Hierogram
A hierogram (from Greek / Neo-Latin hiero (holy) and gram (writing / sign)) is a religious pictogram , i.e. a formulaic graphic / pictorial sign with a fixed meaning. Hierograms were the identification marks for sacred objects, representations or places in the time without writing.
The attribute of the Sumerian god Enki included a goat and a fish, partly depicted as a chimera . Later, only the Capricorn or Aries was used as its hierogram. As symbols of God, these two also became signs of the zodiac . Well-known assignments of objects or animals to certain gods ( Odin's horse and ravens, Neptune's trident, club of Hercules , bull of Zeus ) are still required in written time, since illiteracy prevailed. Even with Christian representations of apostles or saints, the constant assignment of hierograms (now called iconographic saints attribute ) ( Peter = key, Holy Spirit = dove or halo ) ensures that the viewer of the images is able to classify what it is about acts.