Iconography in Art and Architecture ............... Illustrated Dictionaries - Table of Contents
Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark,
Luke & John
Iconography in Art and Architecture
Iconography: Study of the symbolic,
often religious, meaning of objects, persons, or events depicted in works of art
Research contributions by Gregory L. Witul
| The most-developed of all foursome or fournesses in religious symbolism
in Christianity is the tetramorph of the four evangelists. It
originated from the Jewish prophet Ezekiel who whilst in exile in
Babylonia circa 550 BCE used the symbolism of Babylonian astrology for
his own prophetic purposes. Ezekiel describes his vision in which the
likeness of four living creatures came out of the midst of the fire
thus: As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1 verse 10. Ezekiel’'s vision is based upon the astrology of the ancient Babylonians in which the constellations of the Zodiac (Greek for circle of animals) signs of Aquarius ( the man/angel) Leo the Lion, Taurus the Bull and Scorpio the Eagle are represented. Known astrologically as the Fixed Cross (with the substitution of the scorpion, a creature little known outside the Mediterranean basin was early on replaced by the winged eagle). These four animal figures are also depicted in the early Christian evangelist Saint John’s book of the Apocalypse, the last book of the New Testament , the book of Revelation in which the events of the end times are revealed. Saint John alludes to Ezekiel’s vision thus- And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. Revelation 4 verse 7. - Wordiq (2/2011)
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Luke the Evangelist, born of Greek origin in the city of
Antioch, was an early Christian leader who the Church Fathers such as Jerome and
Eusebius said was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. 2nd century document: "Luke, a native of Antioch, by profession a physician.
He had become a disciple of the apostle Paul and later followed Paul until his [Paul's]
martyrdom. Having served the Lord continuously, unmarried and without children, filled
with the Holy Spirit he died at the age of 84 years." Depictions: Ox with wings, as a reference to
his gospel that begins with a sacrifice
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Christian tradition says that John the Evangelist was one
of Christ's original twelve apostles; he was the only one to live into old age, and
not martyred for his faith. John was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother
of James the Greater. Originally they were fishermen and fished with their father. Metalwork: Sculpture:
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