Lessons; symbolic

Symbolic of persons, Christian

Sometimes images will be used to symbolize persons.

  • Holy trinity: a equilateral triangel or a rainbow with the colors red, blue and yellow.
  • Jesus Christ: lamb, pelican, fish, Eastern candle, candlestick, rock, (corner) stone, grapevine, grapes, wine, bread and the ear of corn (church) door, shepherd, stick, child.
  • Holy ghost: pigeon, fire and flames.
  • Evangelist: we recognize them on a writing table or a reading desk. They have sometimes their own (sometimes with wings) symbols: Mattheüs as human; Marcus as lion; At. Luke as cattle; Johannes as eagle.
  • Disciple:; on bare foot and a writing role or a book in their hand. Also they have a specific attribute remembering their dead (cross, or sword) or a legend or their profession.
  • Petrus: keys and cross or a staff.
  • St. Andrew: Andrew cross or a Latin cross.
  • Jacob major: sword, pelgrims-staf and Jacobus-shell.
  • Johannes: goblet.
  • Thomas: sword and right-angled tear.
  • Jacobus minor: bludgeon.
  • Philippus: sword or lance, sometimes a cross-staff.
  • Bartlomew: knife.
  • Mattheus: sword or money belt.
  • Simon: saw.
  • Thaddeus: bludgeon.
  • Matthias: axe.
  • Martyrs often with a palm leaf or with a wreath (as sign of justifying) and the instrument of torture.
  • Saints: we recognize them by a specific attribute, a bird or a flower. It often has to do with an event in their life.
  • Church fathers, church teachers and peace keepers have a writing roll or a book.

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004