What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday: Fish!

Last weekend, I decided to make some jewelry.  I took out my tool box of beads and jewelry supplies and got to work. I haven't tidied up so this is what my desk looks like today...

Ooops, I caught sight of the ATCs I haven't sent out yet.  I was waiting for the address of my third giveaway winner and I don't think I have it yet (I should check my inbox again). To my giveaway winners, so sorry for the delay!  I will do it within the week, with or without that third address.

I collect fish charms.  Ever since I found out that the fish was used as a Christian symbol, I started collecting them.  This weekend, I put the fish charms in a bracelet. There are charms made of silver, glass, ceramic, and other metals.  I left some space in the bracelet for some other fish charms.

I also re-made a wooden fish necklace that I had.  The wooden fish pendant used to hang from some twine.  I put the pendant on a chain instead so that I can also hang the fish charm bracelet on the necklace for a different sort of necklace.

According to this website, the fish was used as a Christian religious symbol since sometime within the first three centuries AD.   So why would a fish be a Christian symbol you ask?

Ichthys 

is the Greek word for "fish."

It consists of five letters from the Greek alphabet:  I-ch-th-y-s. 

The five letters were used as initials for five words,

Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter.  

This is an acrostic for 'Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior.'  

Wikipedia says that ichthys "refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish, said to have been used by Early Christians as a secret symbol" of identification.  ( Did you notice that one of the charms on my fish bracelet is in this shape?)

When the early Christians were being persecuted by the Romans and the Jews, it became dangerous to be identified as a Christian.  And so it is said that when a Christian met a stranger and thought that maybe he was a fellow believers, the Christian would draw, on the ground, the upper half of the "ichthys" symbol.  If the stranger would recognize the symbol, the stranger would add a bottom curved line and complete the drawing of a fish, confirming that he was also a believer. If there was no sign of recognition, the Christian would just quickly erase the curved line he drew, without revealing himself as a Christian.  An interesting story don't you think?

If you would like to take a look at some other desks, or share about yours, go over to Julia's blog.