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Fragment of Christian sarcophagus

Glencairn Museum

Glencairn Museum
Bryn Athyn, United States

“Starting in the 2nd century A.D., both Christian and pagan Romans buried their dead in a stone coffin called a sarcophagus. A sarcophagus was usually carved with decorations and images of the deceased. Often the back was left uncarved because the sarcophagus would be placed against the wall of a tomb. Though Christians borrowed pagan designs for their sarcophagi, the designs were reinterpreted to symbolize new Christian concepts.

This sarcophagus fragment shows specific Christian imagery. A single figure on the right side (the original front face) stands in a pose typical of apostles. The other figure is a shepherd who holds musical pipes while a lamb nestles at his feet. On Christian sarcophagi like this one, such shepherds came to symbolize Christ as the Good Shepherd. On pagan sarcophagi, however, a shepherd was part of a rural scene that expressed a hope for an idyllic afterlife.” (Wendy Closterman, label text, Glencairn Museum, Rome and Early Christianity gallery)

Sources:
- Wendy Closterman, label text, Glencairn Museum, Rome and Early Christianity gallery.
- David Gilman Romano and Irene Bald Romano, _Catalogue of the Classical Collections of the Glencairn Museum_, 1999, 37-38.

Details

  • Title: Fragment of Christian sarcophagus
  • Physical Dimensions: H. 0.795; L. side 1.154; D. 0.471 m.
  • Medium: Marble
  • Date: Probably 4th-5th c. A.D.
  • Collection: Roman
  • Accession Number: O9.SP.1493

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