ABSTRACT
WHAT IS A SYMBOL? The medievals had a tag, verbis aut rebus: With words or with things, but also with actions; res has both meanings. There is a tendency for symbols to be things, and for words the tendency again is for the words, the figure of speech, or the interpretation of actions especially liturgical actions, to be called allegory. Allegories are figures of speech, one word standing for another: with symbols one object or action stands for another. A symbol can be described roughly as a visual allegory and an allegory as a verbal symbol. The exception that springs to mind is the ‘allegorical figure,’ carved or painted, but perhaps this should really be called a symbolic figure. It is also difficult to distinguish the interpretation of a visible action – is it a symbol or an allegory? But, does it matter? Symbol and allegory are much the same thing in different contexts.
