Cross or Labarum? Character and Meaning of the Sign in the Central Quarter of Early Christian Sarcophagus in Museo Pio Cristiano in Rome (Lat. 171)
Dariusz Tabor
Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8071-4174
Abstract
The topic of paper is a sign in the central quarter of the sarcophagus in Museo Pio Christiano Lat 171. This is shaft, crossed by horizontal bar with two birds and crowned by the monogram of Greek letters – X and P in wreath. Two roman soldiers are sitting on the both sides of shaft. Above there is the eagle with outstretched wings. Many scholar recognized in the sign the cross and in the soldiers the guard of Christ’s tomb. It provokes many doubts. The sign from the Constantin’s vision has been mentioned by Lactantius, Eusebius, Hermias Sozomen and Socrate of Constantinople. The symbol in the quarter is most similar to the sign related by Eusebius. The most probable models of studied sign was the image of two soldiers guarding labarum on coins and the representation of victorious emperor holding labarum on medals. In the research has been applied two methods - the iconological method with iconographic analysis, and the semiotic method using denotation and connotation, syntagma and paradigm. The most valuable results of research is recognition labarum in sign. This is a personalized symbol, representing Risen Christ-Victor as a source of everlasting life. The new contribution of its result is the most profound understanding of labarum.
Keywords:
labarum, vexillum, christological monogramm, passion sarcophagus, Constantin the Great, ChristReferences
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Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8071-4174
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