Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus: Christianity religion
INTRODUCTION
Christian art was design to be a subtle art when it was first developed then it grew to become something more elaborate.
This analysis will explore Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus beliefs on the old and new religion, and the story written on the sarcophagus.
ROME BELIEFS
Old Religion
Three Roman emperors before Junius Bassus was born did not believe in Christianity. In Three centuries hundreds and thousands Christians were crucified, enslaved tortured and imprisoned. Junius Bassus was part of the public office and most of the public officers were pagan. So even though he practiced the Christianity he kept it a secret.
New Religion
The Christianity religion was outlawed until The Edict of Milan was signed by Constantine around the year (312 A.D) making Christianity a lawful Roman religion. Junius Bassus died at the age of 45 the year of (c.359 AD) in the Vatican Grottos; he was highly respected in the Christian church even though he was not baptized unit his death. Before Junius passed his family prepared a funeral box called Sarcophagus also known as an eater of flesh. The stone's mineral had the ability to hasten decay like lime or lye would do if it was spread. On his funeral box are cravings that were associating the old with the new Christian beliefs by
…show more content…
It contains ten different scenes that are separated by columns states are design with small cupids and vines of grapes. The inscription on the top of the sarcophagus states his name, date of death and the year of death. From top left level shows the sacrifice of Isaac’s baby, Peter’s arrest, and the traditio legis, Christ’s arrest and Pilate’s judgment. Bottom left level show dunghill jobs, Adam and Eve after the original sin, the Christ entering into Jerusalem, Daniel in the lion’s den, and the preparation for Paul’s