In Revelation, the meanings of symbols existing in the Jewish and pagan world were again reinterpreted in the light of the Christian's experience in Christ. The point is that the symbols were not strange codes that one had to have special knowledge to understand. It's safe to say John's readers knew what he meant. Whether they had formerly been Jews or pagans, they would read the language of myth as fluently as any modern reader of the daily papers reads the conventional symbols of a political cartoon. This makes sense if we consider a type of modern graphic genre, the political cartoon.
Political cartoons use stereotyped images.
Beasley-Murray gives some examples of modern cartoon symbols. Two examples are John Bull, who represents the temper of Britain, and Uncle Sam, the spirit of the United States. The lion also represents Britain and the eagle the United States. Two other symbols are the bear for Russia and the dragon for China. Often these and other political figures are drawn as caricatures.