Greek Initials and
Monograms
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This page explains the meaning of the Greek letters and symbols that appear on paintings, icons and inscriptions. |
Background:
On many pieces of art - paintings, frescoes, carvings, tombs - appear Greek initials that abbreviate the longer names. The initials normally will appear in Capital Greek letters.
Some of the initials appear in a monogram - symbols made by overlapping or combining two or more letters. For example, the Chi-Rho two letters that represent Christ (see example below).
Initials:
The following table lists the common initials, provides and explanation and sample case, and maps them to the sites are featured in BibleWalks. Click on the site's name to see more information on each site.
| Initial | Meaning | Note | Example | Sites | |
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"XP" Chi-Rho |
Christ - the 1st 2
letters of Christos in Greek
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"P" in Greek is "r" in English | Click on the
photos to enlarge them.
(The XP appear as a monogram, together with ΑΩ) |
Augusta Victoria
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| "Α Ω" "A w" (Alpha-Omega)
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The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, |
Represents that God is eternal - spanning the beginning and the end. |  |
Augusta Victoria
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| "IC XC" . |
Stands for "Jesus Christ".
IC XC means ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ -"Jesus Christ". |
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Cross
Monastery#1
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| "ΜP θC"
"ΜΡ ΘΥ" |
Means "mother of God" or: Theotokos, "God-bearer"
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MP - Mary in Greek. Refers to Virgin Mary. |
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Cross Monastery | |
| "Ο ωΝ" | Means "He Who is", refers to God or his messenger. | It is usually added on the halo |
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Orth Church, Capernaum
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| "NI KA" |
Sometimes appended to "IC XC", means "conquers". |
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Via Dolorosa - Station 8 | ||
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"XC"
CHI and SIGMA |
Means "Christ" (short for ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ) |
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Cross
Monastery#1
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| "IH" | means Jesus (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ) | ||||
| INBI | Greek: "Iesous Nazoraios Basileus ton Ioudaion", meaning: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews | Represents the sign that Pontius Pilate nailed above Jesus' head, and is found on the top of the cross. |
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St. Andrews, Acre | |
| "TΦ"
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means Theopolis = friend of God | Symbol of the Greek Orthodox church |
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St. John the Baptist |
More examples will appear soon...
Links
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BibleWalks.com - walk with us through the sites of the Holy Land
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