Clivedurdle

Is there not anywhere a collection of religious images? Do we need a google image searcher?

Clivedurdle

I have just put lambcross into cool iris but it is coming up with modern stuff - not sure about this,

http://www.elca.org/~/media/Images/O...b%20cross.ashx

Clivedurdle

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/77/18...683350.jpg?v=0

(Can't get picture to paste)

Clivedurdle

http://rosenblumcoins.com/files/img/38b/27703.jpg

Again won;t cutnpaste.

Clivedurdle

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DVFl8ZPKJs...13th%2520c.jpg

Is this what you are looking for?

jakejonesiv

Early Christian artifacts are a favorite topic of mine.


The Alexamenos Graffito can be dated as late as the third century. The drawing is so crude it is difficult to make out the details, but is possible that it is a rear view of the crucified donkey headed god.
"Graffiti del Palatino I. Paedagogium", a cura di Heikki Solin e Marja
Itkonen-Kaila, Acta Instituti Romani Finlandiae III, Helsinki 1966, No 246.

Since there are possible connections to ass-headed gods Dionysus and Typhon-Seth, and since an ass's head was allegedly worshiped in the temple at Jerusalem, it cannot be assumed that the Alexamenos Graffito depicts Jesus. By no means was it created by Christians. We don't see any depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus before the 5th century CE. Indeed, it is quite hard to find any Christian depictions of the crucifixion before the 8th century.
http://www.doyletics.com/arj/imageofc.htm

The more one studies the textual record, the more suspect it becomes. The ancient texts could have been conceivably been altered and forged beyond our abilities to untangle. What if we place aside all the text, parchment and scroll, for a moment, and looked only at the art and other archeological evidence we have?

A quite different view of the origin of the Christian religion is revealed! Over the course of hundreds of years, We find a religion that does not distinguish itself from other pagan mysteries.

No images of the crucified savior, but an abundance of beardless youths in Roman dress (good sheperds) indistinguishable from Apollo. Some good images here from Kenneth Humphreys' site.

An almost total absence of plain, unadorned crosses, but a plethora of suggestive pagan fish symbols. (If anyone can find the acrostic explanation before Eusebius' unlikely tale in the Life of Constantine CHAPTER XVIII please let me know). Images of a sacramental meal that have seven (not 12 or 13) particpants. Even later, in the time of Constantine, a Christ indistiguishable from Mithras and Sol Invictus.

Perhaps we have witnessed a religion that more successfully and later
rewrote its origins than has been commonly admitted.

Check out this link. http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/crucifixion.html

The Sarcophagus of Domatilla does not depict a crucifixion scene. The first two letters of the word "Christòs" or "Chrestus" are X (chi) and P (ro). When interlaced on a tombstone or sarcophagus, it indicated a Christian burial. The chi-rho symbol predates the unadorned cross. Is it possible that the cross evolved from the chi-rho? Please note that the open loop at the top (the ro) is reminisent of the Egyptian Anhkh, which is a symbol of resurrection and life. Indeed, for a time the Coptic Christians used the Ankh as a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.

The doors of the Basilica of Santa Sabina, Rome shows Christ nailed, but not on a cross. It looks like the scaffolding of a building.

The Panel from the small ivory box (British Museum, London ) depicts the Crucifixion in traditional terms, and includes the hanging of Judas. The date given is 420-430 CE, but some authorities date it as late as the seventh century.

Clement of Alexandria comments of the representations on Christian signet rings completely omit the cross, but name some rather surprising symbols.
"Let the engraving upon the gem of your ring be either a dove, or a fish, or a ship running before the wind, or a musical lyre, the device used by Polycrates, or a ship's anchor, which Seleucus had carved upon his signet. And if the device represent a man fishing, it will remind us of an apostle, and of boys saved from water."
The Instructor (Paedagogus), Book 3.

The early symbols of Christianity are part of the mystery traditions. I will not suggest a direct borrowing from Egyptian Mythology, but the concepts of the cross and the fish are illustrative.

On the south wall of the tomb of Khabekhnet, at the top is the Goddess Isis with outstretched hawk wings. Below to the left is the bearded god Osiris and animal headed Kheper-Re with Ankh (cross with loop at top), fish, and various other cross like symbols. In the right panel is animal headed god Anubis embalming the sacred Latopolis fish. (these images were online at one time, but I can't find them right now. I will dig aroung in osirisnet.net).

Constantine is quite a popular topic here. Here are some fascinating images of the Arch of Constantine.
http://www.rome101.com/ArchConstantine/

Here is a close up of the inscription on the south wall including the controversial phrase, INSTINCTV DIVINITATIS.
http://www.rome101.com/ArchConstanti.../N_Inscrip.htm

These photographs are by Bill Storage, with whom’s photographic work I became acquainted when he posted for a time on Jesus Mysteries list. This is “knock your socks off” good stuff, and I have spent hours viewing the images.
Here is Christ the Magician. http://www.rome101.com/Christian/Magician/

Let me repeat, when you view ancient Christianity through the lens of the artifacts, you arrive at a completely different picture than when you read the texts.

Jake Jones IV

bacht

Great post Jake. The ankh/cross connection is very interesting. I believe there is a theory that the cross symbol pre-dates any references to crucifixion, maybe it came from Alexandrian circles.

jakejonesiv

A favorite strategy of apologists is to claim that Christianity predated its mystery religion competitors. The mystery religions are known primarily by their artifacts. There are few extant texts. When we compare apples to apples, Christian artifacts to mystery religion artifacts, it is by no means obvious that Christianity predated its rivals.

In the Roman catacombs, Jesus is often portrayed as the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is indistinguishable from the pagan figure of Orpheus, with the flute to his side and a lamb over his shoulder. Here is an picture of Orpheus found in the Catacombs of Priscilla. link

Jake

Clivedurdle

The Roman Villa at Brading Isle of Wight about 250 AD has a mosaic with allegedly the four signs of Matthew Mark Luke and John in the corners but obviously loads of stuff with true religion meanings.

Syncretism may be claiming too much - we may only be looking at another cultic interpretation of the true gods.

Xianity is actually an iteration of the true gods.

http://www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk/....php?g=mosaics

jakejonesiv

Great link!
Thanks