Prophet's Beard
Wilderness prophet—pair with raven, fire, or chariot.
Old Testament
Elijah
Elias
Ravens bringing food identify Elijah in the wilderness. A fiery chariot appears in the account of his departure before Elisha.
Elijah fed by ravensGiovanni Girolamo Savoldo · c. 1510
01 / 09
- Feast
- July 20 (Carmelite and Byzantine calendars)
- Era
- 9th century BC (biblical narrative) · Israel
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Iconographic Attributes
Iconographic field guide
Identifying features
Ravens with bread, Carmel altar fire, and fiery chariot are the three pillars. Hairy mantle distinguishes him from court prophets. John the Baptist echoes Elijah but wears camel skin and points to the Lamb.
- Clothing
- hairy mantle · prophet robes
- Colours
- brown · red (fire)
- Symbols
- raven · chariot · fire
mantle
Wilderness prophet type
altar
Contest with prophets of Baal
Visual Gallery
Works / 09Elijah fed by ravensGiovanni Girolamo Savoldo · c. 1510
Elijah with the widow of Zarephath and her sonAbraham van Dijck · 1650–1672
Elijah fed by ravensAnne Margaret Coke · 1793
The prophet Elijahc. 1610–1615
Elijah fed by ravens
Elijah fed by ravensGaspar de Crayer · 1619–1630
Elijah fed by ravensJohn Martin
Elijah fed by ravensMichael Toppelius
The prophet Elijah
Biography
Life & legacy
2 Kings 2The books of Kings recount how ravens fed Elijah and how he challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In 2 Kings 2 a fiery chariot separates him from Elisha, and a whirlwind carries Elijah to heaven. Artists often picture him riding the chariot.
1–2 Kings; Malachi 4:5; Carmelite spiritual tradition; Transfiguration presence.
Representation in Sacred Art
Narrative scenes to recognize
ravens feeding Elijah
chariot of fire
Mount Carmel
Visual Recognition Guide
1.Ravens bringing bread
Fed by ravens at the brook Cherith
2.Fiery chariot and horses
Ascension in 2 Kings 2
3.Prophetic beard and mantle
Wilderness prophet type
4.Altar fire on Carmel
Contest with prophets of Baal
Patronage and Devotion
prophetsCarmelites (spiritual father)
Distinguishing Similar Figures
Often confused with Moses: Both prophets with beard; chariot or ravens identify Elijah
Often confused with John the Baptist: New Elijah typology; Baptist has lamb and camel skin
Notes from the Archive
- Carmelite spirituality claims Elijah as spiritual founder
Practice
