FOR EARLY CHRISTIANS HE WAS THE GOOD SHEPHERD, A YOUNG MAN WHO RESEMBLED FIGURES OF MYTHOLOGY
Hermès carried a ram on his shoulders to protect against disease.
Toward 570 BC
250-300 A.D
Christians hoped the Roman authorities would miss the Christian reference.
Roman catacombs, third century / zoom
They used the image to present a young, beardless Jesus, the good shepherd who carried a lamb on his shoulders as he would carry their souls to Heaven. He holds a pail of milk to nourish his people: The origin of the Eucharist, in which a sip of wine and a special biscuit commune with the body of Christ?
Being surrounded by two sheep emphasized the central figure. The origin of the Trinity?*
*"God in three persons, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost."
* *
When Rome makes Christianity its official religion, Christ becomes a warrior. Here he wears the costume of Roman soldiers and emperors' purple cloak:
Ravenna, sixth century
The figure becomes Saint Michael slaying the dragon, the combat of Good against Evil.
That image would symbolize
crushing the first working-class insurrection.
Then he becomes a king:
.png)
Basilica of Santa Pudenziana, Rome, fifth century
* * *
Next,
No comments:
Post a Comment