vesica piscis

[ vuh-sahy-kuh pahy-sis, pis-is; vuh-see-kuh pis-kis, ves-i-kuh ]

noun

, Fine Arts.

1. an elliptical figure in pointed form, usually one made by the intersection of two arcs and used, especially in early Christian art, as an emblem of Christ.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesica piscis¹

First recorded in 1800–10, vesica piscis is from New Latin vēsīca piscis literally, “bladder of a fish”

Example Sentences

For this series of works, the Los Angeles-based artist studied Google Earth to view the geometries of Washington, D.C., and used those to create a “feminized” version of the city’s landscape and monuments — for example, transforming the phallic obelisk of the Washington Monument into a vesica piscis — two intersecting discs that seem to channel female anatomy in clever, geometric ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Mandorla, man-dor′la, n. an oval panel, or a work of art filling such: the vesica piscis.

From Project Gutenberg

In modern Christian art this symbol is called vesica piscis, and is sometimes surrounded with rays.

From Project Gutenberg

The erect oval symbol of the Female Principle of Nature became the Vesica Piscis, and the Crux Ansata, testifying the union of the male and female in the most obvious manner, is transformed into the orb surmounted by the cross, as an ensign of royalty.

From Project Gutenberg

The horse-shoe, like the vesica piscis of the Roman church, indicates the yoni; the last, taken from some cow, mare, or donkey, being used in eastern parts where we now use their shoes, to keep off the evil eye.

From Project Gutenberg