RTS

The above link originated with J.R. "Bob" Dobbs from the Church of the Subgenius @ http://www.subgenius.com/

And since the text at the above link is difficult to read here is a synopsis of the tract.

The origin of the fish symbol was also known as the Yoni, or Vissica Piscis, [and even the variant spelling Pisces the Zodiacal sign] and had its beginning some 20 thousand years ago when ancient matriarchal societies worshiped the "Great Mother Goddess". The "Mother Goddess" was the first "god" worshiped by primitive man and she was considered the greatest mystic power of the universe because her ability to bear children was considered the same as the ability to create life. The source of the Great Mother's divine energy was believed to be her genitalia because this is the place they saw life come from.

The pointed oval symbol (the "fish" symbol pointing upward) represented the female vulva which was the source of life's creative energy. The relationship between the Yoni (the fish Symbol) and ancient goddesses is undeniable and was representative in many cultures. The Chinese Great Mother, Kwan-yin (Yoni of yonis) often appeared as a fish goddess, and in Egypt, Isis, the swallower of Osiris' penis became "Abtu, the Great Fish of the Abyss". The Hindus called the Goddess Kali "Minaski" which means "fish-eyed one" because she was the swallower of Shiva's penis. The name Mary (Mari or Marina) in Hebrew means both "sea" and "mother" and the Hebrew word "Nun" means "fish". In Greek, the word for fish and the word for womb were the same: delphos. The original delphic oracle belongs to the Fish-Goddess of the Abyss.

Even early paintings of the unborn Christ child showed him inside a vissica piscis, which was superimposed on Mary's belly and obviously represented her womb, just as in the ancient symbolisms of the Mother Goddess.

The Christian story that this symbol was used by early Christians to recognize each other and escape persecution is a myth and nothing but their attempt to commandeer the real history of this symbol. Non-Christians of that era would have recognized this symbol as the sign of the Great Mother's Yoni (sex organ).

http://home.carolina.rr.com/kit/sf7a.gif

[edited to make the pic a link.. kids browse the forums too keep in mind. thanks. -Krosis GRD mod.]

Llyricist

There is also the aspect that at around that time it was the start of the "Age of Pisces", that is, the 2160 year period that the sun rises in the constellation Pisces at the vernal equinox. Astrologers of the period were well aware of the precession of the equinoxes as it is called causing the 2160 year "Ages" for each sign of the zodiac.

Nowadays we are at the dawning of the age of aquarius, meaning that the sun is getting closer to rising in aquarius at the equinox instead of pisces.

It also explains the inclusion of the Magi in the gospel in that they were looking for a new "ruler" for the new age.