jesus fish

In ancient Greek times Christians would be executed if they were found to be so. Therefore the ichthys (Jesus fish) was used as a way for two Christian to be made known to each other. In the ground, using a stick or staff, one man would draw the first arch of the ichthys and wait until another man would walk up and draw the second arch to finish it. This method would allow both men to know the other was a Christian without making the risk of voicing it. Though back in those days they knew what the symbol actually meant, it was chosen by its simplicity. The ichthys is actually a symbol of fertility. In today's culture it is displayed on its side to look like a fish. Originally it was displayed with the football-shaped hole pointing upward and the open end downward. This showed what it truly represented, the vagina and anus of the fertility goddess Atargatis. Atargatis is also known in different cultures as Tirgata, Aphrodite, Pelagia or Delphine.