The Ichthys (Greek for “fish”) is one of the earliest and most recognizable symbols of Christianity, with origins dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Its use emerged during periods of Roman persecution, when Christians needed a discreet way to identify one another and mark safe meeting places. The symbol itself is tied to several layers of meaning: the Greek word ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthys) formed an acrostic for Iēsous Christos Theou Huios Sōtēr—“Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”