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The Renaissance period was dominated by geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci, Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Giorgione. They were "thought to be set apart from ordinary mortals by the divine inspiration guiding their efforts, and worthy of being called 'divine,' 'immortal,' and 'creative.' " This period was short due to the life span of the few masters, since no one else could imitate their style.
Much of the Bible uses symbolism in prophesy and parables. Symbolism is also used heavily in Christian art, especially during the Renaissance. Some of the Renaissance symbolism comes from the Bible.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." - Matthew 5:13
When early Christians were persecuted and met in secret, they could use their symbols as a form of unity and keep their meaning safe from the pagans who didn't understand them. Thus, religious symbols were a source of power.
| animal | meanings |
|---|
| ape | sin, cunning, lust |
| basilisk | (rooster/snake) Satan |
| bear | cruelty, evil, Persia |
| bear cubs | new converts |
| bee | activity, order, work, sweetness, unity, virgin Mary |
| birds | soul |
| blackbird | temptation of the flesh |
| butterfly | resurrection |
| camel | temperance, royalty, dignity, John the Baptist |
| cat | laziness, lust |
| centaur | (man/horse) savage passions, adultery, heretic, good versus evil |
| crane | vigilance, loyalty, |
| deer | piety, solitude, purity |
| dog | watchfulness, fidelity, faithful |
| dolphin | resurrection, salvation, Christ |
| donkey | humility, nativity |
| dove | purity, peace, Holy Spirit, grace |
| dragon | Satan |
| eagle | resurrection, Christ, courage, faith, meditation, generosity |
| egg | hope, resurrection |
| falcon | evil thought (wild), Gentile convert (domestic) |
| fish | Christ, baptism, Peter |
| fly | sin, bearer of evil, pestilence |
| fox | cunning, guile, Satan |
| frog | heretics, worldly |
| goat | those condemned |
| goldfinch | the Passion of Christ |
| goose | providence, vigilance |
| grasshopper | conversion to Christianity |
| griffin | (eagle/lion) Jesus, those who persecute Christians |
| hog | sensuality, gluttony |
| horse | lust |
| lamb | Christ, sinner |
| lark | humility of priesthood |
| leopard | sin, cruelty, Satan |
| lion | strength, majesty, courage, resurrection, Christ, John Mark, Satan, watchfulness |
| owl | Satan, trickery, solitude, wisdom, Christ |
| ox | Israel, patience, strength, Christ, Luke |
| partridge | the church, truth, deceit, theft, Satan |
| peacock | immortality, church |
| pelican | crucifixion, blood |
| phoenix | resurrection, crucifixion, faith, constancy |
| rabbit | to hope in Christ, lust |
| ram | Christ, victorious, strength |
| rat | evil |
| raven | Satan, solitude |
| rooster | watchfulness, vigilance, Peter, the Passion |
| scorpion | evil, Judas |
| shell | pilgrimage |
| snail | sinner, laziness |
| sparrow | lowly |
| spider | miser, Satan, malice |
| stoat | purity |
| stork | chastity, piety, the Annunciation |
| swallow | the Incarnation |
| unicorn | purity, feminine chastity, virgin Mary, Jesus |
| whale | Satan |
| woodpecker | Satan, heresy |
| plants | meanings |
|---|
| almond | divine favor |
| apple | evil, Christ |
| aspen | cross |
| bramble | burning bush, virgin Mary |
| bulrush | multitude of faithful |
| carnation | pure love |
| cedar | Christ, beauty, majesty |
| cherry | good works, delights of blessed |
| chestnut | chastity |
| clover | trinity |
| cockle | wickedness in the church |
| columbine | Holy Spirit |
| cypress | death |
| daisy | innocence |
| dandelion | the Passion |
| elm | dignity of life |
| fern | solitary humility |
| fig | lust |
| fir | patience |
| fruit | fruits of the spirit |
| gourd | resurrection |
| grain | humanity of Christ |
| grapes | blood of Christ |
| holly | crown of thorns |
| hyacinth | prudence, peace of mind |
| iris | Mary's sorrow at the cross |
| ivy | death, immortality |
| laurel | chastity, triumph, eternity |
| lemon | marital fidelity |
| lily | purity, virgin Mary |
| myrtle | Gentile converts |
| oak | strong faith, endurance |
| olive | peace |
| orange | purity, chastity, generosity |
| palm | victory |
| peach | silence, salvation |
| pear | love of Christ |
| plum | fidelity, independence |
| pomegranate | church |
| poppy | sleep, fertility, extravagance, indifference, death |
| reed | the Passion |
| rose | red - martyrdom, white - purity |
| strawberry | righteousness |
| thistle | sorrow, sin |
| thorn | grief, trials, sin, martyrdom |
| tree | life, death |
| vine | relationship between God and man |
| violet | humility |
| wheat | earth's bounty |
| willow | gospel |
| elements | meanings |
|---|
| ashes | penitence, death, short life |
| clouds | unseen God |
| darkness | spiritual darkness |
| dawn | blood of Christ, resurrection |
| fire | martyrdom, religious zeal, Holy Spirit, torments of Hell |
| fountain | virgin Mary |
| garden | Immaculate Conception |
| gold | pure light, wealth, heaven |
| harbor | eternal life |
| honey | work of God |
| light | Christ |
| oil | grace |
| pearl | salvation |
| rainbow | union, reconciliation |
| rocks | Jesus, Peter |
| salt | strength, superiority, protection |
| smoke | vanity, short life, wrath of God |
| star | divine guidance |
| stones | firmness, Stephen |
| sun | Jesus |
| moon | crucifixion |
| water | cleansing, purifying, innocence |
| well | baptism, life |
| wings | divine mission |
The School of Athens, Raphael Sanzio (1510)
| objects | meanings |
|---|
| anchor | hope, steadfastness |
| armor | chivalry, faith |
| arrow | dedicated to God, plague |
| aureole | (glowing light) divinity |
| axe | destruction, John the Baptist, Joseph |
| banner | victory |
| beehive | eloquence |
| book | OT, NT, scholar, author |
| bow | war, power |
| bread | life |
| club | betrayal of Jesus, James the Less |
| dice | the Passion |
| chains | the Passion |
| gate | death, entrance to Heaven, judgment, virginity |
| girdle | chastity |
| glass | purity |
| globe | power, God |
| halo | divinity, patrons |
| hammer | the Passion |
| harp | David, Psalms |
| ink pen | Mark, Matthew |
| key | Peter |
| ladder | the Passion |
| lamp | wisdom, piety |
| letters | A & W (alpha & omega) - Jesus, T - God, INRI - Jesus on cross |
| mirror | virgin Mary |
| money | the Passion, Matthew |
| nails | the Passion |
| painting | Luke |
| plane | Joseph |
| ring | eternity |
| robe | the Passion |
| rope | Judas |
| saw | Joseph, Simon the Zealot |
| scales | equality, justice |
| ship | church |
| sword | Paul |
| torch | betrayal |
| towel | purity, the Passion |
| vase | the Annunciation, body separated from the soul |
| veil | modesty, purity |
| wheel | divine power |
| winepress | wrath of God |
| colors | meanings |
|---|
| black | death, witchcraft, mourning, sickness |
| black & white | purity |
| blue | heaven, heavenly love, truth |
| brown | spiritual death, renounce the world |
| gray | mourning, humility, Lent |
| green | triumph of spring, life, John the Baptist |
| purple | royalty, God, sorrow |
| red | blood, love, hate, emotions, Romans, martyrs |
| violet | love, truth, suffering |
| white | innocence, purity, holiness |
| yellow | divinity, Peter, jealousy, treason, Judas, disease |
| shapes | meanings |
|---|
| triangle | trinity |
| square | earth |
| circle | heaven, eternity |
| pentagram | 5 wounds of Jesus on the cross |
| numbers | meanings |
|---|
| 1 | unity |
| 2 | nature of Christ, human and divine |
| 3 | completion, trinity, tomb |
| 4 | gospels |
| 5 | wounds of Jesus |
| 6 | creation, divine power, majesty, wisdom, love, justice |
| 7 | love, grace, Holy Spirit, perfection |
| 8 | resurrection |
| 9 | angels |
| 10 | 10 Commandments |
| 12 | apostles, church |
| 13 | faithfulness, betrayal |
| 40 | trial |
| 100 | plentitude |
| 1000 | eternity |
The Renaissance painter used symbols to embed meaning into their paintings. God has put His own messages into everything around us if we only look and study.
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20-27
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