Tetramorphs are arrangements of four elements used in religious symbolism, art, and architecture. They can combine elements into one object or display four separate elements symbolically. They are found in many cultures and can be large or small. The symbolic meaning is often only clear to followers of a particular religion.
A tetramorph is an arrangement of four elements designed to highlight the relationship between those elements. Many tetramorphs appear in religious symbolism, although they can also appear more generally in art and architecture. One of the most famous uses of the tetramorph is in depictions of the four evangelists in Christianity; these depictions are often designed in the form of quartered panels with a different symbol in each panel.
Many religions around the world and throughout history have integrated the tetramorph into their religious practice. Temples, for example, may include depictions of tetramorphs in the form of sculptures and paintings, and historically many temple floors were divided into tetramorphs. Using a tetramorph allows people to bring together distinct and sometimes seemingly disparate elements, highlighting the complex nature of faith.
There are several ways a tetramorph can appear. In some cases, a tetramorph combines four elements into one object; for example, a lion might be depicted with the head of an eagle, the tail of a serpent, and a pair of wings. Artwork that combines the elements of a tetramorph into a common theory can be quite intense and sometimes terrifying, suggesting monsters rather than objects of religious veneration. Wings are often present in tetramorphs, regardless of the culture the tetramorph comes from, suggesting that the desire to fly may be universal.
In other cases, a tetramorph includes four separate elements that are arranged symbolically. Classically, the elements are displayed at the four corners of a symbolic design which can be quite ornate, highlighting the difference between each object and integrating them into a unified symbol. Such tetramorphs can be huge, spanning things like ceilings and floors, or small enough to fit on a manuscript page.
Every culture has its tetramorphs and often the symbolic meaning of a tetramorph is only clear to followers of a particular religion, who understand the references made by each element in the design. Others are more commonly known; most people are familiar with the concept of four quarter winds, for example. Tetramorphs can also appear beyond the confines of visual art; a string quartet, for example, might be considered a form of tetramorph, with the instruments representing unique elements that are unified and made larger in performance.
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