Vesica piscis: Difference between revisions
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
The vesica piscis has been the subject of mystical speculation at several periods of history; it is thought to represent the astrological sign of [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]], and is viewed as important in [[Freemasonry]]<ref>[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/secrets_solomon_temple.html SECRET KNOWLEDGE: the Vesica Piscis], retrieved 2010-01-30.</ref> and some forms of [[Flower of Life|Kabbalah]]. More recently, numerous [[New Age]] authors have interpreted it as a [[yoni]]c symbol and claimed that this, a reference to the female genitals, is a traditional interpretation.<ref>Barbara Walker, The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (Harper San Francisco, 1983)</ref><ref>Kevin L. Gest, The Secrets of Solomon's Temple (ISBN 0853182566)</ref><ref>Kathy Jones, The Goddess in Glastonbury (1990)</ref><ref>Margaret Starbird, Magdalene's Lost Legacy, Symbolic Numbers & Sacred Union</ref><ref>Constance S. Rodriguez PhD, LCSW - Sacred Portals, Pathways to the Self (ISBN 9781403375926)</ref> |
The vesica piscis has been the subject of mystical speculation at several periods of history; it is thought to represent the astrological sign of [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]], and is viewed as important in [[Freemasonry]]<ref>[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/secrets_solomon_temple.html SECRET KNOWLEDGE: the Vesica Piscis], retrieved 2010-01-30.</ref> and some forms of [[Flower of Life|Kabbalah]]. More recently, numerous [[New Age]] authors have interpreted it as a [[yoni]]c symbol and claimed that this, a reference to the female genitals, is a traditional interpretation.<ref>Barbara Walker, The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (Harper San Francisco, 1983)</ref><ref>Kevin L. Gest, The Secrets of Solomon's Temple (ISBN 0853182566)</ref><ref>Kathy Jones, The Goddess in Glastonbury (1990)</ref><ref>Margaret Starbird, Magdalene's Lost Legacy, Symbolic Numbers & Sacred Union</ref><ref>Constance S. Rodriguez PhD, LCSW - Sacred Portals, Pathways to the Self (ISBN 9781403375926)</ref> |
||
[[Image:christian fis symbol.jpg|thumb|left|Christian fish symbol, now popular with the 'Born Again' movement.]] |
|||
The traditional fish symbolism of Christianity is also likely to be related to the Vesica Piscis. One of the common monograms for Jesus is 'IHS' which was derived from the first three letters of his name in Greek, Ihsous Ιησονς, and for stands for ‘Ihsous Homine Salvator’ or 'Jesus, Saviour of Men'. But it is also said that IHS really denoted ''ichthys'' ιχθνς, the Greek word for ‘fish’, because the disciples were Fishers of Men. The full monogram for ιχθνς is said to stand for 'Ihsous Christos Teou Thios Soter' Ιησονς Χηριστος Τηεον Θιος Σοτερ, or 'Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour'.<ref>Ralph Ellis: ''Jesus, Last of the Pharaohs;'' and ''King Jesus''</ref> |
|||
==Uses of the shape== |
==Uses of the shape== |
||
Revision as of 17:01, 8 October 2010
The Vesica piscis is a shape which is the intersection of two circles with the same radius, intersecting in such a way that the center of each circle lies on the circumference of the other. The name literally means the "bladder of a fish" in Latin. The shape is also called mandorla ("almond" in Italian).
The term is also used more generally for any symmetric lens.[1]
Mystical and religious significance
The mathematical ratio of the width of the vesica piscis to its height is the square root of 3, or 1.7320508... (since if straight lines are drawn connecting the centers of the two circles with each other, with the two points where the circles intersect, two equilateral triangles join along an edge). The ratios 265:153 = 1.7320261... and 1351:780 = 1.7320513... are two of a series of approximations to this value, each with the property that no better approximation can be obtained with smaller whole numbers. Archimedes of Syracuse, in his On the Measurement of the Circle, uses these ratios as upper and lower bounds:[2]
One of the numbers in these ratios (153) also appears in the Gospel of John (21:11) as the number of fish Jesus caused to be caught in a miraculous Draught of Fish,[3] and significance has sometimes been attached to this.
The vesica piscis has been the subject of mystical speculation at several periods of history; it is thought to represent the astrological sign of Pisces, and is viewed as important in Freemasonry[4] and some forms of Kabbalah. More recently, numerous New Age authors have interpreted it as a yonic symbol and claimed that this, a reference to the female genitals, is a traditional interpretation.[5][6][7][8][9]
The traditional fish symbolism of Christianity is also likely to be related to the Vesica Piscis. One of the common monograms for Jesus is 'IHS' which was derived from the first three letters of his name in Greek, Ihsous Ιησονς, and for stands for ‘Ihsous Homine Salvator’ or 'Jesus, Saviour of Men'. But it is also said that IHS really denoted ichthys ιχθνς, the Greek word for ‘fish’, because the disciples were Fishers of Men. The full monogram for ιχθνς is said to stand for 'Ihsous Christos Teou Thios Soter' Ιησονς Χηριστος Τηεον Θιος Σοτερ, or 'Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour'.[10]
Uses of the shape
In Christian art, some aureolas are in the shape of a vertically oriented vesica piscis, and the seals of ecclesiastical organizations can be enclosed within a vertically oriented vesica piscis (instead of the more usual circular enclosure).
The cover of the Chalice Well in Glastonbury (Somerset, United Kingdom) depicts a stylized version of the vesica piscis design (see the picture).
The vesica piscis has been used as a symbol within Freemasonry, most notably in the shapes of the collars worn by officiants of the Masonic rituals. [11] It was also considered the proper shape for the enclosure of the seals of Masonic lodges. [12] [13]
It is similar to the Mastercard logo.
Gallery
-
-
Christ in majesty within a mandorla-shaped aureola, surrounded by emblems of the evangelists (13th century) -
Christ within a mandorla-shaped aureola, surrounded by emblems of the evangelists (fresco) -
Church of Scotland logo
-
Coat of arms of Guam -
The Lamen of Ordo Templi Orientis is in the shape of the Vesica piscis. -
Madonna in mandorla attended by angels.
.png)
References
- ^ Weisstein, Eric W. "Lens". MathWorld.
- ^ Heath, Thomas Little (1897), The Works of Archimedes, Cambridge University, pp. lxxvii , 50, retrieved 2010-01-30
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Biblegateway John 21:1-14
- ^ SECRET KNOWLEDGE: the Vesica Piscis, retrieved 2010-01-30.
- ^ Barbara Walker, The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (Harper San Francisco, 1983)
- ^ Kevin L. Gest, The Secrets of Solomon's Temple (ISBN 0853182566)
- ^ Kathy Jones, The Goddess in Glastonbury (1990)
- ^ Margaret Starbird, Magdalene's Lost Legacy, Symbolic Numbers & Sacred Union
- ^ Constance S. Rodriguez PhD, LCSW - Sacred Portals, Pathways to the Self (ISBN 9781403375926)
- ^ Ralph Ellis: Jesus, Last of the Pharaohs; and King Jesus
- ^ J.S.M. Ward, An Interpretation of Our Masonic Symbols, 1924, pp. 34–5.
- ^ Albert G. Mackey, Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry, 1921 ed., vol. 2, p. 827.
- ^ Shawn Eyer, The Vesica Piscis and Freemasonry. Retrieved on 2009-04-18.