Final answer:
Early Christians would likely identify the figures with raised arms as orant or praying figures, a common iconography used to depict individuals in supplication or worship, symbolizing piety and the hope for resurrection and eternal life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early Christians would probably have recognized the figures with raised arms shown between the lunettes of the fresco as representing orant figures or praying figures. This iconography was widely used in early Christian art to depict individuals in prayer, signifying devotion and piety. The orant pose, with arms outstretched or raised, was a common way to portray figures in a state of worship or supplication. This gesture is deeply rooted in the traditions of the period, as seen in catacomb paintings and sarcophagus reliefs mentioned.
In examples such as the Santa Maria Antiqua sarcophagus, these praying figures often appear beside significant religious scenes and are believed to depict the souls of the faithful in heaven. In addition to representing the living faithful at prayer, the orant pose also had eschatological implications, symbolizing hope for resurrection and eternal life.