The early Christians had no objections to images. They were happy to employ symbols, even the figure of a human being, such as a fisherman, to signify Christian beliefs. But at this stage in Christian history they did not yet have their own artistic vocabulary; they had to adapt what was available in the wider culture. Still, in wearing certain kinds of rings or using lamps engraved with particular images they were making choices about what symbols were appropriate for Christian art. The list of images that Clement deemed acceptable offers the first repertory of Christian symbols, some of
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