The Apocalyptic Lamb

Didrion, Alphonse. Christian Iconography: The History of Christian Art through the Ages. Vol. 1 New York: Ungar, 1965

The lamb is a symbol of Christ. It has been featured standing over rivers, held by John the Baptist, or even standing amongst his followers. However, one monstrous depiction of Christ as a lamb comes from St. John’s description of Christ in the Apocalyptic volume. He is represented with “seven horns on its head and seven eyes on the forehead and neck” (333). The seven horns and seven eyes indicate the seven spirits of God that will be sent throughout the entire world; the eyes being a faculty, and each horn as an emblem of the Divine Lamb. Seven gifts are also given to the Lamb: virtue, divinity, wisdom, courage, honor, glory and benediction (333). The number seven is an invaluable number when referring to the Apocalyptic lamb, however, either from error, indifference, want of room, inattention, or the degradation of Apocalyptic lamb to a more natural lamb, it is sometimes seen with fewer horns or eyes (333, 334).