The mosaic is 3rd century, and is in a Catacomb in San Callisto Church in Rome. It is written that it was here that the martyrdom of Pope Callixtus I, took place. It is written that the date most likely for it was 222. Well there is an interesting story related to this man. Callixtus was a youngster who was put in charge of funds. Alms that had been given for the Christian care of widows and orphans. It seems that the funds disappeared, and he fled to Rome. Apparently, he was denounced as a Christian after his debt collecting days, and he was sentenced to work in the mines in Sardina.
He was eventually released with other Christians. However, now his health was suffering. So he was sent to recuperate and was given a pension. It is written that Callixtus was forgiving of people that had sexual relationships with their staff, and Hippolytus 'denounced' him for doing so.
The story of the mosaic seems to tell the story of his life, and now having read it, it looks like the crushing of the Christian fish was to do with money. The artist is telling a story of what happened, and the reason why. Those with money, did not wish for the Christian fish to go with the flow. As such, the young Callixtus was set-up by those that opposed him, and his forgiving heart.
If your heart is truly forgiving, it can trigger the hearts of those that are not. 'The depth of your forgiveness determines the depth of your love'. from Sacred Words
Five is also the numeric of physical reality, and the young Callixtus was put in charge of finances with the sole purpose of setting him up to be crushed. Its another Roman story of political intrigue in the Church, that stopped the humble from doing good. The only way that they could stop the good was to crush them like a fish, with a heavy weight. Does it remind you of the Christians today that have huge bills to pay? Can you imagine the good that they could do if they did not have such large overheads? Seriously, this reminds me of our blessed ones that have good hearts of forgiveness. The work of the artists can be more reliable than papal history.
His feast day is October 14 and that is the 'Day of Moderation'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSZnUhcUbiU
Now what else do we find, the meaning of his name. The Latin word 'Calix' means 'Wine Cup' and other links state that the name means 'Chalice'. So we have a chalice with coins on the top it, nothing to do with bread.
In Christian symbology the chalice is associated with the heart that contains the lifeblood. However, in Judaism it is a symbol of the golden bowl of divine shrine within. In oriental healing arts it is also to do with the divine shrine. In Celtic symbology we have the holy grail. The wine is in the chalice and the wine is symbolic of a mystic and a prophet. Rumi the poet also wrote about the clear wine of the mystic and the beautiful names that come to be.
In symbology the number five can relate to the power of the circle. Five being a circular number. There are five circles on the chalice, and it can also relate to a cycle of five. It can indicate that there were five important people involved in the conspiracy that took place in his life. If the chalice has weights upon it, it can crush the fish. The fish have to be allowed to swim in freedom, they have to be allowed to be who they are. However, the weight can also be symbolic of the law that was being imposed by Rome, especially to do with taxes. A system that has continued to this day. In the time of Callixtus he was collecting money from Jewish people as well, and source link states it was to do with the repayment of loans.
The graphic indicates that Rome were using the teachings of the prophets and mystics to crush the people instead of give them their freedom. It also indicates that instead of the wealthy helping the mystics financially, they did the opposite and put financial burden upon them by taxing them and their work.
1. http://lotusfeet22.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/catacomb-message.html
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_of_Life_Discourse
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Callistus_I
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_of_Callixtus
5. http://www.behindthename.com/name/callixtus
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