# Why was there a little fish on the Jerusalem prison wall in Paulo, o Apóstolo?

> Discover the historical fish symbol used by early Christians, its Greek acronym and how its meaning expanded through the years of persecution.

URL: https://blog.univervideo.com/por-que-tinha-um-peixinho-na-parede-da-prisao-em-jerusalem-em-paulo-o-apostolo?lang=en
Idioma: en
Publicado em: 2025-08-21
Autor: Editorial team
Categoria: Series

Although fish are connected to biblical moments of great importance, such as the multiplication of loaves and fish (Matthew 14:15-21), or when Jesus called His fisherman disciples, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19), their use as a symbol is historical rather than strictly biblical.

The image was adopted as a kind of code among the first Christians, a way to communicate and identify those sharing their faith during times of Roman persecution.

![Fish symbol in A Vida de Jó](https://blog.univervideo.com/imagens/strapi-4911f75bb8c1a66a.png)

Known by the Greek word ΙΧΘΥΣ (pronounced ichthys), it is an acronym for the phrase Iesous Christos, Theou Yios Soter, translated as "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior".

> I - Iesous - Jesus  
> Ch - Christous - Christ  
> Th - Theou - God  
> Y - Yios - Son  
> S - Soter - Savior

Over time, what was merely a form of communication necessary to survive persecution became a symbol of Christianity and proof of its endurance through it.

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