EMBLEM, a kind of painted renigma, which, representing some obvious history, with reflections underneath, instructs us in some moral truth or other matter of knowledge. See DEVISE, ENIGMA, &c.
Such is that very significant image of Scævola holding his hand in the fire; with the words, Agere et pati fortiter Romanum est, "To do and suffer courageously is Roman."
The word is pure Greek, formed of the verb εισέλαιν, "to cast in, to insert." Suetonius relates, that Tiberius made the word be erased out of the decree of the Roman senate, because borrowed from another language.
The emblem is somewhat plainer and more obvious than the renigma.—Gale defines emblem an ingenious picture, representing one thing to the eye, and another to the understanding.
The Greeks also gave the name EMBLEMS, εισέλαινα, to inlaid or mosaic works, and even to all kinds of ornaments of vases, moveables, garments, &c. And the Latins used emblema in the same sense. Accordingly, Cicero reproaching Verres with the statues and fine wrought works he had plundered from the Sicilians, calls
Embolismus calls the ornaments fixed thereto (and which on occasion might be separated from them) emblemata. Add, that Latin authors frequently compare the figures and ornaments of discourse to these emblemata. Thus, an ancient Latin poet praising an orator, says, that all his words were ranged like the pieces in mosaic:
Quam lepidè ræson compositæ, ut tesserae omnes,
At te pavimenti, atque emblemata vermiculato.
With us emblem ordinarily signifies no more than a painting, basso-relievo, or other representation, intended to hold forth some moral or political instruction.
What distinguishes an emblem from a devise is, that the words of an emblem have a full complete sense of themselves; nay, all the sense and signification which they have, together with the figure. But there is a yet further difference between emblem and devise: for a devise is a symbol appropriated to some person, or that expresses something which concerns him particularly; whereas an emblem is a symbol that regards all the world alike.
These differences will be more apparent, from comparing the emblem above quoted, with the devise of a candle lighted, and the words Juvando consumor, "I waste myself in doing good." See DEVISE.