The Straight Dope: Why is Satan often shown as having goatlike features? A Straight Dope Classic from Cecil's Storehouse of Human Knowledge Why is Satan often shown as having goatlike features? June 4, 1999 Dear Cecil: What's the deal with Satan and goats? In some pictures Satan has a goatee, horns, and hooves like a goat's. I don't read the Bible much, but is there a part where it says goats are evil or something like that? I'd like to know. — Jimmy Anderson, Arkansas Cecil replies: I don't know what it is with goats. You get my goat. Old goat. Scapegoat. Bible (well, New Testament) scholars will remember Matthew 25:31-33: "the Son of Man … will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left," the goats presumably headed for eternal damnation. The preachers say this is because sheep are obedient whereas goats are ornery and do their own thing. Also, goats have — one must speak frankly — prominent genitals. Sheep, on the other hand … sheepish?

Sheep to the slaughter? Sorry, babe, but I'd rather be a goat. All that having been said, the connection between Satan and goats is indirect. The goatlike features commonly attributed to the devil derive from the Greek pastoral deity Pan, who was half man, half goat. I have here a picture of a sixth-century Coptic ivory carving of Pan, and if you take away the pipes and give him a pitchfork, you're looking at the devil, complete with cloven hooves, hairy legs, horns, and beard. Oh, and prominent genitals, too. The phallic aspects tend to get airbrushed out of the modern picture of ol' Scratch, but let's not kid ourselves. When Christian artists pondered the most dangerous and subversive of the deadly sins, they weren't thinking of securities fraud. It was only natural that they should seize on the frankly sexual figure of Pan. (I'm thinking here of Pan-as-old-lech, not the romanticized Disney version.) I mean, if you want a truly disturbing portrait of wickedness, what are you going to pick up on, mass murder? Too alien.

Whereas sexual license … I'm not pointing any fingers, but this is a topic to which a lot of us can relate. Pan also had the advantage of being pagan, and since time immemorial the gods of one age have been the demons of the next. Satan wasn't drawn strictly from Pan, and for that matter portraits of the devil weren't as consistent as today's highly stylized version might suggest. Artists of centuries past, like Hollywood special-effects geniuses today, tended to be pretty eclectic in their search for frightening imagery. If you look through medieval woodcuts and such, you see a devil who's often claw footed, with a long pointed tail and sometimes wings — more on the order of a gargoyle. His color varies, too, though Satan was frequently portrayed as either black or red — black being the color of death, and red no doubt suggesting blood and carnality. The trident probably comes from Neptune. I could give you a long list of other precedents from ancient iconography, but let's skip that. The trick in portraying Satan has always been simple enough. You want a critter of which one thinks: Ooh, that's scary. But also: You know, I can see the appeal.

— Cecil Adams Spirit Walk Ministry - Mythic Animal Spirits Spirit Walk Ministry “a reading room for magical thinkers” Spirit Animals can also be mythical animals. A Mythical Animal Spirit can be a strong symbol for a change in life. Mythical Spirit Animals are not usually a birth totem, nor do they stay with a person for a long time. The mythical totem is likely there for just this one challenge in your life.﻿ Avanyu -- The feathered Native American Sky Snake and guardian of water. It is revered as the storm bringer and the changer of seasons. It is connected with lightning, thunderstorms and violent, sudden change. Its influence is most noted amongst the peoples settled around great rivers, like the mound builders of the Mississippi and the pueblo dwellers along the Rio Grande. Babel Fish -- (from " The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ") The Babel Fish represents removing barriers to communications, knowing what someone else is up to or mind or they knowing what you are up to, leeching off someone else’s ideas.

A load of dingo’s kidneys Benu/Bennu Bird -- (see: " Phoenix " below) Black Dog (Hell Hound) -- A black dog is the name given to a being found primarily in the folklores of the British Isles. The black dog is essentially a nocturnal apparition, often said to be associated with the Devil. It is generally supposed to be larger than a normal dog, and often has large, glowing eyes. It is often associated with electrical storms and also with crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways. Its appearance is regarded as a portent of death. Cabbit -- A cross between a cat and a rabbit. Male rabbits are famed for their willingness to attempt sex with any female animal of roughly the same size, whether it is a rabbit or not. In additional, female cats will happily raise the young of any species alongside their own kittens. Thus comes the legend of the cabbit. The cabbit represents particularly randy males and particularly maternal females Cheshire Cat -- The grinning, charismatic, trickster of Wonderland in the famed tale " Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ". The origins of the cat could have been from an old expression: "grinning like a Cheshire Cat".

The phrase possibly is a result of Cheshire cheese, which was sold often in the shape of a grinning cat. The "Cheshire Cat", therefore, was most likely a totem for the the cheese makers. In the story the cat appears and disappears at will, engaging Alice in amusing but sometimes vexing conversation. The cat sometimes raises philosophical points that annoy or baffle Alice. But, the Cheshire Cat is the only one in Wonderland who actually listens to Alice and he teaches Alice the ‘rules’ of Wonderland. A spirit guide that will give you insight into the madness of others and the seemingly absurd world around you. Chimera -- (Not to be confused with the “Chimaera” fish) According to Greek mythology, the Chimera was a monstrous fire-breathing creature composed of the parts of three animals, a lion, a goat and a tail that ended in a snake's head. A hybrid "monster" which has a deep connection to the evil and demonic.) (Physiology: an animal that contains more than one set of genetic codings.) The chimera represents what happens when you try to combine things and end up with the worst possible combination. Associated with a warning of genetic meddling .

Dragon -- The Dragon represents prosperity which may be of spiritual enlightenment rather than material riches, the guardian of treasures that lay hidden deep within the unconscious Fire Dragon -- Vitality, enthusiasm and courage, help in overcoming obstacles Air Dragon -- Great flashes of illumination in intellect and psyche, insight and clarity, trust your inner voice Earth Dragon -- Power, potential, riches Water Dragon -- Redirect your enthusiasm Gryphon (Griffin) -- A magical lion/bird guardian of sacred arcane libraries. It is said that no one can pass a Griffin if they are fearful, greedy, or have no self-confidence; they are refused entrance. It symbolizes a need to protect something powerful within by the use of fierce boundaries. Wisdom, agility, flexibility, persistence, guardian of hidden treasures, guardian of the path to spiritual enlightenment, a symbol of the divine nature, Griffins mated for life and if their partner died they would continue alone forever. Hell Hound -- (see: "Black Dog") Hydra -- (A dog monster with nine indestructible serpent heads and deadly poisonous blood. The Hydra of Lerna was killed by Hercules as one of his Twelve Labours .) Conquest of a powerful enemy.

Jackalope -- Extremely shy unless approached gently, can be aggressive and unpredictable, a medicinal mother’s milk, “the warrior rabbit”. (Legend says it is cross between an extinct pygmy-deer and a species of killer-rabbit, but in reality it is an ordinary rabbit or hare afflicted with the Shope papilloma virus (SPV), also known as cottontail rabbit papilloma virus, which produces benign tumors which resemeble horns. The virus was originally discovered in cottontail rabbits, but can also infect other leporidae ﻿ as well.﻿﻿ Kneazle -- (from the " Harry Potter " stories) Familiar of witches and wizards, similar to a cat in appearance. An uncanny ability to detect suspicious and distrustful people. Can safely guide their owner home. Kneazles must be licensed if they become tamed in the event that a Muggle mistakes it for a cat. Liver Bird -- Symbol of the city of Liverpool, England.

The Liver Bird was a mythical bird that once haunted the local shoreline .According to legend, they were a male and female pair, the female looking out to sea, (watching for the seamen to return safely home) whilst the male looks towards the city. Local legend also holds that the birds face away from each other as, if were they to mate and fly away, the city would cease to exist. Another local saying that, whenever a truly virgin lady passes by the Liver Buildings, the Liver Birds will flap their great wings. A symbol of sexual abstinence and innocence. Mermaid -- A legendary being of the sea, whose body is configured as half woman, half fish. Mermaids are commonly portrayed as being mesmerizing seductresses who lure men with their provocative beauty. While many a sailor has mistaken a dugong or other sea mammel for a mermaid, it is the way of this water nymph of the sea. The mermaid is akin to these creatures even to the point of being able to shape shift into one. The mermaid is a symbol of beauty and transformation, as well as an archetype of the classic dark female of mythology, (such as Lilith ), leading us into the realm of the deep sea. (the unconscious).

Mermaids call us to the unknown, urging us to abandon what we are and to become something new. If a mermaid has shown itself to you it may indicate a need to be near water to draw upon the energies associated with the element of water. Minotaur -- (Minotaur means " Bull of Minos ") A minotaur is part human, part bull indicating a union between your rational mind and your primative instincts. Minotaur might represent aggression, ferociousness, antagonism, or something or someone you see as a formidable enemy. It may reveal a situation you face may be bigger than you can handle and you are feeling overwhelmed. This strange totem is believed to have certain arcane powers, such as the ability to turn back time.﻿ Pegasus (The Winged Horse) -- Pegasus comes to us from Greek mythology. He was born of the blood of Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus. Pegasus was concerned with sacred places and guarding them. He is the inspirer of rising above difficulties and teaches the importance of having quick and agile wisdom, as well as humility and knowing one's boundaries.

In modern times, Pegasus is seen as the symbol for the immortality of the soul, and as the carrier and protector that guards the spirit in its journeys into the astral plane. Pegasus is the power of the creative spirit in all of us. Pegasus is the horse of the Muses and in the service of poets. He is the symbol of inspiration, and of the beauty we bring to our life and the lives of others. Pegasus, calls you to create, in music, in poetry, in writing, in art and to share your expressions of beauty. Phoenix -- "Death and Rebirth." The Greek Phoenix is a bird-like creature, that lives for 1000 years. Once that time is over, it builds its own funeral pyre, and throws itself into the flames. As it dies, it is reborn anew, and rises from the ashes to live another 1000 years. Phoenix symbolizes immortality, reincarnation and eternal light, the Phoenix brings with it a desire for change. When Phoenix comes it is likely that you are ready for a significant change, a renewal, a fresh perspective, or even a life-changing transformation.

"Arising from the ashes!" (In ancient Egypt the Phoenix is called the Bennu Bird ) The bird proudly willing to burn, So that he may live again, Chooses the flames of fires That burn the aged Phoenix The nature stands still Till a new young bird starts again, and begins the legend of the Phoenix. Pushmi-Pullyu -- (From " The Story of Doctor Dolittle ": A llama which has two heads at opposite ends of the body, when it tries to move, both heads try to go in opposite directions) Being pulled in different directions by opposing forces. A need to free yourself from contradicting ideas and choose a path to complete the journey. ("Pushmi-Pullyu" has begun to come into usage as " business jargon ") Rainbow Serpent -- Sacred dreaming. Having a primal connection to water, and all water sources, seeing the world in terms of good people and bad people, judging others, colour therapy, rainbows nourish you, benevolence and malevolence, fertility and fecundity, sacredness, the wisdom of mountains, gorges and rocky outcrops, animism. Roc (or Rukh) -- In Arabic and Persian mythology it is an enormous legendary bird of prey.

Marco Polo claimed "It was for all the world like an eagle, but one indeed of enormous size; so big in fact that its quills were twelve paces long and thick in proportion. And it is so strong that it will seize an elephant in its talons and carry him high into the air and drop him so that he is smashed to pieces; having so killed him, the bird swoops down on him and eats him and eats his victim at his leisure.” The Roc signifies fast traveling news coming from Western regions, or it could represent distant travels, playing with words, taunt with a serious subject, or just prattling at leisure. Sasquatch ( Yeti / Skunk Ape ) -- Primordial creatures of Earth. living secretly in harmony with Nature and preferring to be alone. They represent a desire to be reclusive, and shy. While possessing deep feelings, they may appear snippy and hostile toward others. These creatures denote spiritual truths not easily accepted. A longing to retrieve innocence lost Sea Goat -- (Not to be confused with the Goatfish ) The Sea Goat, is a mythical creature with the head and upper body of a goat, and the lower body and tail of a fish.

The fish part of this symbol represents passion, spirituality, intuition, connection with soul, the deepest depths of our being. The goat symbol represents intelligence, curiosity, ambition, but also steadiness, and ability to thrive in inhospitable environments. The goat climbs the highest mountains carefully, step by step, ever seeking higher vistas. Symbol of the Zodiac Sign “ Capricorn ” (Latin Capricornus) whose name is derived from the roots "caper" which means "goat", and "cornu" which means "horn”. Therefore, Capricorn means "Goat's Horn". Mythologically, this is the horn of the she-goat Amalthea who nurtured the infant Zeus. SIGNS: ANIMALS APE: In art it depicts malice. ASS: Humility. Patience. Animal of the poor. BASILISK: A fabled creature, based on Psalm 91:13: naming four animals for the Antichrist. These were interpreted by St. Augustine as four aspects of the Devil, who was trodden down by the triumphing Christ. Although a well-established symbol, and often represented in the Middle Ages, the basilisk rarely appears in Italian paintings of the Renaissance.

BAT: Night. Desolation. BEAR [wild]: Cruelty and evil influence. In the Old Testamtent it represented the kingdom of Persia. BEAR [tame]: Christianity.Typical is the life of St. Euphemia, who, when thrown to wild animals in the arena, was shown honor by a bear who appeared tame, and would not eat her. BEE: Tireless activity. Regal power. Chastity. Also associated with St. Rita of Cascia. BIRDS: Symbol of the "winged soul." Many artists have the Child Jesus holding a bird in His hand. BLACKBIRD: The black feathers and melodious song represented the temptation of sin. Tradition tells us that one day when St. Benedict was praying the Devil appeared to him in the form of a blackbird which tried to divert him from his devotions. St. Benedict was not fooled: he made the Sign of the Cross and the Devil departed in haste. BULL: Depicts strength; sometimes St. Sylvester is shown with a bull at his feet because he brought back a dead bull to life. If the bull is made of brass, this is a symbol of St.

Eustace who was Martyred with his family by being encased in a brass bull under which a fire was ignited. BUTTERFLY: Resurrection of Christ. CAMEL: Represents the virtue of temperance because he can go a long time without water. Also a sign of royalty in the Old Testament. Camel's hair is one of the the symbols of St. John the Baptist. CAT: Symbolizes laziness and lust gnerally because of its indolent habits, although the cat is a symbol of good, for instance, when it is shown with the Virgin because tradition has it that a cat gave birth to a litter of kittens in the stable at Bethlehem. Several Annunciation images portray the Virgin Mary with a little cat near her feet. CENTAUR: This mythic animal, part horse, part man is a symbol of St. Anthony Abbot because a mysterious animal appeared to him to point the way to reach St. Paul the Hermit in the desert. COCK: Because the cock crows early in the morning, it symbolizes vigilance, but when depicted in a painting of St. Peter, it signifies his denial of Jesus Christ and subsequent repentance. Thus the cock is now a symbol of the Passion.

[John 13:38] CRANE: Vigiliance. Loyalty and good works. Good order in monastic life. It is thought that at night some cranes maintain watch for the others. CROCODILE: Hypocrisy. DOG: Fidelity. Loyalty. Watchfulness. Orthodoxy. There are many examples of the faithfulness of dogs, such as the dog of [St.] Tobias and St. Roch, which brought bread to the Saint and remained at hs side. A dog with a flame is a symbol of St. Dominic. Occasionally black and white dogs were used as symbols of the Dominicans [Domini canes, that is dogs of the Lord] because the friars wear black and white robes. DOLPHIN: Resurrection. Faith. Love. Society. Since they swim alongside ships, they symbolize Christ guiding the Church. Often the dolphin is used to depict the whale of Jonah. When the dolphin is pictured with an anchor it represents the Catholic Church. DOVE: Purity. Innocence. Peace.

At the time of the flood, when Noah sent out for the last time the dove from the ark, it brought back an olive branch to show that the waters had receded and that God made peace with man. Under the Mosaic law the dove was used during the purification ceremony after the birth of a child. Thus one sometimes sees paintings of the Presentation of the Child Jesus with Joseph bearing two white turtledoves. [Luke 2:22, 24] As an emblem of purity the dove sometimes appears on top of St. Joseph's rod to show that he was chosen to be the husband of the Virgin Mary. The dove was seen by the father of St. Catherine of Siena above her head while she was in prayer. The most important use of the dove in art, however, is as the symbol of the Holy Ghost, which first appears as such at the Baptism of Christ [John1:32]. The dove, symbol of the Third Person the Holy Trinity, is shown in images of the Trinity, Baptism, the Annunciation and with the Host and or Chalice at Holy Mass. Seven doves are used to represent the seven spirits of God or the Holy Spirit in its sevenfold gifts of Grace.

This refers to the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1, 2: "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of His roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." The dove is also connected with the lives of several Saints other than St. Catherine. For instance, it is the attribute of St. Benedict because he saw the soul of his dead sister Scholastica fly up to Heaven in the shape of a white dove. The dove is also used as an attribute of St. Gregory the Great, for the dove of the Holy Spirit perched upon St. Gregory's shoulder while he wrote. DRAGON: Satan. Dragon chained or underfoot: The conquest of evil. The dragon as the enemy of God is vividly portrayed in Revelation 12:7-9: "And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his Angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found anymore in Heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his Angels were cast out with him." The dragon, expelled from Heaven, continues his war against God. Thus, he is depicted as the devouring monster who angrily destroys his victims. The dragon is the attribute of St. Margaret, and of St. Martha, both of whom are said to have fought, and vanquished, a dragon. It is also the attribute of a number of other Saints, including St. George of Cappadocia, who slew the dragon 'through the power of Jesus Christ.' The dragon appears with the Apostle Philip, St. Sylvester, and the Archangel Michael, who is often shown with a dragon under foot, in token of his victory over the powers of of darkness. The serpent, symbolizing the Devil and Satan, is depicted as the tempter of Adam and Eve. 'And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat' [Genesis 3:13].

Thus, the serpent represents in general the wily tempter that betrays man into sin. The serpent is sometimes portrayed at the foot of the Cross to signify that the evil power responsible for man's fall has been overcome by the power of Christ, Who died that man might be redeemed. EAGLE: The eagle may generally be interpreted as a symbol of the Resurrection. This is based upon the early belief that the eagle, unlike other birds, periodically renewed its plumage and its youthful vigor by flying near the sun and then plunging into the water. This interpretation is further borne out by Psalm 103:5: '. . . thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.' The eagle is also used to represent the new life begun at the baptismal font and the Christian soul strengthened by grace. 'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles . . .' [Isaiah 40:31]. The eagle is said to have the ability to soar until it is lost to sight, and still retain its ability to gaze into the blazing midday sun. For this reason, it has come to symbolize Christ.

In a more general sense, it symbolizes those who are just; or stands for the virtues of courage, faith, and contemplation. More rarely, when it is depicted as a bird of prey, the eagle suggests the demon who ravishes souls, or the sins of pride and worldly power. The eagle also symbolizes generosity. It was believed that the eagle, no matter how great its hunger, always left half its prey to the birds that followed. The eagle is the particular attribute of St. John the Evangelist. The vision of Ezekiel 1:5, 10: ". . . out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. ..as for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion . . . the face of an ox . . . the face of an eagle," is interpreted as referring to the four evangelists. Because St. John, in his Gospel, soared upward in his contemplation of the Divine nature of the Saviour, the eagle became his symbol. In a more general sense, the eagle came to represent the inspiration of the Gospels.

It is from this symbolic interpretation that the lectern, from which the Gospels are read, is often given the form of a winged eagle. EGG: Hope. Resurrection. The meaning is taken from the manner in which the young chick breaks forth from the egg at its birth. ERMINE: Purity: the is small animal has a whitish fur and is said to prefer death to being defiled. FALCON [wild]: Evil thought or action. FALCON [tame or domestic]: Holy man or Gentile converted to Catholicism. Courtliness: a symbol of the page accompanying the Magi FISH: Baptism. Believers. The symbol of Christ Himself, the most frequent symbolic use because the five Greek letters forming the word 'fish' are the initial letters of the five words: 'Jesus Christ God's Soul Saviour'. In this sense, the fish symbol was frequently used in Early Christian art and literature. The fish is also used as a symbol of Baptism, for, just as the fish cannot live except in water, the Christian cannot live save through the waters of Baptism.

In Renaissance imagery, the fish is given as an attribute to Tobias because the gall of a fish restored the sight of his father Tobit; it is also given as an attribute to St. Peter, an allusion to his being a fisherman; and to St. Anthony of Padua, who preached to the fish. FLY: The fly has long been considered a bearer of evil or pestilence. In Catholic symbolism the fly is a symbol of sin. It sometimes appears in pictures of the Virgin and Child to convey the idea of sin and redemption. The fly as a bringer of disease was sometimes shown with the goldfinch, a 'saviour-bird' against the disease. FOX: Cunning. Fraud. Lust. Cruelty. Traditionally the symbol of cunning and guile, the fox symbolized the Devil. Though it was shown frequently in sculpture during the Middle Ages, it was for the most part confined to book illustration during the Renaissance. FROG: This has two opposite meanings: 1. Because of its reappearance after winter's hibernation, the Resurrection. 2.

Because of its continual croaking and the fact that one of the plagues of Eygpt was a rain fo frogs [Chapter 8], it is sometimes the symbol of heretics or the repulsiveness of sin itself. More loosely, it is interpreted as a symbol of those who snatch at life's fleeting pleasures; hence it represents worldly things in general. GIRAFFE: In the Renaissance the giraffe was depicted more because of its strange appearance and its rarity among animals in Europe than for any symbolic meaning. GOAT: Fraud. Lust. Cruelty. The damned at the Last Judgement. This interpretation is based upon a long passage in the Bible (Matthew 25:31-46) which relates how Christ upon His coming, shall separate the believing from the unbelieving, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. In the Renaissance the goat was usually shown in order to distinguish the sinners from the righteous. GOLDFINCH: The goldfinch is fond of eating thistles and thorns, and since all thorny plants have been accepted as an allusion to Christ's crown of thorna, the goldfinch has become an accepted symbol of the Passion of Christ.

In this sense, it frequently appears with the Christ Child, showing the close connection between the Incarnation and the Passion. GOOSE: Since the time of the Romans, the goose has been a symbol of providence and vigilance. The legend of the Capitoline geese that saved Rome from the invasion of the Gauls is well known. In Catholic art the goose is sometimes given as an attribute to St. Martin of Tours, because a goose is supposed to have revealed his hiding place to the inhabitants of Tours, who had come to call the Saint to be their bishop. GRASSHOPPER (Locust): The grasshopper, or locust, was one of the plagues visited upon the Egyptians because the Pharaoh's heart was hardened against the Word of the Lord. Accordingly, the grasshopper when held by the Christ Child is a symbol of the conversion of nations to Catholicism. This meaning is also derived from Proverbs 30:27: "The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands," a passage early interpreted as referring to the nations formerly without Christ for their King. St. John the Baptist was said to have fed on locusts.

GRIFFIN: This mythic creature, usually depicted with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, is used with two different and opposite meanings; on the one hand to represent the Saviour; on the other, because it is a combination of the preying of the eagle and the fierceness of the lion, to symboliz those who oppress and persecute Christians. HARE/RABBIT: Lust. Hare/Rabbit at the feet: Victory over lust. The hare, itself defenseless, is a symbol of men who put the hope of their salvation in the Christ and His Passion. A white hare is sometimes placed at the feet of the Virgin Mary to indicate her triumph over lust. HOG: The hog is used to represent the demon of sensuality and gluttony. It is frequently shown as one of the attributes of St. Anthony Abbot, who is reputed to have vanquished this demon. HORSE: In ancient times the horse was the emblem of the sun, as the ox was that of the moon. In the Renaissance, however, the horse was most often depicted as a symbol of lust.

This interpretation is based on Jeremiah 5:8: "They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife." HYENA: The unstable. Those who feed on false doctrine. LAMB: Innocence. Gentleness. Patience. Humility. Symbol of Christ in His sacrificial role. Many scriptural passages give authority for this symbolism. One reference is John 1:29: "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" The Holy Lamb is often depicted with a nimbus, standing upon a small hill from which four streams of water flow [Revelation 14:1]. The hill represents the Church of Christ, the mountain of God's house. The streams represent the four Holy Gospels, the four rivers of Paradise, ever flowing and refreshing the pastures of the Church on earth. In pictures where Christ is shown as the rescuing shepherd, the lamb is also used to symbolize the sinner. This subject, usually called the Good Shepherd, is very frequent in Early Christian art, but was seldom used in the Renaissance.

During the Renaissance the lamb was often depicted in representations of the Holy Family with the Infant St. John. Here, the lamb alludes to St. John's mission as the forerunner of Christ, and his recognition of Christ as the Lamb of God at the time of His Baptism. This meaning is indicated by the portrayal of St. John the Baptist pointing to a lamb which he usually holds in his left hand. A variation on this theme can be viewed HERE. The lamb (Latin, agnus) is given as an attribute to St. Agnes, who was Martyred because she declared herself to be the bride of Christ and refused to marry. It is also found as an attribute of St. Clement, who was guided by a lamb to the spot where he found water. LARK: The lark, because it flies high and sings only when in flight toward Heaven, has been taken as the symbol of the humility of the priesthood. LEOPARD: The leopard is a symbol of sin, cruelty, the Devil, and the Antichrist. It sometimes appears in representations of the Adoration of the Magi to show that the Incarnation of Christ was necessary for redemption from sin. LION: Strength. Our Lord. Courage.

Fortitude. Kingliness. The lion is used in Renaissance art with various meanings, depending upon the circumstances. In general, when it is used it is emblematic of strength, majesty, courage, and fortitude. Because it once was believed that young lions are born dead, but come to life three days after birth when breathed upon by their sire, the lion has become associated with the Resurrection, and this is why it is symbol of Christ, the Lord of Life. The lion is one of the four animals that appear in the prophecy of Ezekiel. He is the symbol of the Evangelist Mark because St. Mark in his Gospel dwells most fully upon the Resurrection of Christ and proclaims with great emphasis the royal dignity of Christ. The winged lion is invariably the attribute of St. Mark, and appears also as the emblem of Venice, because this city was under the protection of St. Mark. St. Jerome is also closely identified with the lion. According to tradition the Saint removed a painful thorn from the paw of a lion, who thereupon became his close and faithful friend. It was a medieval belief that the lion slept with its eyes open. For this reason, he also became a symbol of watchfulness.

In rarer instances the lion, because of its pride and fierceness, was used as symbol of the Prince of Darkness, this interpretation being suported by Psalm 90:13: "Thou shalt tread upon the lion an adder . . ." This passage is interpreted as Christ triumphing over the Devil. In addition, lions appear as attributes of St. Mary of Egypt, St. Euphemia, St. Onuphrius, and St. Paul the Hermit. OWL: The owl, since it hides in darkness and fears the light, has come to symbolize Satan, the Prince of Darkness. As Satan deceives humanity, so the owl is said to trick other birds, causing them to fall into the snares set by hunters. The owl also symbolizes solitude and, in this sense, appears in scenes of hermits at prayer. Its most ancient-thought attribute, however, is that of wisdom, and with this meaning, it is sometimes shown with St. Jerome. In another sense, the owl is an attribute of Christ, Who sacrificed Himself to save mankind, "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death . . ." [Luke 1:79].

This explains the occasional presence of the owl in scenes of the Crucifixion. OX: Patience. Strength. Service. Endurance. Sacrifice. The ox, a sacrificial animal of the Jews, was often used in Renaissance painting to represent the Jewish nation. It is also a symbol of patience and strength as indicated aboveand almost invariably, the ox and the ass appear together in paintings of the Nativity. In the writings of some of the early Christian fathers, the ox is accepted as a symbol of Christ, the true sacrifice. This symbol is similarly used to represent all who patiently bear their yoke while laboring in silence for the good of others. The winged ox is the attribute of St. Luke because of his emphasis upon the sacrificial aspects of our Lord's atonement as well as upon the Divine priesthood.

PARTRIDGE: In a good sense, the partridge is used as a symbol of the Church and of truth; but it is ordinarily symbolic of deceit and theft, and in a more general sense, of the Devil: "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst, his days, and at his end shall be a fool." [Jeremiah 17:11] PEACOCK: In Catholic art the peacock is used as the symbol of immortality. This symbolism is derived from an ancient belief that the flesh of the peacock does not decay. It is with this meaning that it appears in scenes of the Nativity. The 'hundred eyes' in the peacock's tail are sometimes used to symbolize the 'all seeing' Church. The peacock's habit of strutting and displaying the beauty of its feathers has caused it also to become a symbol of worldly pride and vanity. A peacock's feather is sometimes an attribute of St. Barbara, in reference to Heliopolis, the city of her birth.

PELICAN: According to ancient belief, the pelican, which has the greatest love of all creatures for its offspring, pierces its breast to feed them with its own blood: It is on this basis that the pelican came to symbolize Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, because of His love for all mankind. In this sense, it also symbolizes the Eucharistic Sacrament. This interpretation is supported by Psalm 101:7: "I am like a pelican of the wilderness," which is an accepted allusion to Christ. The pelican is sometimes shown nesting on the top of the Cross. PHOENIX: The phoenix was a mythic bird of great beauty which lived in the Arabian wilderness. Its life span was said to be between three hundred and five hundred years. Periodically, it burned itself upon a funeral pyre; whereupon, it would rise from its own ashes, restored to all the freshness of youth, and would tenter upon another cycle of life. The phoenix was introduced into Christian symbolism as early as the first century, when the legend of this bird was related by St. Clement in his first Epistle to the Corinthians.

In early Catholic art, the phoenix constantly appears on funeral stones, its particular meaning being the resurrection of the dead and the triumph of eternal life over death. The phoenix later became a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ, and commonly appears in connection with the Crucifixion. In another sense, the phoenix stands for faith and constancy. Though popular in the art of the Middle Ages, the phoenix is rare in Italian Renaissance paintings. RAM: Symbol of Christ. Leader of the herd. Because the ram is the leader of the herd, it is used as a symbol for Christ. Also, in the same way that the ram fights with the wolf and vanquishes him, so Christ battles with Satan and is victorious. The ram, the animal God caused to be placed in a thorny bush so that Abraham might sacrifice it in place of his son Isaac, represents Christ crowned with thorns and sacrifIced for mankind. In a general sense, the ram is used as symbol for strength. RAT/MOUSE: The rat, or the mouse, because of its destructiveness, is symbolic of evil. It is rarely seen in Renaissance art except as an attribute of St. Fina. The mouse is also a symbol for St.

Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron of those who fear mice. RAVEN: According to a Jewish legend, the raven was originally white, but its feathers turned black when it failed to return to the ark, from which Noah had sent it to find out if the flood abated. Because of the blackness of its plumage, its supposed habit of devouring the eyes and the brain of the dead, and its liking spoiled flesh, the raven was selected as a symbol of the Devil, who throws the soul into darkness, invades the intelligence, and is gratified by corruption. The raven appears in a more favorable light in relation to certain Saints. It is the attribute of St. Vincent because God sent a raven to guard his sacred remains. The raven is also the attribute of St. Anthony Abbot and St. Paul the Hermit because it brought them a loaf of bread each day while they lived together in the desert. The raven, as symbolic of solitude, is associated with these hermit Saints. SCORPION: The scorpion is one of the symbols of evil. The sting of the tail of the scorpion is poisonous and causes great agony the person who is stung.

It is often mentioned in the Bible, ". . . their torment was the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man" [Apocalypse 9:5]. Because of the treachery of its bite, the scorpion became a symbol of Judas. As a symbol of treachery, the scorpion appears on the flags and shields held by the soldiers who assisted at the Crucifixion of Christ. SNAIL: The snail was believed to be born from the mud, and to feed upon it. It was, therefore, interpreted as the symbol of the sinner, and of laziness, because it made no effort to seek food, but ate what it found at hand. SNAKE: Satan. Evil. This is because the Devil came in the form of a "serpent" or snake to Eve in the Garden of Paradise. SPARROW: Considered to be the lowliest among all birds, the sparrow came to be used as a symbol of the lowly, the least among all people, who were, nevertheless, under the protection of God the Father; for even the sparrow came to earth only through the will of God, and received from Him its means of life.

It is also a symbol of the Holy Family, who lived a humble, lowly life in obedience to the will of God. SPIDER: The spider is used symbolically, first to represent the miser, for it bleeds the fly as the miser bleeds the poor; second, to represent the Devil, for the Devil prepares his traps as the spider, does its web; and third, to represent the malice of evil-doers whose webs will perish like those of the spider. The cobweb is a symbol of human frailty. STAG/HART/DEER/HIND: Piety.Faithful Christian longing for God. Christ the Savior. The stag takes its symbolic significance from Psalm 41:1: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." Thus, the stag has come to typify piety and religious aspiration. Similarly, because the stag seeks freedom and refuge in the high mountains, it has been used to symbolize the solitude and purity of life. The stag, as the attribute of St. Eustace and St. Hubert, is shown with a crucifix between its horns. The stag without the crucifix is an attribute of St.

Julian the Hospitator. The stag or hind is also the symbol of St. Giles, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers because every day for a considerable period of time, when the Saint was living in the forest, a hind came to him to be milked as would a cow, thus supplying the hermit Abbot with milk. STORK: The stork is a symbol of prudence and vigilance, piety, and chastity. It was associated with the Annunciation because, as the stork announces the coming of spring, the Annunciation to Mary indicated the Advent of Christ. It is possible that the present north European and American fable whch is sometimes told to children that newborn babies are carried to their mothers by storks, may be derived from the association of this bird with the Annunciation. SWALLOW: In the Renaissance the swallow was a symbol of the Incarnation of Christ. For this reason, it appears in scenes of the Annunciation and of the Nativity, nestling under the eaves or in holes in the wall. It was thought that the swallow hibernated in the mud during the winter, and its advent in the spring was looked upon as a rebirth from the death-like state of winter.

For this reason it also became a symbol of resurrection. UNICORN. The unicorn, according to myth, was a small animal, similar in size to a kid, but surprisingly fierce and swift with a very sharp, single horn in the center of its forehead like the rhinoceros. Suposedly no hunter could capture the animal by force, but it could be taken by means of tricking with bait, that of a pure virgin. The unicorn, sensing the purity of the maiden would run to her, lay its head in her lap, and fall asleep. Thus it was captured. For obvious reasons the mythic unicorn was early accepted as the symbol of purity in general and of feminin chastity in particular, an allegory of the Annunciation and the Incarnation of Christ, born of a Virgin. Thus, the unicorn is usually an attribute of the Virgin Mary, bul also of St. Justina of Padua and of St. Justina of Antioch, who retained their purity under great temptation. The unicorn is mentioned many times in Scripture, in truth the rhinoceros, for this term was not yet coined. One instance is Psalm 91:11: "But my horn shall be exalted like the unicorn ..

." WHALE: According to ancient legend, the huge body of the whale was often mistaken by mariners for an island, and ships anchored to its side were dragged down to destruction by a sudden plunge of the great creature. In this way, the whale came to be used as a symbol of the Devil and of his cunning, and the whale's open mouth was often depicted to represent the open gates of Hell. The whale also appears in the Biblical account of Jonah, who was swallowed by a whale and disgorged three days later. Allegorically, the experience of Jonah is likened to Christ in the sepulchre and His Resurrection after three days. Unfamiliarity with the appearance and habits of the whale, and even with the identification of the Biblical sea-monster as such, prevented the artists of the Italian Renaissance from painting naturalistic whales. Rather, Jonah's monster was, to them, either something in the way of a dragon, a great shaggy fish, or a dolphin. WOLF: Heresy. Gluttony. False prophets. The Devil. Yet, in sharp contrast, the wolf is sometimes used as an attribute of St. Francis of Assisi.

This is based on the famous story of the wolf of Gubbio. A wolf that had been doing great damage was being hunted by the people of Gubbio, when St. Francis encountered it. He addressed it as 'Brother Wolf,' and protected it as a fellow creature who knew no better, and set about to reform it. WOODPECKER: The woodpecker is usually symbolic of the Devil, or of heresy, which undermines human nature and leads man to danmation. Contact Us

Question: The devil is commonly depicted as having a lower body like what animal?
Answer: Goat