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.

The vault fresco by Battista is the Triumph of the Name of Jesus, giving full baroque play to inviting the worshipper to ascend through the ceiling into heaven itself while angels descend from the ceiling to assist in the ...

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 ...

Balaam is pointing to the star above Mary's head, Catacomb of Priscilla. A reference to Numbers 24:17.

Inscription reads "Stir up in me peace" and the skull and bones of the deceased still present. The fish on the eucharistic table may be a reference to the acrostic for Jesus Christ God's Son Savior, or a reference to Acts ...

Decoration surrounding the portrait of the deceased. (Detail of CAT0066)

Another fresco with perspective.

Lower range continued. The fresco by Botticelli, The Punishment of Korah, containing the Arch of Constantine in the background. On the right the Septizonium, still standing at the time of Botticelli.

Poignant potrait of a beautiful young Dionysas who died in the peace of Christ. (Detail of CAT0066)

As for the charge of idolatry this representative of humanitas was not seen as an idol but rather as a symbol. In Christian literature God's love was portrayed in the symbol of the shepherd of the psalms while Christ ...

Decorated wall in the Villa Giulia.