Many Christians all over the world are readily familiar with the ichthus symbol. They may not have known what it was called, aside from the colloquial designation "Jesus fish."Nonetheless, this enduring ancient symbol is now frequently found in artwork, in jewelry, and on the back bumpers of millions of automobiles. Sometimes it is inscribed with the original Greek letters or the word "JESUS" inside of the fish shape.

What is it that makes this metaphoric representation of Jesus Christ so appealing? To answer this question, we must trace the historical origins of the symbolism used by the early Christians.

The Story Behind the Early Christians

During the first several centuries of the new millennium, Christianity grew from a small group of followers into an expansive, universalizing movement.

The more the faith spread and won new converts from various strains of paganism, the more that the empire began to persecute Christians. Like virtually all governments in human history, the state saw this new group of radicals as a threat to its continued dominance over human affairs.

Many thousands of Christ's early followers during the 1st century C.E. and the following two centuries were martyred as they chose to stand for their beliefs rather than renounce their religious convictions or participate in pagan ceremonies and rituals. People eventually began to pay attention to the injustice.

Roman law recognized no protection for religious tolerance until the Edict of Milan in the middle of the 4th century. Persecution and violence still continued periodically after the edict, but over time the triumph of Christian practices, compassion, and worldview would transform not only Ancient Rome, but all of Western civilization.

This long process of social transformation happened over generations, and frequently was confronted by challenges from the ruling authorities. This struggle carried from late antiquity all the way through the Middle Ages and into more modern history.

The atmosphere of persecution was especially strong during the 2nd century C.E. Roman Emperors from Nero to Trajan even took direct action against Christians. They were a common scapegoat whenever famines or natural disasters befell predominantly pagan populations. Because pagan rituals were often public events, there was also skepticism about the more private and reserved nature of Christian prayer and worship.

Where Did the Ichthus Fish Come From?

Despite these legal and cultural barriers, Christianity continued to spread consistently around the known world through writings and word of mouth. Quite voluntarily, many ancient peoples found the teachings of Jesus to be a more compelling and beneficial set of doctrines to live by than the alternatives offered by the various pagan religions.

This breaking away put Christian groups even more at odds with adherents of other religions. In order to evade detection and the persecution that followed, many congregations began using the ichthus symbol resembling a fish as a way to identify each other without drawing attention. It was used to signify meeting places for Christians and is mentioned in ancient sources as a "code word" to recognize one another (without risking revealing themselves to an enemy).

Scholars make a strong case that this is why the ichthus fish was adopted as a Christian symbol. It functioned like a secretive form of communication between different churches and among individual parishioners without endangering their survival.

Why is the 1 oz Mason Mint ICTHUS SilverRound Popular and an Excellent Investment in Silver?

•         Produced in the USA
•         Made from .999 fine silver with a weight of 1 troy ounce
•         Eligible for Precious Metals IRAs
•         Excellent to add to your bullion portfolio