what symbolised christianity before the cross/crucifix?

Answer 1

The ICTHUS. ie the Fish

Mark 1:17: "Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

Back in the days of the early church, there was a great persecution of Christians. They would use this symbol to greet one another to know that the other person was a believer.
http://www.plymouth-church.com/images/ichthus3.jpg
http://research.yale.edu/divdl/images/eikon/ei0351s.jpg

It started out as an acrostic for "fish" in Greek, which is Ichthus. The acrostic goes like this...

Iesous (Jesus)
CHristos (Christ)
THeou (God)
Uiou (Son)
Soter (Savior)

The fish symbol became popularized in the Jesus People movement of the early 1970s along with the "one way" index finger pointed in the air. Instead of wearing crosses, which led to much misunderstanding. The Jesus People wore the fish symbol to gain more interest and questions from others.

Answer 2

The Ark and the snake on a stick. The big fish and the man within. Loads of things. The genealogy in Genesis 5 is another. Adam when given a covering by God. The Cross is the partial outcome. Those who say the truth of salvation is younger than their older religion are the victims of Men who took truth and elongated it into a tall tale for their own ends. Christ goes right back to the Garden. Before that was creation of all, which is held together by his fingers.

Answer 3

"Christian symbols were first mentioned in writing by Clement of Alexandria (153-217 AD) in Paedogogus 3, 11.

And let our seals be either a dove, or a fish, or a ship scudding before the wind, or a musical lyre, which Polycrates used, or a ship's anchor, which Seleucus got engraved as a device; and if there be one fishing, he will remember the apostle, and the children drawn out of the water."
http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/

Here is one website that offers many historical representations of symbols for Christianity through the years:

http://www.fisheaters.com/symbols.html

Answer 4

Yes the fish was used by early Christians because Jesus was a Fisher of men and the disciples were fishermen but the Cross as a symbol of Jesus Death and Resurrection quickly followed'

Answer 5

Fish and the Pentacle independantly ( Represented the five wounds of Christ) Constantine brought about the cross as that is what he saw in the sky and converted him. No one was going to argue with the emperor.

edit: The early Christians weren't into symbolism? Are you kidding me??
Christians lived underground and under the radar for hundreds of years. Cappadocia, Turkey is an example. They had underground chruches, grave yards and cities. In order to communicate with each other and not be arrested, they used SYMBOLS. The boat with sail was used because of the cross in the sail. The fish was used. Several others were used actually. You can find them in the ancient tunnels and sewers. Hell just read an Art Appreciation book. Learn your own history folks. It's actually pretty interesting if you bother.

Answer 6

The fish....
ever-watchful with its unblinking eyes -- was one of the most important symbols of Christ to the early Christians. In Greek, the phrase, "Jesus Christ, Son of God Savior," is "Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter." The first letters of each of these Greek words, when put together, spell "ichthys," the Greek word for "fish" (ICQUS ). This symbol can be seen in the Sacraments Chapel of the Catacombs of St. Callistus. Because of the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the fish symbolized, too, the Eucharist.

The earliest literary reference to the fish as Christian symbol was made by Clement of Alexandria, who advised Christians to use a dove or fish as their seal. Tertullian wrote (in "De Baptismo") "But we, being little fishes, as Jesus Christ is our great Fish, begin our life in the water, and only while we abide in the water are we safe and sound." Also used as a Christian symbol was the dolphin, most often as a symbol of the Christian himself rather than Christ, though the dolphin was also used as a representation of Christ -- most often in combination with the anchor symbol ("Christ on the Cross").

Answer 7

Chi and Rho are the first two letters (ΧΡ) of "Christ" in Greek ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ. (Christos). Sometimes it is called the Monogram of Christ or Chrismon or Labarum. While it was used very early by persecuted Christians in the catacombs, when Constantine I was struggling to become emperor, he used the symbol at the front of his armies and was victorious

The Chi-Rho is often shown with the Greek letters Alpha (A) and Omega (lower case ώ or upper case Ω), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus refers to himself: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13).

Answer 8

Few things predate the cross, though the fish as was already mentioned also symbolized it. The Chi and Ro (sp) sheep, sheapard, dove, olive branch, Also 3 of anything.

Answer 9

There never was a specific "symbol" for Christianity other than Christ. A Christian does not need to wear a cross, show a fish or any other "graven image" or "idol" to show that he is a Christian.

To be a Christian is to follow Christ. We show that we are a Christian when we live our daily lives according to His word.

Answer 10

The viscapices, the 'fishy Organ' - euphemistically claimed by Xtians to represent the fish, as in 'Fishers of Men', but if you turn the symbol on it's side, it is clearly a stylised vagina, a symbol borrowed from a cult of the female godhead, shades of the Magdalena, and hints of just how shady the roots of Xtianity really are!