legend, it grew in paradise without thorns, which came to remind man of his fall from grace. A rose garden means regeneration or the New Jerusalem. For the ancient Romans, the rose was the symbol of victory, pride, and love. It was the flower associated with Venus, goddess of love. Thorns - symbols of tribulation, sin, and grief, especially the crown of thorns. The priest's tonsure represents Christ's crown of thorns and asceticismTree - a symbol of life and/or immortality if healthy and strong and a symbol of death if undernourished and withered. It can represent the link between the three worlds of heaven, earth, and the underworld. The tree of life can represent Jesus' cross [see Cross] or it can represent the tree in the Garden of Eden since Christ reversed the punishment of Adam and EveVine - the relationship between God and his people or as the emblem of Christ. As a vine with branches, it represents Christ and his followers, and a simple vine can also mean autumn or the resurrectionYew - death, mourning, immortality, faith

5. HEAVENS AND EARTHAshes- symbol of penitence or the remains of the human body after death and the ephemeral nature of lifeClouds - the symbol of the unseen God because clouds are a natural veil of the blue sky. If a hand is emerging from clouds, it represents the omnipotence of God.Cross - enduring emblem of the glory of salvation because of Christ's willingness to die an innocent death and his power to rise from the dead three days later. Christ on the Cross represents his human suffering like us and for us.Chalice (cup) - the Last Supper or the Holy GrailDarkness/light - physical darkness is a symbol of spiritual darkness and associated with Satan. Light is from the realm of God and Christ said He was the "light of the world."East - direction of the sunrise and hence a symbol for ChristFire/flames - transcendence, the Holy Spirit, wisdom, the soul, martyrdom, and religious fervor. Sometimes a salamander is used which according to legend can live in a fire without being consumed. Flames on the heads of the apostles represent the Holy Ghost. Flames can also represent the pains of hell.Fountain - one of the attributes of the Virgin Mary, a "fountain of living waters."Garden - enclosed, the garden represents the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin.Gold - symbol of pure light, the element of God's heavens. It can represent divine intelligence, virtue, the glory of God, revealed truth, and marriage. Also used as a symbol of the materialism and worldly wealth.Hand - authority, protection, God the FatherIvory - for the whiteness, come the symbols of purity and moral fortitude. For the firm solidity, associations are made to the incorruptibility of Christ's body. This may be why crucifixes are often carved in ivory.Pearl - symbol of salvation, the "most precious jewel."

6. Rainbow - a symbol of union and of pardon and forgiveness because it was seen after Noah's flood. The rainbow can be used as the throne of the Lord.Rocks - symbol of the LordSalt - symbol of strength and a protection against evil since salt protects against decay of food. Sometimes placed in the mouth of a newly baptized person.Silver - a symbol of purity and chastity because its purity is tested by fire.Smoke - a symbol of the shortness of life and of vanityStar - represents divine guidance and favor, especially the star of Bethlehem that led the Three Wisemen to the Christ Child. Twelve stars may represent the twelve tribes of Israel or the twelve apostles. The Queen of Heaven is crowned with twelve stars. [See twelve]Sun/moon - the sun is symbolic of Christ. The sun and moon together are referenced to the Virgin and both sun and moon are at Crucifixion scenes to represent the mourning of all creationTorch - truth, progress, sun, or high idealsTower - symbol of ascent, the link between earth and heavenWater - symbol of cleansing, purifying, rebirth, associated with baptism. Water flowing from a well is a symbol of eternal life or of the virginity of MaryWest - representative of the seat of darkness because the sun sets in the west, hence the abode of evil.

7. COLORSBlack - a symbol of death and of the underworld, even in pagan times. By the Middle Ages it was also associated with witchcraft. It also represents mourning, sickness, penitence, humility, ignorance, and chaos. Black combined with white, however, symbolize humility and purity.Blue - representative of the heavens, love, faithfulness, hope, devotion, piety, sorrow and the truth. It is also the traditional color of the Virgin Mary.Gray - the color of ashes, thus representing mourning and humilityGreen - the color of spring and of growth, it represents the triumph of life over death. It can symbolize fertility, rebirth, youth, hope, freshness, liberty, vegetation, and passivity. From pagan times it has also represented initiation or beginnings and as such is the color of the church season of Epiphany.Purple - the color of kings and imperial power, it is sometimes used as a symbol of God the Father. It is also the color of penitence and sorrow, hence the color of the season of Lent.Orange - lust, fire, pride, or marriage and healthRed - the color of blood, always associated with the emotions, red is the symbol of both love and hate. It is associated then with the death of martyrs and with fire and thus is used for saints' days and for Pentecost as a liturgical color. It can also mean courage, loyalty, anger, war, creative force, and patriotismViolet - color for humility, suffering, memories, mourning, and love of truth

8. White - the symbol of innocence, of purity, of peace, and of holiness of life. It is also associated with faith, timelessness, joy, glory, perfection, and the moon. The Roman vestal virgins wore white for innocence and hence brides today wear white. In the early Christian era the ordained wore white and therefore it has remained as the liturgical color of Christmas, Easter, and Ascension. White is also the color of light and is often represented by silver.Yellow - this color as a rich golden color is the symbol of the sun and of divinity or of fruitfulness and joy. In contrast, it can also represent the light of hell, jealousy, treason, and deceit. Yellow has been used to indicate contagion since the days of the plague during the Middle Ages.

9. SHAPES Circle - symbol of eternity, heaven, oneness, and of perfection, often the monogram of God, who "was, is now, and ever shall be."Triangle - symbol of the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, three in one.Square - representative of the earth and living Pentagram - first used the followers of Pythagoras, it was adopted by magicians in the Middle Ages and was considered a protection against the evils of sorcery. It can suggest the five wounds of Christ.

10. NUMBERSOne - the symbol of unity, the Creator, the sun, spiritual revelation, reason. Considered masculineTwo - duality of all: positive/negative, day/ night, and the emblem of the two natures of Christ, human and divineThree - the number of completion with a beginning, middle, and end, according to Pythagoras. For early Christians it represented the three days Christ was in the tomb and the doctrine of the Trinity. Considered a perfect number, it stands for love, joy, intellectual and spiritual order. Multiples of three are also important.Four - the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and JohnFive - the five wounds of Christ as well as spring, growth, fertility, and marriageSix - the number of creation since God rested on the seventh day, symbolizing divine power, majesty, wisdom, love, mercy, and justiceSeven - the number of completion, creation, stability, and of perfection. Used frequently as in the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven liberal arts, the seven deadly sins, the seven virtues, the seven sacraments, the seven days of the week, Christ's seven last words from the cross.Eight - the number of the resurrection since it was eight days after Christ entered Jerusalem that he rose from the dead. Baptismal fonts are often octagonal.Nine - the nine choirs of angels mentioned in the Bible make this an angelic number

11. Ten - the number of kingship, completeness, infinite power, or order. Associated with the Ten Commandments, the ten plagues of Egypt, the ten brothers of Joseph, the ten virginsTwelve - the number of universal order and salvation, the twelve ApostlesThirteen - the number of betrayal and faithlessness because at the Last Supper there were thirteen, Christ and his twelve Apostles, including Judas who has already betrayed his master. Thus it has become an unlucky number.Forty - symbolic of trial or probation such as the Israelites' forty years in the desert or Christ's forty days in the wildernessOne thousand - number of eternity