As we move toward an understanding of the transition from martyrdom to the veneration of martyrs we can do so through an understanding of the iconography of the martyr-hero in terms of feast, image, heroa, and dome. Here ...

Close up of feast of the martyr-hero evidenced by fish on the tripod table. Fresco at the catacomb of Pietro e Marcellino

Portraiture in veneration of the deceased. Portraiture of deceased with Dionysas inscription.

Veneration of three bishops. Fresco of three bishops in the catacomb of S. Pontiana.

The central figure in the catacomb fresco stands in the orantes position of upraised arms in prayer, sometimes seen as an invitation of the crucifixion. Wall fresco of orante in the cubiculum of Donna Velatio.

A catacomb fresco of martyr-hero/Eucharistic feast in Rome.

Baptism is also portrayed in a more literal representation. Both spoke of baptism into Christ, and therefore into eternal life. Baptism fresco in the Catacomb of Callistus.

Frescoe of baptism of Christ, note steps leading down into the water of baptism.

Fresco of the Good Shepherd on the dome of a cubiculum. Images of the Good Shepherd varied. Most images of the Good Shepherd were painted in the domes of cubiculi, the place of prominence, considering the role of the dome ...

However, the earliest known representations reflect the roman shepherd in style, pose and attributes, the assimilation, within fifty years, of the closely allied personage of Orpheus would indicate either that a Christian ...