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Christian Art Symbolism Essay

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Christian Art Symbolism Essay
Christian Art created during the Middle Ages is full of symbolism. From animals and plants to colors and numbers, most every aspect of Medieval Christian art and architecture is symbolic of something.

The following are examples of symbolic colors and their meanings:

* Black: symbolic of death or loss
* Blue: the color of the sky, is symbolic of heaven, may also be used to symbolize truth
* Brown: symbolic of spiritual death and degradation
* Green: the color of plant life, used to represent the triumph of life over death
* Purple: symbolic of penitence and mourning, is also the color of royalty
* Red: the color of blood, symbolic of passion
* White or silver: symbolic of purity, innocence and holiness
* Yellow: symbolic of divinity, …show more content…
* Wheat: symbolic of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist

The following are examples of other symbolic objects and their meanings:

* Apple: symbolic of sin
* Bell: symbolic of the call to worship and the proclamation of the gospel to the world
* Daisy: symbolic of the innocence of the Christ Child
* Lamp: symbolic of wisdom or God's presence
* pearl: symbolic of the kingdom of heaven
* Rainbow: symbolic of God's faithfulness and of His pardon and reconciliation to the faithful
* Scallop or Cockle Shell: symbolic of baptism, especially that of Christ
* Trumpet: symbolic of the Last Judgment, the resurrection, and the call to worship

The following are examples of symbolic numbers and their meanings:

* One: symbolic of singularity or of unity
* Two: symbolic of duality, often used to represent the material and spiritual, or the human and divine natures of Christ
* Three: symbolic of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
* Four: symbolic of the four Evangelists, also used to represent the four corners of the earth or the four seasons
* Five: symbolic of the wounds Jesus received on the cross
* Six: symbolic of creation and the created order because God created everything in six days
* Seven: symbolic of perfection and
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