According to the invaluable but sometimes unappreciated Wikipedia:
With no basis in the canonical narratives of the birth of Jesus, an ox
and ass are usually part of the nativity scene. The tradition may arise
from an extracanonical text, the Pseudo-Matthew gospel of the eighth
century:
"And on the third day after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Mary went out of the cave, and, entering a stable, placed the child in a
manger, and an ox and an ass adored him. Then was fulfilled that which
was said by the prophet Isaiah, "The ox knows his owner, and the ass his
master's crib." Therefore, the animals, the ox and the ass, with him in
their midst incessantly adored him. Then was fulfilled that which was
said by Habakkuk the prophet, saying, "Between two animals you are made
manifest."
The ox, the ass, and the infant Jesus in one of the earliest depictions
of the nativity, (Ancient Roman Christian sarcophagus, 4th century)
Considerable symbolism is attached to the ox and the ass. The ox
traditionally represents patience, the nation of Israel, and Old
Testament sacrificial worship while the ass represents humility,
readiness to serve, and the Gentiles.
The ox and the ass, as well as other animals, became a part of nativity
scene tradition. In a 1415, Corpus Christi celebration, the Ordo
paginarum notes that Jesus was lying between an ox and an ass.[17] Other
animals introduced to nativity scenes include elephants and camels.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scene
George Simmers
Dr George Simmers's research blog is at:
Http://greatwarfiction.wordpress.com
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