Geograph - photograph every grid square

This religious symbol goes back to the early centuries of Christianity and has been passed on from church art to heraldry, and then on to a more modern world as a pub sign.

The lamb is the symbol of Jesus Christ in his role as sacrificial victim, an interpretation based on several Bible texts, most notably John the Baptist's words about him: "Behold the lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29) In Medieval art this Agnus Dei, 'Lamb of God', is shown with one of its legs hooked round the staff of a banner which bears a red cross; this is to express the idea that Christ's death became a triumphant victory. It is this banner which in modern terms has become the 'flag'.