Fresco from the Jewish synagogue in Dura-Europos showing the faith event of the destruction of the Idol of Dagon and the Philistines sending the ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites. It should be underlined that for ...

A frescoed wall from the Jewish synagogue in Dura-Europos, it contains Old Testament scenes and a niche for the Torah Scrolls in the center.

At this early date the Rome and Provence sarcophagi share still another figure with earlier pagan iconography, that of Jonah. Jonah sarcophagus frontal. Upper left-the raising of Lazarus; left of center- Moses striking the ...

Fresco of the Good Shepherd, catacomb of Priscilla.

Sculpture of the Good Shepherd, Museo Capitolino.

The sea monster was a very familiar figure in Roman iconography known as a cetus. One finds him repeatedly in Roman iconography and Christians used it despite its narrow throat to depict the monster who swallows Jonah. A ...

Again, in Christian iconography the meaning is the same, the posture being that of prayer. Catacomb fresco of Donna Velata in position of Orant. Mary and Jesus on right?

Orant with anchor in lower left. Sarcophagus frontal, close-up, Provence.

An allusion to this posture is found in Paul's first letter to Timothy, verse 8, "I desire then that in every place the men should pray lifting holy hands…" Donna Velata close up, Catacomb of Priscilla.