Bead in the Shape of a Fish c. 501 - 800

This small bead, carved in the shape of a fish, is made of agate. Throughout time, the image of the fish has swum through the currents of culture, appearing in myriad forms across various civilizations. The fish, an ancient symbol, resonates deeply within the human psyche as a primal emblem of fertility, abundance, and transformation. Consider the early Christians who adopted the fish as a secret symbol, the “ichthys,” a coded declaration of faith during times of persecution. This motif echoes through the ages, from ancient fertility cults where the fish embodied generative power to its reappearance in modern art. The enduring presence of the fish reminds us of the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, continually resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts. The enduring allure of this symbol speaks to our collective memory.