THE PAGAN-CHRISTIAN OVERLAP OF THE WISE BIRD. 133 



crudger, the cruciform, or, more properly, the cruciferous nimbus. 

 Gradually this became consolidated and contracted until, after the 

 15th century, it assumed altogether the shape of a head-dress. 



That form of nimbus which encloses the whole body has been 

 termed an aureole, or glory, in France ; a mandola, or almond, in 

 Italy ; and in this country a vesica piscis, or fish's bladder. It is 

 generally constituted by the opposed segments of two equal circles. 

 It has been used to enclose the body of Christ, as in Ely 

 Cathedral ; of the Virgin, of the Madonna and Child, of the 

 Father, of the Supreme Judge, and of S. Martin. Sometimes 

 one side of it is made by a rainbow. It is the customary frame 

 of monastic seals, as in the case of Wimborne Monastery, founded 

 by Cuthburga in the 8th century. The term vesica piscis seems to 

 have arisen in modern times and to have had no connection with 

 the very early use of a Fish as a symbol of Christ, or as a sign 

 of baptism. 



Another indication of divinity in representations of the Three 

 Persons is that Their feet are bare, although it often happens that 

 either for artistic reasons or for the sake of constructional simplicity, 

 they are concealed. 



The most usual arrangement of the Holy Group is that in which 

 the First Person holds before Him, and as it were shows to the 

 universe, the crucified Second Person, whilst a Dove issues from 

 the Father's mouth. In a less frequent grouping the Dove, " qui 

 ex Patre Filioque procedit," is represented with one wing issuing 

 from the mouth of either of the other Two Persons, who are 

 necessarily, in this case, side by side. Sometimes all Three Persons 

 have human forms, which may be all standing or all sitting, or 

 otherwise disposed. In some examples the Holy Ghost appears as 

 Man and Dove together. In one instance, from France, of the 

 16th century, the Dove, fluttering His wings, is held by the feet, 

 falcon-wise, by the Man, who sits on a throne, and both are without 

 a nimbus. In another instance, from the same country, of the 15th 

 century, the Dove, with raised wings, rests on the Man's head, 

 within the circle of His cruciform nimbus. The Bird has a similar 



