What does the scallop symbolize?

Another legend is linked to the Greek mythology: the scallop is an Aphrodite’s symbol, goodness of love and beauty, who was born from the sea foam and reached the shores of Cyprus on a scallop’s shell. The seafood is a symbol of femininity and fertility.

What is the meaning of scallop shell?

SCALLOPED SHELL – Seashells are an ancient Christian symbol referring to religious pilgrimages and spiritual protection. Seashells were also used as the symbol of rebirth. Scallop shell symbolism is associated with the apostle, James.

What does the scallop shell symbolize in Spain?

The scallop shell is said to be a metaphor, its lines representing the different routes pilgrims travel from all over the world, all walking trails leading to one point: the tomb of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela.

Who is the scallop shell associated with?

Scallop shell symbolism is associated with the apostle, James. James the Greater was son of Zebedee, a fisherman of Galilee, and brother of John the Evangelist.

Why is the scallop shell the symbol of El Camino de Santiago?

One of the most iconic symbols of the Camino to Santiago is the Scallop Shell. It is said that this symbol is a metaphor, in that its lines represent the different routes traveled by pilgrims from around the World, which all lead to one point, the tomb of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela.

What does the scallop shell represent in baptism?

The dish used by priests to pour water over the heads of catachumens in baptism is often scallop-shaped. The scallop, too, is the symbol for the Apostle James the Greater. St. James used the scallop shell during his pilgrimage to beg for food and water.

What does the shell in baptism symbolize?

What did scallop shells signify in the Middle Ages?

Symbology of the Camino Shell It was also common for Medieval pilgrims across Europe to be buried with their scallop shell, showing they had completed the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The scallop shell is also often associated with the Goddess Venus, as a symbol of fertility but also renewal or rebirth.

What does a scallop shell mean in the Middle Ages?

The scallop is the symbol of St James, the patron saint of pilgrims. Since the Middle Ages his grave in Santiago de Compostela in Spain has been the goal of one of the most important Christian pilgrimages. That is why this shell is also the badge of those pilgrims who are on their way to his shrine.