The Lamb.
The Lamb is the obvious (and very ancient) type of our Blessed Saviour. It is represented with a nimbus, or glory, containing four rays, one of which is concealed by the head. If each ray contains a cross, it is called a cruciferous nimbus. The rays are the especial mark of a Divine glory, the circlets, or glories, surrounding heads of saints and martyrs never including them.
The Lamb bearing a banner, the token of victory, is an emblem of the resurrection.
Pelican.
The Pelican wounding her own breast to feed her young ones was an ancient symbol of the Great Sacrifice. One or both of these last-named emblems are frequently met with in ancient crosses or crucifixes, the lamb at the foot, and the pelican at the top of the cross.
The Good Shepherd, carrying a sheep, is also an ancient emblem.
Swords.
The Sword is an emblem varying in signification according to the sharpness of its point. That with an acute point is the sword of justice; with the point obtuse, the sword of religion; with no point, the sword of mercy. The flaming sword typifies Divine vengeance.
Fish.
The Fish is one of the very earliest symbols of our Divine Lord. The five letters of the Greek word for a fish (ΙΧΘΥΣ) make the initials (in Greek) of the following sentence—Jesus Christ, God's Son, the Saviour (Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υἱὸς Σωτήρ). "In this sense," Mrs. Jameson informs us, "we find the fish as a general symbol of the Christian faith upon the sarcophagi of early Christians; on the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs; on rings, coins, lamps, &c.; and as an ornament in early Christian architecture." It was also thought an appropriate emblem of the Christian in the waters of baptism, and in allusion to the promise, "Ye shall become fishers of men."