![Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (7) ointment-jar, (8) sack of seeds, ship, (9) five loaves [without fishes], key [attribute of St. Peter], sun, (10) woman [St. Martha or St. Mary Magdalene], sword, (11) devil, prayer chain/rosary, (12) heart, [treasure?-]chest](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LWx1a2Utb3gtd2l0aC03LW9pbnRtZW50LWphci04LXNhY2stb2Ytc2VlZHMtc2hpcC05LWZpdmUtbG9hdmVzLTZmMDRhYS0xMDI0LmpwZw%3D%3D/320/442/jpg "Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (7) ointment-jar, (8) sack of seeds, ship, (9) five loaves [without fishes], key [attribute of St. Peter], sun, (10) woman [St. Martha or St. Mary Magdalene], sword, (11) devil, prayer chain/rosary, (12) heart, [treasure?-]chest")
Similar
![Symbol of St. John: eagle, with (13) wash basin, (14) heart, (15) vine-tendril, (16) Jew-hat, (17) paten, (18) Garden of Gethsemane, (19) mocker, (20) three ointment-jars, (21) Christ puts two fingers [of Thomas] in his wound](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LWpvaG4tZWFnbGUtd2l0aC0xMy13YXNoLWJhc2luLTE0LWhlYXJ0LTE1LXZpbmUtdGVuZHJpbC0xNi1qZXctYzE4MTA0LTY0MC5qcGc%3D/40/53/webp "Symbol of St. John: eagle, with (13) wash basin, (14) heart, (15) vine-tendril, (16) Jew-hat, (17) paten, (18) Garden of Gethsemane, (19) mocker, (20) three ointment-jars, (21) Christ puts two fingers [of Thomas] in his wound")
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![Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (7) the [unwashed] hand, head of dog having bread [of the children] in its mouth, (8) seven loaves, key [attribute of St. Peter], eye, (9) sun, devil, (10) scallop [attribute of St. James the Great], #nail/clinch(?)#, two clasped hands, (11)
ass's foal, (12) money box, vine-tendril](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LW1hcmstbGlvbi13aXRoLTctdGhlLXVud2FzaGVkLWhhbmQtaGVhZC1vZi1kb2ctaGF2aW5nLWJyZWFkLW9mLWYwZWY5Yi02NDAuanBn/40/55/webp "Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (7) the [unwashed] hand, head of dog having bread [of the children] in its mouth, (8) seven loaves, key [attribute of St. Peter], eye, (9) sun, devil, (10) scallop [attribute of St. James the Great], #nail/clinch(?)#, two clasped hands, (11)
ass's foal, (12) money box, vine-tendril")
![Symbol of St. Matthew: angel, with (13) sack of seeds, (14) five loaves [without fishes], (15) the [unwashed] hand, head of dog having bread [of the children] in its mouth, (16) Jonah is cast up by the great fish, key [attribute of St. Peter], (17) sun, (18) Christ-child
with seven keys](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LW1hdHRoZXctYW5nZWwtd2l0aC0xMy1zYWNrLW9mLXNlZWRzLTE0LWZpdmUtbG9hdmVzLXdpdGhvdXQtZmlzaGVzLWNhOWY5Ny02NDAuanBn/40/53/webp "Symbol of St. Matthew: angel, with (13) sack of seeds, (14) five loaves [without fishes], (15) the [unwashed] hand, head of dog having bread [of the children] in its mouth, (16) Jonah is cast up by the great fish, key [attribute of St. Peter], (17) sun, (18) Christ-child
with seven keys")
![Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (1) baptismal font, (2) cushion [bed of the paralytic], (3) fleeing devil, (4) sack of seeds, barrel [bushel?], (5) bust of a woman, (6) prophet, the head of St. John the Baptist on a platter](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LW1hcmstbGlvbi13aXRoLTEtYmFwdGlzbWFsLWZvbnQtMi1jdXNoaW9uLWJlZC1vZi10aGUtcGFyYWx5dGljLTZlNDE1OC02NDAuanBn/40/55/webp "Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (1) baptismal font, (2) cushion [bed of the paralytic], (3) fleeing devil, (4) sack of seeds, barrel [bushel?], (5) bust of a woman, (6) prophet, the head of St. John the Baptist on a platter")
![Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (1) St. Gabriel, (2) Christ-child holding sceptre and knife, (3) baptismal font, (4) Christ drives the devil away, (5) cushion [bed of the paralytic], fishing net, (6) opened book, seven candles](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LWx1a2Utb3gtd2l0aC0xLXN0LWdhYnJpZWwtMi1jaHJpc3QtY2hpbGQtaG9sZGluZy1zY2VwdHJlLWFuZC1rbmlmZS1hNWQ5ZWUtNjQwLmpwZw%3D%3D/40/55/webp "Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (1) St. Gabriel, (2) Christ-child holding sceptre and knife, (3) baptismal font, (4) Christ drives the devil away, (5) cushion [bed of the paralytic], fishing net, (6) opened book, seven candles")
![Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (19) city of #Jericho/Jerusalem#, (20) money box, vine-tendril, (21) prophet, Christ of the Last Judgement, with sunrays and stars, (22) chalice, Host, (23) head of a Jew, (24) banner of the Agnus Dei [without Lamb], three ointment-jars](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LWx1a2Utb3gtd2l0aC0xOS1jaXR5LW9mLWplcmljaG9qZXJ1c2FsZW0tMjAtbW9uZXktYm94LXZpbmUtdGVuZHJpbC1iNDk0OGQtNjQwLmpwZw%3D%3D/40/55/webp "Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (19) city of #Jericho/Jerusalem#, (20) money box, vine-tendril, (21) prophet, Christ of the Last Judgement, with sunrays and stars, (22) chalice, Host, (23) head of a Jew, (24) banner of the Agnus Dei [without Lamb], three ointment-jars")
Symbol of St. Luke: ox, with (7) ointment-jar, (8) sack of seeds, ship, (9) five loaves [without fishes], key [attribute of St. Peter], sun, (10) woman [St. Martha or St. Mary Magdalene], sword, (11) devil, prayer chain/rosary, (12) heart, [treasure?-]chest
Summary
St. Mary Magdalene is often depicted in Christian art holding a jar of ointment, which is meant to symbolize the ointment she used to anoint the feet of Jesus during the Last Supper, as described in the New Testament. This act of devotion is seen as a powerful expression of Mary Magdalene's love and devotion to Jesus, she pours the ointment from the jar onto Jesus' feet.
In artistic depictions, St. Luke is often shown holding an ox or with an ox nearby, as a symbol of his association with the Gospel of Luke and his devotion to Jesus and the Holy Family. The image of St. Luke with an ox is a reminder of the importance of sacrifice, devotion, and compassion in the Christian life.
Tags
Date
1300 - 1500
Location
Federal Republic of Germany
Source
National Library of the Netherlands
Copyright info
Public Domain Marked
