Eagle catching fish or eagle catching ichthys (German: Adler fängt Fisch or Adler fängt Ichthys) is a German anti-Christian and neo-pagan symbol.
It depicts an eagle catching an ichthys, a fish symbol associated with Christianity. The symbol is supposed to represent pagan strength and victory over Christianity.[1] It was first created in 1989, and later registered as a trademark in 2003 by Holocaust denier Jürgen Rieger for the far-right German neo-pagan organisation Artgemeinschaft Germanische Glaubens-Gemeinschaft, which he led at the time.[1][2][3]
Another anti-Christian symbol known as "Odins Raben" (lit. Odin's Ravens) similarly depicts two ravens attacking an Ichthys.[4]
While the symbol originated from, and is mostly associated with, far-right paganism, this association is not inherently the case.[3]
Usage
editThe design of the symbol can vary.
A variant of the symbol was used on a hoodie named "No Inquisition" produced by the clothing brand Thor Steinar, which is popular among the far-right in Germany.[5] Some German pagan metal bands, such as XIV Dark Centuries,[de] also have previously used the symbol.[6]
Assessments
editThe Evangelical Association of Saxony and the Office for Worldview and Sect Issues of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony recognizes the symbol as clearly anti-Christian symbolism. It did not, however, conclude an inherent and clear association to the far-right extremist scene.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "dasversteckspiel.de, Die Symbolwelt - Adler fängt Fisch (in German)". Archived from the original on 2019-06-22.
- ^ "DPMA Register information Register number: 30238105 (in German)". Archived from the original on 2021-11-15.
- ^ a b c "confessio.de - Adler Fängt Fisch, Was bedeutet das Symbol? (in German)".
- ^ "Symbole, Codes und Klamotten der Nazis by Maria Wöhr on the website of the Lower Saxon Rural Youth (in German)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-11-16.
- ^ "Die Thor-Steinar-Welt der Zufalle teil II (in German)". Archived from the original on 2021-04-21.
- ^ "Aufkleber Adler-Fisch from XIV Dark Centuries on bandcamp (in German)". Archived from the original on 2020-11-27.