Question

In the sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, a pagan who converted to Christianity, the sculptors illustrated scenes from the life of Christ. Which of the following represents the allusion to the Crucifixion?

a) Entry into Jerusalem
b) Baptism of Christ
c) Healing of the blind man
d) Christ before Pilate

Answer 1

The sarcophagus of Junius Bassus does not directly depict the Crucifixion of Christ; instead, it alludes to it through the image of 'Christ before Pilate', which precedes Christ's death and resurrection.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, which dates to 359 CE, the scenes illustrating the life of Christ do not include a direct representation of the Crucifixion. Instead, early Christian art often opted for Old Testament prefiguration's of Christ's death and resurrection, such as the story of Jonah and Daniel in the Lion's Den. The scene from the sarcophagus that alludes to the Crucifixion is d) Christ before Pilate. This alludes to the events leading up to the Crucifixion, without showing the Crucifixion itself. The reasoning behind the absence of a direct depiction of the Crucifixion could be due to the emphasis on the theme of resurrection and triumph over death in early Christian art and theology, as seen in the Anastasis fresco that depicts Christ's victory over death