object
Saw
Martyrdom instrument—primary attribute.
Iconography & biography archive
Era: 1st century · Persia (trad.)Feast: October 28Category: Apostles
Sources: Synoptic lists as “Zealot” or “Canaanite”; paired martyrdom with Jude in Persia.
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Browse depictions5 works
Selected depiction
Saint Simon the Zealot (Anthony van Dyck - The Apostle Saint Simon.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons
Apostles
Saint Simon the Zealot
Simon the Canaanite
Feast: October 28
Advanced difficulty
the Zealot—paired forever with Jude—carries the saw that marks his martyrdom tradition.
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Iconographic Attributes
Symbols that identify this saint in sacred art
object
Saw
Martyrdom instrument—primary attribute.
clothing
Apostolic Robes
Garments of the Twelve or evangelists
symbol
Prophet's Beard
Venerable age of prophets and Baptist
object
Oar
Alternative attribute in some cycles
symbol
Cross
Passion, baptismal staff, or triumph
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Iconographic Field Guide
How to read Saint Simon the Zealot in paintings, sculpture, and altarpieces
Treat Simon and Jude as a visual dyad. Simon: saw. Jude: club or medallion. Solo identification is hard—seek the saw or the pair.
clothing
Apostolic Robes
Garments of the Twelve or evangelists
symbol
Prophet's Beard
Venerable age of prophets and Baptist
object
Oar
Alternative attribute in some cycles
symbol
Cross
Passion, baptismal staff, or triumph
Typical vesture
- —apostolic robes
Color conventions
Artists often dress Saint Simon the Zealot in green, red—these hues are not rigid rules but long-standing conventions that help recognition in polyptychs and chapel cycles.
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Visual Gallery
Selected depictions of Saint Simon the Zealot from verified sources
Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Saint Simon the Zealot (Anthony van Dyck - The Apostle Saint Simon.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Saint Simon the Zealot (Saint Simon the Zealot - Arcade of Basilica of Apare)
Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Saint Simon the Zealot (Simon the Zealot - Apostle.jpeg)
Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Saint Simon the Zealot (Simon the Zealot Helsinki Cathedral.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Saint Simon the Zealot (Statue of St. Simon the Zealot - Peterskirche - Muni)
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Biographical Archive
Life, witness, and historical framing
rewards viewers who think in pairs—half of apostolic literacy is knowing who stands next to whom.
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Visual Recognition Guide
Clues ordered for museum identification
1.Saw
Martyrdom tool—primary solo clue
2.Paired with Jude Thaddeus
Twin apostolic portraits in galleries
3.Oar or boat tool (rare)
Alternative attribute in some cycles
4.Less individualized face
Identify by saw or by pair with Jude
Quick checklist
Saw attribute; almost always beside Jude Thaddeus.
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Patronage and Devotion
Why communities invoke this figure
currierssawyerstanners
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Distinguishing Similar Figures
Avoid common misidentifications in galleries
Often confused with Saint Jude Thaddeus: Almost always paired—Simon has saw, Jude has club
Often confused with Saint Peter: Name Simon vs Peter (also Simon)
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Notes from the Archive
Scholarly curiosities and cult details
- ✝“Zealot” may mean religious zeal, not political party in all scholarship
At a glance
- Feast
- October 28
- Category
- Apostles
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Patron of
- currierssawyerstanners
Life & legacy
Simon rewards viewers who think in pairs—half of apostolic literacy is knowing who stands next to whom.
Curiosities
- “Zealot” may mean religious zeal, not political party in all scholarship
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