A simple fish, carved from emerald green jade with a dappled effect, strung on a black silk cord and finished with a bead of carnelian.
The fish has been a potent symbol to many cultures for thousands of years. In China a fish represents wealth or abundance. This is because the word for fish (yu) and the word for wealth or plenty are the same.
Fishing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Tens of millions of Americans pick up a rod at least once a year and there are five million who fish regularly in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of people across the world fish for sport, food or relaxation.
It is also one of the twelve signs of the Western Zodiac (Pisces)
And to early Christians, the fish —known as the ichthys, served as a secret symbol of their faith during the years of Roman persecution. If a Christian met a stranger on a road, they would casually use a staff to trace a single curved line (a crescent arc) in the dirt. If the stranger was also a Christian, they would draw the opposing arc to complete the outline of the fish, safely confirming they were both believers. The fish was also carved on the doorposts of houses to mark safe meeting places for worship. The significance of the fish as a symbol comes from the Greek word for fish, ἸΧΘΥΣ (ichthys). Early believers realized that the letters of this word summarised their core beliefs:
Ι (Iota) – Ἰησοῦς (Iesous): Jesus
Χ (Chi) – Χριστός (Christos): Christ
Θ (Theta) – Θεοῦ (Theou): God's
Υ (Upsilon) – Υἱός (Huios): Son
Σ (Sigma) – Σωτήρ (Soter): Savior
By sketching a fish, a Christian was silently proclaiming: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, my Savior."
Height:29mm. Width: 18mm. Depth: 5mm. Weight: 8.5g.
A simple fish, carved from emerald green jade with a dappled effect, strung on a black silk cord and finished with a bead of carnelian.
The fish has been a potent symbol to many cultures for thousands of years. In China a fish represents wealth or abundance. This is because the word for fish (yu) and the word for wealth or plenty are the same.
Fishing is one of the most popular sports in the world. Tens of millions of Americans pick up a rod at least once a year and there are five million who fish regularly in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of people across the world fish for sport, food or relaxation.
It is also one of the twelve signs of the Western Zodiac (Pisces)
And to early Christians, the fish —known as the ichthys, served as a secret symbol of their faith during the years of Roman persecution. If a Christian met a stranger on a road, they would casually use a staff to trace a single curved line (a crescent arc) in the dirt. If the stranger was also a Christian, they would draw the opposing arc to complete the outline of the fish, safely confirming they were both believers. The fish was also carved on the doorposts of houses to mark safe meeting places for worship. The significance of the fish as a symbol comes from the Greek word for fish, ἸΧΘΥΣ (ichthys). Early believers realized that the letters of this word summarised their core beliefs:
Ι (Iota) – Ἰησοῦς (Iesous): Jesus
Χ (Chi) – Χριστός (Christos): Christ
Θ (Theta) – Θεοῦ (Theou): God's
Υ (Upsilon) – Υἱός (Huios): Son
Σ (Sigma) – Σωτήρ (Soter): Savior
By sketching a fish, a Christian was silently proclaiming: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, my Savior."
Height:29mm. Width: 18mm. Depth: 5mm. Weight: 8.5g.
