Wordless Wednesday: Saint Simon the Zealot, Apostle
(Photo © Scott P. Richert)
Last week's Wordless Wednesday contest was a little tough, in part because the symbols in the stained-glass window were a bit abstract. About.com's Guide to Sikhism, Sukhmandir Kaur, made a good attempt and got one of the symbols (the scroll with the Epistle of Jude) correct. Top honors, however, go to reader Robert, who offered a detailed explanation of each of the symbols in the window. You can find his answer in the comments on last week's post.
This week's contest will be the same: Identify as many traditional symbols of Saint Simon the Zealot as you can in this stained-glass window, and then briefly explain the reason why each is identified with Saint Simon. In next week's Wordless Wednesday post, I'll acknowledge the commenter who identifies and explains the most symbols.
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I see pyramids, so that must mean he went to Egypt.
The two-person saw is interesting, as is the fish, lizard, or snake he’s standing on. And is that rain above his head?
Well I’m stumped because I don’t know of any scripture written by Simon, so can’t guess what the scroll represents this time. I would guess the Cross to be the one Christ was crucified on. My daughter is looking with me and thinks that is a saw rather than a scroll. Perhaps he was a carpenter, just don’t recall, as I tough he wasa fisherman (would explain if those are fish under his feet). She pointed out pyramids in the background, and it look like clouds or possibly rain. Hopefully Robert can tell us all about this one too.
1. Red color in his halo
2. Cross
3. Saw
4. Fish under his foot
5. Grey shield at his right knee
6. Pyramid
2, and 3 are the instruments of his martyrdom; 6 is because according to the Greeks, he preached in Egypt; 1 perhaps because of the blood of his martyrdom (?). I can’t give reasons for the fish (which looks like an upside down whale or snake) and the shield.
1. Fish
2. Saw
3. Shield at his right knee
4. Pyramid
5. Cross
6. Red in the halo
2 and 5 are instruments of his martyrdom; 4 — according to the Greeks he preached in Egypt; 6 — red as the blood of his martyrdom. I cannot give reasons for the shield or the fish.
1. saw
2. fish
3. pyramids
4. red in halo
5. shield
6. cross
1 and 6 are the instruments of his martyrdom
3 because according to the Greeks he preached in Egypt
4 because of the blood of his martyrdom
I can’t give reasons for 2 and 5.
Crucifix–way he was martyered
Saw–Body sawed into pieces
Flames at top–Gift of the Holy Spirit
Red Halo–Martyer
Pyramid–Preached the Word in Egypt
Shoes–Well traveled and well monied
Shield–Defender of Christianity