Note: There are links at the end of this Youtube video which are not associated to nor endorsed by Marcos MusicMinistry.

 

To learn about the meaning of symbols in Christian art, I highly reccomend the book: Signs & Symbols In Christian Art, George Ferguson (Oxford University Press).

 

Symbolic Animals

 

•           Ape: Substitute Words: Chimpanzee, gibbon, gorilla, great ape, monkey, orangutan, simian.

•           Ass: Substitute Words: Donkey, mule

•           Basilisk: (Half cock and half snake).

•           Bear Cubs

•           Bear: Substitute Words: Black bear, brown bear, bruin, cub, grizzly bear, kodiak bear, panda, polar bear, teddy bear

•           Bee: Substitute Words: Africanized bee, drone, hum, spelling bee, sting, swarm.

•           Bee Hive

•           Birds

•           Blackbird: See Raven

•           Bull: Substitute Words: cattle (See Ox)

•           Butterfly: Substitute Words: Moth (Butterfly-like)

•           Camel’s Hair

•           Camel

•           Cat

•           Centaur

•           Cock, Hen: Substitute Words: Rooster

•           Crane: Substitute Words: Mechanical crane.

•           Dog: Substitute Words: Dingo, prairie dog (See fox and Wolf)

•           Dolphin

•           Dove: Substitute Words: Pigeons, (turtle) doves.

•           Dragon (Serpent): Substitute Words: (Any of various lizards and reptiles, such as the Komodo dragon or the flying lizard.) (See Snake).

•           Eagle

•           Egg: Substitute Words: Embryo (and various words associated with embryo).

•           Ermine (Weasel with white winter fur): Substitute Words: Weasel, ferret (A weasel-like, usually albino mammal), polecat.

•           Falcon: Substitute Words: Hawks

•           Fish: Substitute Words:

•           Fly

•           Fox

•           Frog: Substitute Words: Tadpole, toad (resemble frogs.)

•           Goat: (See: Sheep).

•           Goldfinch

•           Goose

•           Grasshopper (Locust) (Cricket) (Cicada).

•           Hare (Rabbit)

•           Hog: Substitute Words: Pig, boar, warthog.

•           Horse

•           Lamb: Substitute Words: Sheep (See Goat).

•           Lark

•           Leopard: Substitute Words: Panther, cheetah, snow leopard.

•           Lion

•           Owl

•           Ox

•           Partridge: Substitute Words: Grouse.

•           Peacock: Substitute Words: Peafowl.

•           Pelican

•           Phoenix

•           Ram: Subsitute Words: Sheep

•           Rat (Mouse): Substitute Words: Rodent

•           Raven (Crow): (See Black Bird).

•           Scorpion

•           Shell (Cockleshell or the Scalloped shell)

•           Snail

•           Snake, Dragon

•           Sparrow

•           Spider

•           Stag: Substitute Words: Deer & deer-like-animals, elk. (See Horns).

•           Stork

•           Swallow

•           Unicorn

•           Whale

•           Wolf

•           Woodpecker 

 

 

Symbolic Artifacts

 

•           Anchor

•           Armor

•           Arrow:  Substitute Words: Missile, darts, target

•   Balls

•           Banner

•           Bells

•           Book

•           Bow

•           Box Of Ointment

•           Bread

•           Cauldron Of Oil: (kettle or vat)

•           Cloak Or Coat (See Robe): Substitute Words: [Cape, smock, jacket].

•           Club (Bat)

•           Coins

•           Comb

•           Crutch

•           Dagger

•           Dice:  Substitute Words: Lots (An object used in making a determination or choice at random).

•           Dish

•           Fetters (Chains) (Irons)

•           Gate: Substitute Words: (Entrance)

•           Girdle (Cincture): Substitute Words: [Belt, sash].

•           Glass: Substitute Words: [Window, lenses (glasses), crystal, jar].

•           Globe

•           Gridiron: (parallel metal bars/ grill) Substitute Words: Framework (flat), grating, grate

•           Halberd: (an ax-like blade and a steel spike mounted on the end of a long shaft)       

•           Hammer: Substitute Words: [Mallet].

•           Harp: Substitute Words: [Lyre.]

•           Hatchet (Ax)

•           Key

•           Knife: Substitute Words: [Blade, lancet, machete, scalpel, spreader (butter knife)].

•           Ladder: Substitute Words: [Staircase, stairway, hatchway, ratline].

•           Lamp: Substitute Words: [Bulb, headlight]

•           Lance

•           Millstone: Substitute Words: [Grindstone]

•           Mirror: (See Glass)

•           Money

•           Mortar and Pestle

•           Musical Instruments

•           Nails: Substitute Words: [Brad, claw, fingernail, spike, tack]

•           Organ: Substitute Words: [Appendage, harmonica]

•           Painting: Substitute Words: [Model, mural, poster].

•           Pen: Substitute Words: [Plotter, quill, style].

•           Pillar: Substitute Words: [Column, pier].

•           Pincers (Shears): Substitute Words: [Forceps, tweezers, clipper, scissors, snips]

•           Plane: Substitute Words: [Cross section, airplane].

•           Ring: Substitute Words: [Band, circle, coil, halo, life preserver, wheel, wreath]

•           Robe

•           Rope: Substitute Words: [Cord, lanyard, lasso, leash, line, strand, tether]

•           Rule: Substitute Words: [T-square, tape measure].

•           Saw

•           Scales: Substitute Words: Balance, Richter scale, sliding scale

•           Scepter

•           Scourge: (A whip used to inflict punishment.) Substitute Words: [Flagellate, lash, switch].

•           Scroll: Substitute Words: [Parchment, papyrus, paper].

•           Scythe: (Like the sickle)

•           Seal: Substitute Words: [Mark, stamp].

•           Ship: Substitute Words: [Boat, galleon, lifeboat, outboard, spaceship, tanker, windjammer].

•           Spear: Substitute Words: [Gig, javelin, pike, shaft, trident].

•           Sponge

•           Staff: (See Crutch). Substitute Words: [Baton, crutch, rod, scepter, walking stick]

•           Stake: St. Dorothea and St. Agnes.

•           Surgical Instruments

•           Sword: Substitute Words: [Blade, cutlass, foil, hanger, rapier, saber, scimitar, tuck]

•           Torch: Substitute Words: [Flashlight, lantern]

•           Towel: Substitute Words: [Napkin, tissue, wipe].

•           Tower: Substitute Words: [Minaret, pylon, steeple, ziggurat]

•           Vase:  Substitute Words: [Urn, vessel].

•           Veil

•           Wheel: Substitute Words: [Caster, roller]

•           Winepress: Substitute Words: Vat

 

Symbolic Plants

 

•           Acacia

•           Almond

•           Anemone:  (Also Sea Anemone).

•           Apple

•           Aspen

•           Banana (See Plantain).

•           Bramble

•           Bulrush: (Such as the papyrus and the cattail.)

•           Carnation

•           Cedar

•           Cherry

•           Chestnut

•           Clover

•           Cockle

•           Columbine

•           Cyclamen

•           Cypress

•           Daisy

•           Dandelion

•           Elm

•           Fern

•           Fig

•           Fruit

•           Gourd

•           Grain: Substitute Words: (See Wheat)

•           Grapes

•           Hyacinth

•           Hyssop

•           Ilex (Holly Oak)

•           Iris

•           Ivy

•           Jasmine

•           Lady’s Bed-Straw

•           Laurel

•           Lemon

•           Lily

•           Lily of the Valley

•           Myrtle (periwinkle)

•           Narcissus

•           Oak

•           Olive

•           Orange

•           Palm

•           Pansy

•           Peach

•           Pear

•           Plane Tree

•           Plantain

•           Plum

•           Pomegranate

•           Poppy

•           Reed

•           Rose

•           Seeds

•           Strawberry

•           Thistle

•           Thorn

•           Tree

•           Tree of Jesse

•           Vine

•           Violet

•           Weeds (See Cockle).

•           Wheat

•           Willow

 

 

Symbolic Radiances, Letters, Colors Geometric Figures

and Numbers

 

•           Aureole: Substitute Words: Corona

•           Mandorla or Almond

•           Halo or Nimbus

•           Glory

Letters:

1.         A and W: Alpha and Omega

3.         T

5.         I H S, I H C

7.         I N R I

 

Monograms: (A character composed of two or more letters)

9.         XP

11.       IC XC NIKA

 

Colors:

•           Black

•           Blue

•           Brown

•           Gold: See Yellow. 

•           Gray

•           Green

•           Purple

•           Red: (See Blood).

•           Violet

•           White

•           Yellow

 

 

Geometrical Figures

 

•           Circle: (See Halo or Ring).

•           Nimbus

•           Triangle

•           Triquetra

•           Square

•           Pentagram: (Five Point Star) Substitute Words: (Star)

 

 

Numbers

 

•           One

•           Two

•           Three

•           Four

•           Five

•           Six

•           Seven

•           Eight

•           Nine

•           Ten

•           Twelve

•           Thirteen

•           Forty

•           One Hundred

•           One Thousand

 

 

Symbols: Earth and Sky

 

•           Ashes

•           Carbuncle: (Deep blood-red stone) 

•           Clouds

•           Coral

•           Darkness

•           Dawn

•           Diamond

•           Earth

•           East

•           Fire and Flames, Candle

•           Fountain

•           Garden

•           Gold

•           Harbor

•           Honey

•           Ivory

•           Light

•           North

•           Oil

•           Pearl

•           Pitch: Any of various natural bitumens, such as mineral pitch or asphalt.

•           Rainbow

•           Rivers

•           Rocks, Stones

•           Salt

•           Silver: See White.

•           Smoke

•           South

•           Star

•           Sun and Moon

•           Time

•           Water

•           Well

 

 

Symbols: The Human Body

 

•           Blood

•           Breast

•           Ear: Substitute Words: (Hearing)

•           Eye

•           Foot

•           Hair

•           Hand

•           Head

•           Heart

•           Nudity

•           Skeleton

•           Stigmata

 

 

Symbols: Religious Dress

 

•           Alb

•           Amice

•           Biretta

•           Cassock

•           Chasuble

•           Cope

•           Cord: (Or cincture) 

•           Dalmatic

•           Maniple

•           Mantelletta

•           Mitre (Miter)

•           Morse (Brooch)

•           Mozzetta

•           Pallium

•           Ring

•           Rochet

•           Scapular

•           Skull-Cap (Zucchetto)

•           Stole

•           Surplice

•           Tiara

•           Tonsure

•           Tunicle

•           Veil

•           Wimple