Posted on 05/14/2016 4:50:18 AM PDT by NYer
None of the four Gospels describes Jesus in detail. However, the Christian tradition has nevertheless represented him using different iconographic models. From the beardless and youthful “Alexandrine Christ,” based on classic Greek proportions and canons normally applied to sculpture, to the long-haired and bearded “Syrian Christ” following the Byzantine Empire’s custom, Christendom has always recognized in the image not only a liturgical, cultural related element but also an effective evangelization tool in a world where reading and writing are not widespread skills.
Here, we wanted to share with you just three of the earliest images in the Christian tradition, which bear witness to different latitudes and traditions.
1. Alexamenos graffiti, or the “blaspheme graffiti”
This might be the oldest image in the world related to Jesus and Christianity. However, this is not a liturgical or devotional image at all, but an engraving on a plaster wall in Rome, mocking both Christ and Christians. In it, a donkey-headed, crucified human figure is depicted being worshiped by a person, next to the inscription “Alexamenos worshiping his god.” Since crucifixion was the punishment reserved for the worst criminals (up until the fourth century, when Constantine abolished it), the donkey head aims to make the image even more offensive. The value of this image lies in the fact that it proves the presence of Christians in Rome as far back as in the first century: that’s how old this graffiti is!
2. The Good Shepherd
The image of Christ as the Good Shepherd is rooted in the Gospels. But even before the Christian era, a classic motif of Greek sculpture was the moskophoros, or “the bearer of the calf. The original sculpture of the moskophoros, considered a masterpiece of Archaic Greek sculpture, has been dated back to the year 570 BC, and was sculpted by an anonymous artist in Attica. The Romans adopted this familiar figure from the ancient world’s iconographic repertoire, decorating their villas with pastoral scenes of shepherds and their flocks. These images were easily adapted to represent Christ, the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep. The image shown here can be seen in the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, on the Appian Way outside Rome.
3. The Pantocrator
Literally, the Greek word Pantocrator translates to “he who has authority over everything.” It is understood as the Greek translation of two Hebrew expressions used to address God in the Old Testament, the “God of Hosts” (Sabaot) and, more commonly, the “Almighty” (El Shaddai), as found in the Septuagint Bible, the first translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. The image we include is that of the oldest Pantocrator icon in the world, painted on a wooden board around the sixth or seventh century. Christ makes the traditional teacher’s gesture with his right hand and holds the Book of the Gospels in his left. This icon is still preserved in the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai in Egypt, one the oldest active monasteries on Earth.
Recently a synagogue was excavated in Syria (from BC era) that had biblical scenes with human and angelic figures painted on its walls. So at least some Jews did depict humans at their place of worship.
Ancient Church Tradition says that St Luke "wrote" the first icons as a means of instruction and a refutation of the heresy that Christ was not really a man (as well as fully God).
A quibble, that is not a "traditional teacher's gesture," it is a depiction of the two natures of Christ- the two fingers together - and the Holy Trinity - the three fingers touching. Orthodox make the sign of the Cross with their fingers held in this same manner.
A notable feature of this icon is that the two sides of Christ's face are different; this shows His two natures.
The latest Shroud of Turin Pings can be found by searching Keyword "ShroudPingList" on FreeRepublic's Search.
If you want on or off the Shroud of Turin Ping List, Freepmail me
Over the past several months I have slowly come to the realization that for the most part Catholics seek to build the kingdom of God through prayer, spiritual reading, spiritual and corporal works of mercy, etc....
While at the same time there is a dedicated cadre of anti-Catholics Haunt these threads attempting to tear down the truth the Catholic Church spreads to the world.
Few if any of them have any understanding of history and even less of the Greek language.
They become self righteously indignant and resort to "Where is that in the Bible?", when challenged to actually think and use things like reason, logic and legitimate historical sources.
I wish I could say they were blissfully ignorant, but you can see the anger oozing into so many of their posts.
I have seen pictures of this icon any number of times and never noticed that particular feature. Thank you for pointing that out.
Thank you for the ping, very interesting.
Verga, take a look at Numbers 21: 4-9 then go to 2 Kings 18 and see how idol worship must be dealt with when it inveigles a people.
I submit this is the human form that makes the most sense. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isaiah, Catholic chapter fifty three, Protestant verses one to two,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Numbers 21 and the brass snake on the pole is that some actually refused to look at the pole even as the viper poison was killing them.
IOW, just a regular guy. Quietly blends right in. Not trying to attract any attention or work a crowd. Not having an appeal or "beauty" (ego, shmooz factor) that draws those who love lies and flattery. Spends all day caring for people, healing the sick, and lifting up the broken-hearted.
That's him. The most beautiful, loving soul on the face of the earth. Astonishing, really, as he completely overturns the common sense rule that, "If something appears too good to be true, it usually is." Usually...
Not what most are expecting, hence the marred (corrupted, i.e. misinterpreted) visage.
52.15. So shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they perceive:
You might also find it instructive that it is recorded in Kings that 'in that day' (I'm not going to tell you what day that was) 'there was no king in Israel so everyman did what was right in his own eyes'. Note, there was no king, not there was no synagogue ...
2 kings 18:1 Now it happened that during the third year of the reign ofa Elah’s son Hoshea, king of Israel, that Ahaz’ son Hezekiah became king. 2 He was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Zechariah’s daughter Abi. 3 He did what the LORD considered to be right, according to everything that his ancestor David had done.Hezekiah’s Reforms (2 Chronicles 29:3; 31:1)
4 He removed the high places, demolished the sacred pillars, and tore down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had crafted, because the Israelis had been burning incense to it right up until that time. Hezekiah called it a piece of brass.
Remind you of anything done before the images of Mary or the catholic defined saints?
Generally Catholics are told to stop haranguing someone after the third post of a similar nature. Does that rule hold true for the non-Catholics? If not could you tell me what the magic number is.
Yet you ignore the Greek in Luke 1.
They won’t see it.
I dunno, sometimes when it causes that still small voice to be heard in their head, they run to the moderator to see if they can quiet the source which causes the sound in their soul ...
I think you can safely post your little gif one more time before getting a caution ...
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of
any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD
thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my
commandments" (Ex. 20:4-6 AV; cf Deut. 5:7-21).
Even so:
"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is
a shame unto him?" (1 Cor. 11:14 AV).
"Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long;
they shall only poll their heads" (Ezek. 44:20 AV).
The last Icon, from the source of the corrupted "Codex Aleph" (Codex
Sinaiticus) found by Tischendorf in the burn barrel there.
*******
He has not just one visage.
See Jesus looking out of the faces of those in whose heart He lives.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.