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Evangelist Symbols – Lion (Mark), Ox (Luke), Eagle (John), Man/Angel (Matthew)

Manuscript Example:

• Manuscript Name: Lindisfarne Gospels

• Origin: Lindisfarne, Northumbria, England, circa 700 CE

• Image Source: https://www.thetextofthegospels.com/2015/03/the-evangelists-symbols-man-lion-ox.html

My analysis

The four authors of the New Testament's canonical Gospels Mark, Luke, John, and Matthew are represented by the Evangelist symbols lion, ox, eagle, and man, respectively. Every symbol has theological meaning related to the nature of the gospel it stands for. Mark is represented by the lion, which stands for bravery and resurrection; Luke is represented by the ox, which stands for sacrifice and service; John is represented by the eagle, which represents spiritual insight and the divine; and Matthew is represented by the man/angel, which highlights humanity and reason.

These symbols can be seen in highly ornamental, illuminated pages in early medieval manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels, frequently at the start of each Gospel. Their use accomplishes several goals, including providing readers with visual guidance, reiterating theological ideas, and showcasing the talent and commitment of the manuscript's authors. The period's artistic tastes, which preferred complicated geometric patterns and symbolic iconography, are reflected in the elaborate designs, which frequently feature interlace patterns and vibrant hues.

The early medieval conviction in the connection between spirituality and visual art is demonstrated by the existence of these emblems. They served as instruments for reflection, instruction, and devotion in addition to being ornamental. These manuscripts demonstrate the era's emphasis on symbolic literacy as a means of comprehending heavenly truths by fusing symbolism and artistry to convey religious ideas in a way that is understandable to both literate and semi-literate audiences.

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The Celtic knot from a page in the "Book of Kells"

from website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KellsFol291vPortJohn.jpg

The symbol I am choosing to write about is the Celtic knot. The Manuscript I choose is from the book of Kells and it is originally form the Scottish island of Iona. The book of Kells was written around 800 AD by Celtic monks but it was also never finished. The painting has John sitting in the middle on a throne with a book in his left hand. The painting surround John with many Celtic knots designs braided, gilded borders, and uses the colors orange, blue and yellow. What does the Celtic knot represent? The Celtic knot may be representing eternity because the line does not break with with a start or end. The Celtic knot may also being show how things are connected to each other and woven together. Why was the Celtic knot used for this painting? The Celtic knot was probably used to fill empty space and a way to get rid of corruption. How does the Celtic knot reflect early beliefs or aesthetics? The aesthetics and looks of art during this time had emphasized the use of detail and designs to make the art more complex. After seeing some examples of Celtic knots I can appreciate the complex one like a shield knot and simpler ones like the trinity knot.

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Celtic Knot - Origin: 600CE

The Celtic Knot is one of the most recognizable symbols today related to the celts. The design is a continuous pattern that is often used to symbolize eternity and being interconnected. Celtic Knots are largely used in manuscripts the most well known of those being the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells. In these manuscripts they don't only serve a decorative purpose but also a spiritual purpose. There are many different designs of the Celtic Knot, each having their own meaning. The most common themes being love, cycles of life and protection.

The endless and unbroken loops of Celtic Knots were used to represent the eternity, infinite nature of god, and the continuity of life. The trinity knot in particular symbolizes the holy trinity in Christianity. The holy trinity being the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. When Christianity spread through the Celtic regions the symbol became more related the Christianity.

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In early medieval manuscripts, the peacock was a powerful symbol of resurrection and immortality. This belief stemmed from the ancient notion that peacock flesh did not decay after death, a concept affirmed by early Church fathers like Augustine in The City of God 
HH History
. Consequently, the peacock became associated with Christ's resurrection and eternal life.

The Aberdeen Bestiary, a 12th-century illuminated manuscript, features a vivid depiction of a peacock on Folio 97r. The manuscript's rich illustrations were intended to educate and inspire contemplation among its viewers. In this context, the peacock's presence serves as a visual metaphor for spiritual renewal and the promise of eternal life.

The peacock's symbolic significance extended beyond manuscripts. It adorned tombs and was featured in early Christian mosaics and paintings, often accompanied by the Tree of Life, beginning in the 3rd century 
HH History
. This widespread use underscores the peacock's role as a comforting reminder of eternity in a perilous era.

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Aberdeen Bestiary, England, 12th century

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Aberdeen Bestiary, England, 12th century

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Snails started to arrive in medieval manuscripts round the 1300s but came back briefly in the 15th century. Snails were often on the side of manuscripts, accompanied by a knight confronting it. This imagery would be found in random places like war documents, children's literature, and official documents. Snails, although small, represented strength and bravery. The knights attacking them were frequently seen doubled the size of the snails in French renditions. Snails were sometimes drawn as horned creatures. It can be assumed horns were added in order to create a more intimidating aura around the small creatures, this helped emphasized the bravery of the knight facing it. If drawn hornless, snails helped belittle the enemy. Knights were often depicted fighting the snails with axes, swords, sticks, an even forks. Snails were originally introduced to add comedic relief to serious battle imagery. Knights would be seen getting on their knees, praying for mercy to the snail. This would leave the readers laughing, because how silly is it to see a big, tough knight praying for their lives to be saved at the power of a snail. Snails also represented male knights when it came to battle/war images. There then developed an old folks tale that said if someone came across a snail, they were strong mentally and would come back from battle stronger than ever.

Why medieval manuscripts are full of doodles of snail fights. (2023, June 13). Bangor University. https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/2023-06-13-why-medieval-manuscripts-are-full-of-doodles-of-snail-fights#:~:text=The%20meaning%20of%20the%20snail,1300%2D1340).

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A knight versus snail fight from the Smithfield Decretals ( c.1300-1340). Courtesy of the British Library

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Symbol- Medieval Unicorn Manuscripts, found primarily in bestiaries, are richly illustrated texts that often depict the unicorn as a fierce but tameable creature with a magical horn. The unicorn's myth originated from ancient Greek accounts of the "monokeros" but was transformed in the Middle Ages into a Christian allegory for Christ, with a virgin woman symbolizing the Virgin Mary. http://printedpearls.com/unicorns-in-medieval-manuscripts

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The unicorn primarily represented Christ symbolizing purity, divine power, and the Incarnation.This is because the unicorn was believed to be a fierce creature that could only be tamed by a virgin which was interpreted as the Virgin Mary taming the Christ child. In the medieval context the unicorn was used to represent complex Christian and secular ideas including Christ, purity, and courtly love.Its submission to a virgin maiden made it powerful symbol of divine and romantic conquest. It was shaped by early medieval beliefs reflecting the period's deeply religious worldview, moral allegories, and aesthetic focus on symbolic rather than literal imagery.The first reference to the unicorn occurs 2,500 years ago in the work Indica, written by the Greek physician, Ctesias. A combination of geography, zoology and botany, this 4th century BC work is filled with descriptions of exotic places and animals, and includes an account of a strange one-horned creature.The unicorn primarily represented Christ symbolizing purity, divine power, and the Incarnation.This is because the unicorn was believed to be a fierce creature that could only be tamed by a virgin which was interpreted as the Virgin Mary taming the Christ child. In the medieval context the unicorn was used to represent complex Christian and secular ideas including Christ, purity, and courtly love.Its submission to a virgin maiden made it powerful symbol of divine and romantic conquest.

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Symbol: Winged Man or Angel. Manuscript: Lindisfarne Gospels, ca. 698-721, Northumbria, England. Image Source: British Library, London.

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Angels are present in several parts of our lives. They can be found in books, art, decorations, even in cookies. But Angels represents more than an ornament, they are important symbols of the Christ's incarnation. In this image specifically, The Winged Man or The Angel, is the symbolism for Mattew, who is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the author of the first gospel in the New Testament. In this picture, the angel seems to represent the divine inspiration when Mathew is writing his gospel.

Angels represent the bridge between humans and God, working as mediators, messengers or guardians, usually appearing powerful, luminous, with stiff postures and the most representative feature, wings. Wings that are imponent, beautiful, rendered in diverse forms and express their divine origin. Marking a distinction between humans and celestial beings. As Arabella Milbank states in her essay Christian Symbolism: Angels, “They are mirrors of the future glory, of the possibility of a human spiritual perfection that will also reunite all the citizens of heaven, of a mystery beyond even their own glorious being.” In early medieval manuscripts, angels can be found as an ornament in the pages, complementing the spiritual context of manuscripts. Thus, angels have been an important symbolism in human history, as a reflect of the belief in God’s grace and the spiritual connection between humans and God.

Works Cited
Milbank, Arabella. “Christian Symbolism: Angels.” St Mary Magdalen School of Theology, 8 July 2020, https://www.theschooloftheology.org/posts/essay/christian-symbolism-angels. Accessed 26 October 2025.

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Pair of Merovingian looped fibulae, from Jouy-le-Comte, France, mid-six century. 

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This is known as a fibulae that was used back in the early medieval period mostly worn usually by Merovingian woman but could also be worn by men. The fibulae was used to hold together there clothing. There are two symbols with in this one item which is a fish and an eagles head. The more obvious one is the fish located in the middle directly under the top loop going up and down. The second image with in this fibulae is an eagles head with the beak being the top part of the loop and the large red or black gem connected to it at the top of the fibulae. The early medieval artists of that period were known to hide animals with in their work. The fibulae showed the status, wealth, and power of the woman wearing it. This exceptional piece of artwork represents the early medieval period by having jewels, gold, and animals on it. Jewels and jewelry were a huge part of there cultural proving to others that they were high up in society. The gold embedded all over the fibulae was super popular in that time period. Gold meant power are extreme wealth. The animals had meanings with in that culture and life style. While this piece looks old and dated back in that time it was something to be desired by women.

Source

“MindTap - Cengage Learning.” Cengage.com, 2025, ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?deploymentId=5560682248005750378945825929&eISBN=9781305665835&snapshotId=4801657&id=2561271359&. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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fibula early medieval art pair of merovingian

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Symbols: Halos    Manuscripts for Leo bible: The Leo bible (also known as the codex reginensis graecus) refers to a 10th-century Byzantine Greek Bible. A specific, rare, illuminated Byzantine manuscript from the 10th century, commissioned by a court official named Leo.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Source https://www.facsimiles.com/worlds-of-wisdom/of-art-and-history/halo-mandorla-and-aureole

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Halos in early medieval times became a standard symbol in art to devote holiness and divinity. It mostly represents divine light, spiritual grace, and the sanctity ( the state of being holy, sacred, or saintly) of holy figures. The halos also represented authority through showing spiritual importance and sanctioned power. How they used Halos for the context for the image was through showing who was holy and are still loyal to Jesus Christ. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that one with the dark halo is the one who I believe to be Jesus Christ. Because the other followers don't seem to be hesitant toward him, and the thorn crown on his head. As well as considering how old the book is, so that gold colors most of fated. How halos reflected the medieval times and aesthetics it had was through representing a figure's divine nature and spiritual purity through the symbolism of light. The artistry (creating skill or ability) and iconography (the visual and symbols used in a work of art) are rooted in the period's core theological concepts ( A fundamental beliefs, idea, or doctrine within a religious system that shapes its understanding of God, humanity ,and their relationships.) , which prioritize symbolic meaning over realistic depictions.

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Mara Ricks

My source is Allegorical Animals from https://exhibits.uflib.ufl.edu/beasts/allegorical.html

The symbol name is The Beatus of Saint Sever

According to the website, The Beatus of Saint Sever, displayed here in facsimile, is the most sumptuously illustrated of all the known Beatus manuscripts. Its illustrations were produced in the 11th century by Stephanus Garsia in the monastery of Saint-Sever in Gascony. Although it was produced outside of the Iberian Peninsula, it still followed the Spanish

tradition and is distinctive for its blend of Western and Mozarabic artistic influences.

The picture is representing the peacock at Christ and the snake is evil (Satan). The bird is triumphing over evil as was the belief in medieval times that good would win over evil and that Satan would be defeated. The bird or peacock was believed to represent christ since it was a myth that the skin and feathers of the bird would not decay. It would be replaced with new just like Christ being reborn. The snake represent the evil of Satan and the evil could take on many disquises. This image represent the book of revelations and the final battle of good vs. evil. The images were both a warning and an inspiration to the believers in the salvation that their faith would bring. The vibrant color and the stylized figures are typical of the figures of the times.

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corner of page from the Lindisfarne Gospel

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Celtic Knot

Manuscript of the Lindisfarne Gospel

The symbol I chose was the Celtic Knot and can be found in an amazing number of manuscripts. They are a pattern of interlacing designs and have many styles, but the most noticeable aspect is the seemingly infinite loops the knot makes. The continuous looped designs have a sense of no start or end. The roots of these knots are from the Celtic Civilization that thrived during the beginning of the second century. They are a fundamental symbol of Irish heritage appear every area of design in the west. The symbolizations of these knots are tied to quite a few things. This includes the continuity of life and nature, the ties of religion, or most importantly the notion of interconnection. This belief is a big part of the Celtic culture, as well as many of the cultures that surround the areas, which is why you can find similar designs in Ireland, Italy, and Gaul. In ancient manuscripts, especially in religious ones, like the Lindisfarne Gospels, the knots can add elaborate decorative art with great energy and vibrancy. It can present a sense of continuing, just like religion. That everything will keep going on. The Celtic Knot is a symbol that is found is so many manuscripts and it a big part of the culture.

Sources:

Armin Kific( Social and Political Researcher. “Celtic Knot - the History and Symbolism behind Celtic Knots.” Art in Context, 15 Aug. 2023, artincontext.org/celtic-knot/.

“Finding British Library Manifests.” Finding British Library Manifests · GitBook, training.iiif.io/annotations/basics/finding_bl.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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Symbol : Cross (Carpet Page) Manuscript: The Lindisfarne Gospels, c. 700 (Northumbria), 340 x 250 mm (British Library, Cotton MS Nero D IV) © 2019 British Library, used by permission Speakers: Dr. Kathleen Doyle, Lead Curator, Illuminated manuscripts, British Library and Dr. Steven Zucker.

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The Cross Carpet Page from the Lindisfarne Gospels is a beautiful page made long ago by monks. It image represents a big cross in the middle, filled with colorful patterns, twisting lines, and tiny animal shapes. The design looks almost like a carpet, which is why it’s called a “carpet page.” The monks made it to honor God and to show how important the cross is to Christians. The cross stands for Jesus Christ and reminds people that He died and came back to life. The monks put this page at the start of the Gospel of Matthew to show that everything in the book is about Jesus. When people looked at it, they could think quietly and pray, letting the patterns help them focus on God. The page also shows how people in early medieval England mixed different art styles. The monks used Celtic and Anglo-Saxon designs, like knots and spirals, and turned them into Christian art. Making something so detailed took a lot of time and love. The monks believed that creating something beautiful was another way to worship God. The Cross Carpet Page still amazes people today because it shows faith, skill, and beauty all in one picture.

Source : https://smarthistory.org/the-lindisfarne-gospels/

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Symbol: Eagle (Evangelist Symbol of Saint John). Manuscript: Symbol of St John the Evangelist (ivory panel), Northern Italy, ca. 800 CE.                      Image/ Museum sources: Victoria and Albert Museum, London – “Symbol of St John the Evangelist”. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73092/symbol-of-st-john-the-panel-unknown/. 

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The Eagle is one of the four Evangelist symbols used in early Christian art and writing. It represents St. John the Evangelist, who focused on the divine side of Christ in his Gospel. The Eagle ability to fly high in the sky made it a perfect symbol for John's vision of heaven and spiritual truths and symbolizing spiritual power. One of the most famous were he has said and I am 35% sure people have heard it too " In the beginning was the world". This symbol was used to show John's unique role among the four Evangelist. Artist often drew or carved the Eagle. But from what I found the Eagle is carved out of ivory and it is from Northern Italy, all to represent John's Gospel. It reminded viewers that God's word came from divine inspiration. The design reflects on early medieval beliefs that beauty and faith were connected. The carful carving, with design of the Eagle shows the devotion of the artist and value on sacred art. though the eagle captures the early Christian idea that art could lift the soul towards God and reveal the spiritual truth.

My source is above one "Image/ Museum source"

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This particular picture is titled Missale et horae ad usum Fratrum Minorum from 420 AD.  Lions were depicted in many scenes, and they had multiple meanings.  The lion was a creature greatly feared, sometimes shown as a violent animal, representing chaos, destruction, and divine punishment that cannot be contained.  Lions could also represent Christ or the devil, depending on context.  The lion was a majestic and sacred figure, representing mystery and triumph or spiritual danger.  The lion had also become a symbol of authority and knightly virtue.  Monarchs were frequently compared to lions for their strength, justice, and nobility.  The lion also represents moral leadership, courage. and inner transformation.  Later on, the lion educated people in Christian virtue, and became a tool to represent pride, wrath and gluttony.  The lion’s strength and majesty came to be seen as morally dangerous.  What once represented noble pride or righteousness in battle became deadly sin that corrupted the soul.  Lastly, the lion was a figure of mercy, generosity, and restraint.  Sometimes it was shown sharing food or acting with compassion to the weak, depicting the lion as noble and morally refined, capable of justice without cruelty.  The lion became connected to Christianity, as well as nobility, its meaning shifting as society valued different characteristics in powerful figures.

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Symbol: Peacock    Manuscript: 12th-century illuminated manuscript produced in England, 1200    Origin: Biologically, of Indian origin. Culturally and symbolically, the medieval transmission of classical knowledge and christian allegory    Source: https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast257.htm 

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The peacock represents divine glory, pride, purity, spiritual renewal, resurrection, and immortality. It was included in the medieval bestiaries because the unique and legendary qualities represent the key Christian ideas. They believed the birds' flesh would not decay, representing eternal life, and their beautiful feathers reflected God's glory and ultimate beauty. In this way, the peacock served as a visual and moral lesson that connected the natural world with spiritual truths.

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Symbol: Chi-Rho.    Manuscript: Book of Kells, c. 800 CE, Ireland.  Image Source: Trinity College Dublin Digital Collections

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The Chi-Rho symbol, formed from the Greek letters Χ (Chi) and Ρ (Rho), represents the first two letters of “Christ.” In the Book of Kells, the Chi-Rho page is one of the most elaborately decorated, signaling the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel. The swirling interlace, animal motifs, and vibrant colors elevate the symbol to a divine status, reflecting the belief that Christ’s name itself held sacred power. This page exemplifies how early medieval artists fused text and image to create a spiritual experience for the viewer.