Saint Simon the Zealot was one of the Twelve Apostles named in the Gospel lists. His epithet “the Zealot” distinguishes him from Simon Peter and has traditionally been understood either as indicating former association with a Jewish zealot movement or, more generally, as describing his fervour for the Law.

The New Testament provides little narrative detail about Simon’s life or activities. Later Christian tradition assigns him missionary work in various regions, including Persia, Egypt, or Syria, and frequently associates him with Saint Jude (Thaddaeus), with whom he is sometimes depicted. Accounts of his death vary, and the circumstances of his martyrdom remain uncertain, contributing to the relative obscurity of his cult in comparison with other apostles.

Saint Simon the Zealot in Art

Saint Simon the Zealot appears in Christian art primarily as a member of the apostolic group, most often within cycles depicting the Twelve Apostles, the Last Supper, or Pentecost. Owing to the lack of detailed Gospel narrative, his iconography is comparatively restrained and relies heavily on inscriptions or grouping rather than on a single, widely recognised visual type.

In later medieval and early modern art, Simon is sometimes shown alongside Saint Jude, reflecting traditions that link their missionary activity and martyrdom. Attributes vary and are not consistently fixed, though he may occasionally be associated with tools of martyrdom in keeping with later hagiographic accounts. His visual representation reflects both his apostolic status and the limited narrative material associated with his life.