Saint symbolism has been used from the very beginnings of the religion. Each saint is said to have led an exemplary life and symbols have been used to tell these stories throughout the history of the Church. A number of Christian saints are traditionally represented by a symbol or iconic motif associated with their life, termed an attribute or emblem, to identify them. The study of these forms part of iconography in art history. They were particularly used so that the illiterate could recognize a scene, and to give each of the Saints something of a personality in art. They are often carried in the hand by the Saint.
Attributes often vary with either time or geography, especially between Eastern Christianity and the West. Orthodox images more often contained inscriptions with the names of saints, so the Eastern repertoire of attributes is generally smaller than the Western.[c] Many of the most prominent saints, like Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist can also be recognised by a distinctive facial type. Some attributes are general, such as the martyr's palm. The use of a symbol in a work of art depicting a Saint reminds people who is being shown and of their story. The following is a list of some of these attributes.
Saints listed by name
Saints (A–H)
Saints (I–P)
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
See also
- Christian symbolism
- Arma Christi
- Animals in Christian art
- Plants in Christian iconography
Notes
References
External links
- "Christian Iconography". Augusta State University. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014.
- "Hagiographies, hymnography, and icons for many Orthodox saints". Orthodox Church in America.
- "Saints' Badges or Shields".
