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Christogram IHS facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Gravestone-ihs
A Christogram placed on a grave cross
Coat of arms of Franciscus
IHS on the coat of arms of Pope Francis.

The Christogram IHS is a special symbol or monogram that stands for Jesus Christ. It's a way to represent Jesus using just a few letters.

This symbol comes from the Greek language. It's a shortened version of the name IHΣΟΥΣ, which is how "Jesus" is written in Greek.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, a different Christogram is often used. It's made with the Greek letters X, P, I, and X. These are the first letters of the Greek words for "Christ" and "Jesus Christ."

In Western cultures, you'll often see "IHS" or "IHC." These letters are the first three letters (iota-eta-sigma) of Jesus's name in the Greek alphabet: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. The "IHS" symbol first appeared on coins made by Emperor Justinian II around the late 600s and early 700s.

What IHS Means

The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuit order, officially adopted "IHS" as their symbol in the 1600s. Over time, people also came up with Latin meanings for the "IHS" abbreviation. These include:

  • Iesus Humilis Societas – meaning "Humble Society of Jesus."
  • Iesus Hominum Salvator – meaning "Jesus, Savior of men."

Another famous saying connected to "IHS" is:

  • In hoc signo vinces – meaning "By this sign you shall conquer."

These longer meanings likely came about because in the Middle Ages, people sometimes mistook the Greek letter 'eta' (which looks like an 'H') for the Latin letter 'E'.

There's a well-known legend about the phrase "In hoc signo vinces." It says that Emperor Constantine the Great saw this inscription, along with a cross, in a dream. This happened before a big battle against Maxentius in the year 312, near the Ponte Milvio.

Some people have suggested that the "IHS" symbol might come from ancient Egyptian mythology, linking it to gods like Isis, Horus, and Seth. However, there is no scientific or historical proof to support these ideas. The symbol's true origin is from the Greek name of Jesus.

Images for kids

  • Chrisme Colosseum Rome Italy

    Chi-Rho symbol with Alpha and Omega on a 4th-century sarcophagus (Vatican Museums)

  • Chrismon Sancti Ambrosii

    A Chi Rho combined with Alpha and Omega, in 1669 labelled Chrismon Sancti Ambrosii, Milan Cathedral

  • IHS Christogram 1864 Bible

    IHS Christogram embossed on an 1864 leather-bound King James Bible

  • キリシタン灯籠（梅窓院）

    Lhq-inscription on a Japanese lantern

  • IHS with cross

    IHS or JHS Christogram of western Christianity

  • Interlaced IHS monogram on ceiling of church of Saint-Martin de L'Isle-Adam

    Intertwined IHS monogram, Saint-Martin's Church, L'Isle-Adam, Val-d'Oise

  • Clontuskert Priory Doorway IHC Monogram 2009 09 16

    IHC monogram from Clontuskert Abbey, Ireland

  • Jesuit emblem 1586

    The Jesuit emblem from a 1586 print

  • Church Door, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)

    Door at Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania) showing (from left) arms of the parish; Marian monogram; the IHS Christogram; and arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

  • Spahr 63 1140 133312

    "ΙϹ ΧϹ ΝΙΚΑ" cross on the obverse of a 12th-century Sicilian coin (Roger II)

  • The Greek Pantokrator on the Hungarian Holy Crown

    Christ Pantocrator on the Holy Crown of Hungary (12th century)

  • Christ Pantocrator, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

    Christ Pantocrator, Church of the Holy Sepulchre (1810)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cristograma para niños

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