Front of a Sarcophagus Lid with the Story of Jonah

Made in the second half of the fourth century, this sarcophagus was commissioned just after a turning point in religious history: Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity within the Roman Empire in 313 CE. Christian art became more prominent, and artists borrowed forms from pagan art and created new traditions. On this sarcophagus is the story of Jonah, who survived in the belly of a large fish for three days and three nights, and who was thought by some to prefigure Christ’s resurrection. On the right side, Jonah lies under ivy after being spit out by the fish. The artist borrowed this reclining pose from the Greek mythological figure Endymion, who wished for perpetual sleep and thus became a symbol of immortality. These narratives would have resonated with early Christians seeking eternal life in heaven.

Sarcophagi were often personalized with the original owner’s name and/or likeness. Artists likely obscured this feature with the central colorful stones in the medieval period.