Character Discussion: James

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 120601


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Renee" <R.Vink2 at c...> wrote:

> Renee:
> In the medieval Church the stag was sometimes used as a symbol for 
> Christ Triumphant (like the unicorn symbolised the purity of Christ 
> and the Phoenix the Resurrection). In Catholic iconography this 
stag 
> is often found in pictures of St. Hubert, encountering a majestic 
> stag with a cross between its antlers while hunting in the forest - 
> an experience which led to Hubert's conversion, if I recall the 
> story correctly.
> 
> After and because of the Reformation, most of this symbolism was 
> lost to Protestantism. But I wouldn't be surprised if JKR, though a 
> member of the Church of Scotland, knew what the stag stood for in 
> the medieval Church. She's obviously fond of animal symbolism. 

Geoff:
Thank you for that; something of which I was not aware. Being a 
Protestant, I have not studied Catholic imagery and iconography as I 
do not feel that it represents an essential part of Christian belief. 
The one animal symbol which is used a lot in free church circles is 
that of Christ as the Lamb of God.