On the superb sarcophagus of Sextus Petronius Probus of 395 AD stands Christ surrounded by the apostles his cross held in the very same position as the emperor held his lance as a symbol of authority and in his hand he ...

A stone relief at the Well of Juturna. This stone relief marks the alleged site where the dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) watered their horses after the battle of lake Regillus.

For many intellectuals in that age of skepticism the only possibility for participation in immortality seemed through meditation and the contemplation of spiritual values. Thus, the figure of the philosopher became a popular ...

Clement of Alexandria began the intellectual counterattack on pagan intellectualism by claiming for Christ the title of 'true philosopher.' Iconographically the pagan and Christian representation is the same. One can ...

Another symbol used almost as frequently as the Good Shepherd is the True Philosopher/Pedagogue, it too had antecedent pagan usage. Sarcophagi frontal found in Provence. On the right the True Philosopher/Pedagogue with ...

Galerius as a co-reigning emperor would by necessity have portrayed himself with his counterpart astride the cosmos as cosmic emperors. Close-up of Triumphal arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki, Via Ignatia.

Close up of sarcophagi frontal of Ariadne being covered with gift of eternal sleep.

Close-up of suppliants worshipping emperor.

In the central section of the sarcophagus of Junius Bassius we find Christ enthroned as lawgiver. The law in his hand being given to Peter while Paul stands at his right. Beneath him is a personification of the cosmos ...

The bucolic figure had long been a part of Roman art, but for the Christians the Good Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm and Jesus' parables must have struck Christians as finding particularly apt illustration in the familiar ...