Ancient Mesopotamian beliefs: Vesica Piscis

You can watch the associated Suroyo TV broadcast (in Turkish) with journalist Yawsef Beth Turo and Nurgül Çelebi here.

By Nurgül Çelebi

The Vesica Piscis is a symbol denoting the space formed by the intersection of two congruent circles, each centered around the other. In Latin, Vesica Piscis means “bladder of a fish”, reflecting the shape’s resemblance to the conjoined dual air bladders found in most fish. Associated with many different meanings, Vesica Piscis symbolized the woman’s womb, fertility and naturally the Mother Goddess figure in ancient beliefs and religious traditions. When the womb symbol, one of the most basic symbols of the goddess, was symbolized as Vesica Piscis, this shape was considered in a similar form to the “fish”.

Vesica Piscis is given as a name to the area where two circles intersect and are the fundamental key of sacred geometry. In many of the ancient traditions, the Holy Being, Creator Energy was represented by the circle. Perfect shape and proportion signified the Creator, who had no beginning and no end. This is the creative energy that was believed to have existed before the universe was created, in the beginning when there was no creature yet.

---

The intersection of this circle with a second circle represents the union of masculine and feminine energies and the expansion of duality. The shape that emerges from the combination of these two energies symbolizes the third energy. In other words, according to the old narratives, this form began to symbolize the Divine Child. It is observed that symbols are always born with an essential meaning but can turn into different forms and meanings over time.

While one of the identical symbols of Vesica Piscis and fish is shown in horizontal form the other one is shown in vertical form. However, both symbols represent fertility and the womb. When the lens is arranged horizontal with its two overlaid circles placed one above the other, it symbolizes the interface between the physical and the spiritual worlds represented by the two circles. In this shape, it also resembles the ichthys (fish) symbol of Christ and has also been a symbol of life, of “the materialization of the spirit”, of Christ’s mediation between heaven and earth.

---

Vesica Piscis in Different Cultures

When the Seed of Life and Flower of Life symbols, which are seen as an inseparable part of Mother Nature and Goddess, are placed on top of each other, many Vesica Piscis symbols appear in horizontal and vertical forms. There are many Vesica Piscis symbols inside the Flower of Life, which is the symbol of eternity and contains the sacred proportion of everything in the universe. Therefore, it is possible to say that Vesica Piscis is present and known in all areas where the Flower of Life symbol is used. The length of each line in the Flower of Life symbol corresponds to the width and length of the Vesica Piscis, and they all have a golden ratio. Therefore, it is possible to see Vesica Piscis in almost every civilization where there are symbols of the Flower of Life and the seed of life. This ancient symbol was used by the Ancient Egyptians in sacred geometry. Moreover, these symbols are frequently used in the ceiling decorations of architectural structures and wall paintings.

---

It is thought that Vesica Piscis is a cosmic symbol and although there is not enough evidence some researchers attribute its origin to the MU. Therefore, it is possible to trace the origin of Vesica Piscis back to ancient times.

Vesica Piscis in Monotheistic Religions

It is possible to see Vesica Piscis in the Christian tradition, but it is not possible to date exactly when it was used. Because it is known that most of the icons and images were destroyed or destroyed during the iconoclasm period. For this reason, probably, some of the depictions in which the Vesica Piscis symbol may have been first used were destroyed. Despite this, it is seen that Jesus Christ is depicted in the Vesica Piscis symbol in some depictions and paintings of later periods. In many reliefs in the Christian tradition, Jesus Christ is depicted inside the Vesica Piscis oval. It symbolizes the Virgin Mary, who is thought of as a Mother Goddess, and her womb. We also mentioned that the fish symbol of Jesus Christ is actually the horizontal form of the Vesica Piscis symbol.

---

Here, are the initials of the Greek word Ichthys (fish) in the horizontal form of Vesica Piscis, which is associated with the womb of the Virgin Mary. These letters refer to the words Iēsoûs, Khrīstós, Theoû, uiós, sōtḗr which means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, the savior.” It is thought that this symbol was used as of the second century after Jesus. It is known that it was used in this way in ancient pagan times and symbolizes the uterus and vagina. But over time, the symbolism of the fish became integrated with the physical and imaginary fish symbol. Thus, the “fish”, which is mentioned both in the drawings and in various discourses, has actually come to represent the “female energy”, that is, the “goddess”. It is well known in the esoteric tradition that the fish symbolizes the uterus and vagina. While this sacred symbol portrays the divine femininity, female fertility, and birth of life, in Christianity the femininity notion is subdued, and it mainly reflects the glory of God.

---

Today, it is possible to come across the Vesica Piscis symbol in many places. It is possible to see that Jesus Christ is depicted in this symbol in many depictions from tarot cards to various icons. This symbol, which is also included in various geometric symbols such as the Flower of Life, is used in a wide area from decoration materials to accessories. It is possible to see the symbol of Vesica Piscis in every area related to the goddess. A symbol that comes from thousands of years ago and expresses the creative energy and fertility of the goddess…

May the creative light within you never go out…

Nurgül Çelebi was born in 1985 in Istanbul. She holds a master’s degree from the Syriac Language and Culture Department at Mardin Artuklu University with her thesis on Sun and Moon Symbolism in Syriac literature. She continues her Ph.D. program in the history of religions at Ankara University with her thesis on “Sin-Shamash Duality and Its Reflection on Religions”. She is currently continuing her second Ph.D. in the Assyrian History doctorate program at ELTE University in Budapest.

Nurgül Çelebi works on Mesopotamian beliefs and mythologies and published papers on these subjects. In addition to academic studies, she has published three novels in Turkish: “Yarına Dokunmak“, “Aşka Dokunmak”, and “Tanrı Dağı”. Her stories have appeared in five anthologies: “Karanlıktaki Kadınlar”, “Hayalet Müzik”, “Eskilerin Şöleni”, “Dark Antoloji Birinci Kitap”, and “Dark Antoloji İkinci Kitap”.