[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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