The Fish as a Christian Symbol:
The Christian fish symbol is usually made of two simple curved lines. Often seen on car bumpers and appears to be modern looking and sleek, it gives many people the impression that it's a new symbol. In fact, its history goes back even further than the cross as a symbol used by early Christians.
The fish outline was a logical symbol for the early Christian church to adopt. As early as the second century Titus Flavius Clemens (St. Clement of Alexandria), suggested that Christians identify themselves with a seal engraved with a fish or dove (see also Dove Cross). The fish in particular, was considered important enough to be mentioned many times in the Bible. At this time, the cross was not used as a Christian symbol, so the fish gave early Christians an simple and easily recognisable symbol, plus a motto that described their Jesus as Christ, God's Son, and Saviour. (This ideaIt is possible also that it might have also been partly a protest against the Pagan emperors of the time, who named themselves Theou Yios: God's sons). Some Christians believe that a second link between their religion and the fish symbol is seen in the Greek word for fish (ichthus, spelled: Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma). That is an acrostic which has many translations in English (An acrostic is an arrangement of words in which the first letter of each line ordinarily combines with others to form a word or words or the alphabet). Fish are often mentioned in the gospels. This is expectes, as Jesus did most of his teaching in the Galilee, near the Sea of Galilee (Fish were a staple in the diet of Galilee). Some gospel verses which mention fish are: Mark 1:17: "Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
Matthew 12:40: "...Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Matthew 14:17: "And they said to Him, 'We have here only five loaves and two fish.'"
Luke 5:6: "And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking."
Luke 24:42: "So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb."
John 21:6: "And He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish."
1 Corinthians 15:39: "All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds." The Apostles were often referred to as "fishers of men". Followers of Christianity were called Pisciculi; the root of this Latin word is "fish". The symbols of "sacremental fish, with wine and a basket of bread represents the Eucharist and the Last Supper in Christian art." The symbol was simple to draw and was often used among Christians as a type of password during times of persecution by the Roman government. If two strangers met and were unsure whether each other was a Christian, one would draw an arc in the earth like:). If the other were a Christian, they would complete the symbol with a reverse arc: (), forming the outline of a fish. In the fourth century, the cross became a more popular symbol for Christians, and the symbolism of the fish gradually disappeared. In modern times, the fish outline symbol is experiencing a comeback. It is commonly seen in the form of a bumper sticker or casting mounted on the trunk lids of cars. The body of the symbol may be empty, or may contain a name ("Jesus" or "ICTUS"). This has inspired some Secularists, Atheists and promoters of the theory of evolution to mimic the Christian fish symbol with one of their own. It usually has "DARWIN" in the body of the fish, and little legs underneath. This has prompted "fish wars" between supporters of the secular and religious symbols. | 
