[B-Greek] IHS abbreviation

James Ernest jdemail at charter.net
Mon Dec 15 14:47:53 EST 2003


See also http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07649a.htm.

James

> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org 
> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of 
> Maurice A. O'Sullivan
> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 12:16 PM
> To: Jeff Cockrell
> Cc: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] IHS abbreviation
> 
> 
> At 16:15 15/12/2003, Jeff Cockrell wrote:
> 
> >I have read that IHS is an abbreviation for Jesus in Greek.  
> However, I
> >have also read that this is an abbreviation from Latin 
> meaning "Jesus 
> >Savior of Men."
> >
> >Any conclusive evidence to the orgin of this abbreviation?
> 
> Well, the Encyclopaedia Britannica appears in two minds on the matter:
> 
> Its entry for " monogram "   states:
> 
>  >>The interlaced IHS, also called the sacred monogram, is an 
> abbreviation 
> of the Latin phrase Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus, Saviour 
> of Mankind"). 
> This monogram apparently possesses no great antiquity and is 
> said to have 
> been the creation of St. Bernard of Siena in the mid-15th century.<<
> 
> whereas the entry on "symbolic modes of expression" states;
> 
>  >>The letters received a symbolic character in two ways: first, as 
> components of a word for which they stood-e.g., the Hebrew tetragram 
> (four-letter) YHWH (Yahweh) for God, the Latin IOM for 
> Jupiter Optimus 
> Maximus (Jupiter the Best and Greatest), and the Greek IHS 
> for Jesus-or, 
> second through their numerical value, as in >alpha< and >omega<, the 
> beginning and end of the Greek alphabet, signifying Christ. They then 
> became means of abbreviation-signs possessing a specific 
> content and meaning.<<
> 
> 
> 
> Maurice A. O'Sullivan  [ Bray, Ireland ]
> mauros at iol.ie
> 
> 
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