Religions, like language, are symbol systems. Within any religion there are symbols relating to mythologies, mythological figures, concepts, ceremonies, creation stories, and other important elements of the religious system. Religious icons are symbols of the interrelationships of many of these items.
Crucifixes
One of the main icons of Christianity is the crucifix. For the Christian believer—Christianity is a religion that stresses the importance of belief—the icon of the cross is a reminder of the mythology of the crucifixion of Jesus as well as a symbol designating a follower of the Christian religion. In his book Dictionary of Symbolism, Hans Biedermann writes:
“The familiar Christian symbolism of the cross refers to the means of Christ’s execution, an instrument of excessive cruelty that, however, through the Resurrection, came to symbolize eternal life.”
The actual cross which would have been used by the Romans for the crucifixion, by the way, was T-shaped.
The Maryhill Museum of Art near Goldendale, Washington, has a display of crucifixes.
According to the Maryhill Museum of Art display:
“These carved Christ figures and crucifixes are part of a collection of more than 30 that once belonged to Loïe Fuller. They were given to her by Désiré-Joseph Mercier, Cardinal Archbishop of Mechelen (1851-1926). Mercier was a Belgian and served as his country’s Catholic primate from 1906 to 1926. He is remembered for his staunch opposition to the German occupation of Belgium that began in 1914.”
Crucifixion
An important part of Christian mythology relates to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The pictorial representations of this mythical event are more imaginary than real—historical and archaeological data on actual Roman crucifixions from this era are generally very different than artists conceptions from many centuries later. Shown below are several paintings of the crucifixion which are on display in the Portland Art Museum.
Altarpiece
Portable altarpieces such as the one shown below were used for personal religious devotions. This altarpiece, on display in the Portland Art Museum, was made by a fourteenth-century follower of Bernardo Daddi.
Saint John Altarpiece
The Portland Art Museum has a display of Francecuccio Ghissi’s Saint John Altarpiece. While this is the most extensive surviving ensemble of Francecuccio Ghissi’s work, the original location of the altarpiece is still a mystery: it was probably made for a church or chapel in the Marche region of Italy. Sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, the altarpiece was removed, sawed apart, and then sold in pieces to maximize profits. Eventually, most of the panels were acquired by various American museums.
Saints
In Christianity, as in some other religions, saints are historical and/or mythological figures whose lives, and often deaths, symbolize important aspects of Christian beliefs. As Christianity spread throughout the world, it was not uncommon for non-Christian gods and goddesses to be reinvented as Christian saints. The presence of saints, who have assumed the powers of minor gods, had led many scholars to classify Christianity as polytheistic rather than monotheistic.
According to the Maryhill Museum of Art display:
“There were highly influential bishops of the early Christian church who played pivotal roles in shaping Christian theology. In Roman Catholicism they are honored as Doctors of the Church. The three are venerated as saints throughout Christendom.”
Martyred Female Saint
Shown below is the depiction of a martyred female saint by a fourteenth-century unknown French artist. This is on display in the Portland Art Museum.
St. Christopher
Shown below is a depiction of St. Christopher by an unknown Franco-Flemish sculptor. This was made between 1480 and 1520. According to the Portland Art Museum display:
“The name Christopher means ‘Christ-bearer’ and was given to the saint because he traversed a raging river carrying the infant Jesus on his shoulder. Although the saint had performed this service for many adults, he was challenged by the great weight of the child. It was not until they reached the opposite bank that Jesus revealed his true identity to his faithful servant. Christopher became the patron saint of travelers.”
St. George
Shown below is St. George the Great Martyr icon which was made in 2011 by Moldovian artist Diana Akhi. The piece is egg tempera and gold leaf on wood panel. This piece is on display in the Maryhill Museum of Art.
The Holy Trinity
The concept of the Holy Trinity can be baffling to non-Christians. Hans Biedermann writes:
“The Trinity is the doctrine of the unity of God in three persons—God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost)—formulated at the time of confrontation with Arianism (Council of Nicea, A. D. 325).”
In his book God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World—And Why Their Differences Matter, Stephen Prothero writes:
“Still accepted today by all three major branches of Christianity—Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism—the Nicene Creed is organized around the doctrine of the Trinity, with sections on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.”
This sculptural group, on display in the Portland Art Museum, was made between 1300 and 1350 by an unknown French sculptor.
Madonna and Child
The Christian mythology of the birth of Jesus is very similar to many of the Egyptian stories of the pharaohs in which a god had impregnated a young woman and as a result the baby was destined for greatness and deification. All of the works shown below are on display in the Portland Art Museum.
Saint Francis
The painting shown below was done by Italian artist Carlo Crivelli (ca. 1430-1495). This work is on display at the Portland Art Museum.
Religion 101
Religion 101 is a series which examines various religious topics in which religion is not defined as Christianity or monotheism. More about religious icons:
Religion 101: Orthodox Christian Icons (Photo Diary)
Religion 101: Buddhist Icons (Photo Diary)
Religion 101: Hindu Icons (Photo Diary)
Some of the other topics:
Religion 101: Shamanistic Ceremonies
Religion 101: Atheism
Religion 101: Blasphemy
Religion 101: Christian Imperialism
Religion 101: A Seventeenth-Century Jewish Messiah
Religion 101: Ancient Egyptian Polytheism