Ichthys
Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an acronym, which is a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name.
It compiles to "Jesus (Ι) Christ (Χ)
God's (Θ) Son (Υ) is Saviour" (Σ) or "Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour", in ancient Greek.
- I is the first letter of the word Iesous, Greek for Jesus.
- CH are the first letters (in Greek one letter) of the word Christos, Greek for Christ.
- TH are the first letters (in Greek one letter) of the word THeou, genitive case of Θεóς, Greek for God.
- Y is the first letter for Yios, Greek for Son.
- S is the first letter for Soter, Greek for Savior.
An early circular ichthys symbol, created by combining the Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ
Funerary stele with the inscription
ΙΧΘΥC ΖΩΝΤΩΝ ("fish of the living"),
early 3rd century,
National Roman Museum
