The Meaning of Sheep

Being one of the first animals to be domesticated by man, sheep are known to have several meanings and characteristics. Ovis aries are known so far to have began in existence since approximately 6.000 B.C.E, but the earliest woven garments have only been dated to 2-3.000 years later. The sheep is seen as having a lack of individuality.


Nama Rhyton Anavyssos
A sheep's-head rhyton. Rhyton (plural rhyta) is the ancient Greek word (ῥυτόν rutón) for a container from which fluids were intended to be drunk, or else poured in some ceremony such as libation.
English Description: Man pursuing a woman. Red-figure ram rhyton by the Villa Giulia Painter, ca. 460-450 BC. From Anavyssos in Attica.
Current Location: National Archaeological Museum in Athens, 15880.

Sheep were considered to be forms of the Apostles in old Roman churches, as they gathered around the Agnus Dei. Very often, Christ is depicted with a lamb in His arms, surrounded by sheep, especially on early paintings and in catacombs, on engraved gems. In this view, sheep signify the flock of Christ. Shepherd, in the Old Testament, is often applied to rulers. For instance, King David was given the title of a Shepherd.

The signification of sheep in the Biblical sense is the good of the will. Lambs signify innocence. The ram, in the Bible, was a substitute for ‘human’ sacrifice.


A 1st century CE relief of a bull, a sheep and a pig being led to sacrifice in Rome.
Artist: Unknown, Location: Musée du Louvre, Paris, France - Department of Greek,Estrucan, and Roman antiquities, Ma 1096 (MR 852)
Description:
English: Suovetaurilia (sacrifice of a pig, a sheep and a bull) to the god Mars, relief from the panel of a sarcophagus. Marble, Roman artwork, first half of the 1st century CE.
Français : Suovétaurile (sacrifice d'un porc, d'une brebis et d'un taureau) en l'honneur du dieu Mars, relief du panneau d'un sarcophage. Marbre, œuvre romaine, première moitié du Ier siècle de notre ère.
Dimensions: H. 87 cm (34 ¼ in.), W. 2 m (6 ft. 6 ½ in.)
Credit: Grimani Collection in Venice; seized by Napoléon Bonaparte, 1797

The ram, or male sheep, stands for Aries (March 21 – April 20), a Fire sign. This animal symbolizes the wild, creative forces of nature, but is linked more along with issues of the intellect. It also is seen as strength, vitality, virility, creativity, the Sun, solar power, and unwavering determination.



In Chinese astrology, those people belonging to the sheep category are socially, domestically, and politically the least likely to make waves. These sheep-born are proud, domineering, strive to help and guard their fellow, and sometimes excellent doctors. They are ones to pay attention to rules and regulations that are created by laws and by society and respect order. Sheep people are nice and pleasant people. They are also born under a lucky star, which leads to fortune favoring them. Most likely they are not capable of making their own fortune in life by their own control, since they are so mild, whimsical, and unassuming. Several sheep people are attracted to success and money, but they also spend more than they earn. Sheep don’t believe in saving money and would rather overspend on luxuries. They are also very creative and artistic people. Those born in the Year of the Sheep are also gifted craftsman and mostly women.


References and Other resources:

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/animals2.htm - Anima; Symbolism - Many Cultures

http://www.holymtn.com/astrology/ram.htm - Chinese Astrology

http://www.greatdreams.com/animals.htm - Animals, Birds, and Insects and their Meanings

http://books.google.com/books?id=fr2rANLrPmoC&pg=PA369&lpg=PA369&dq=animal+symbolism+sheep&source=web&ots=ekDeWuFyIM&sig=1eNBq_6kPUmCQfN9L1MT8GKQ8-c&hl=en#PPA368,M1 – The Continuum Encyclopedia of Animal Sybmolism in Art, by Hope B.

http://www.oldandsold.com/books/symbolism/symbolism-6.shtml - The Sheep, Tiger, Whale and Fish, Wolf

http://www.milkandhoneyfarm.com/sheep/images/three_happy_sheep.jpe - 1st Sheep picture shown above

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/NAMA_Rhyton_Anavyssos.jpg - Rhyton picture above

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Suovetaurile_Louvre.jpg - Suovetaurilia picture above

http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/images/2006/01/23/chinese_zodiac_sheep_400x30.gif - Chinese Horoscope Sheep picture above