Sarcophagus of Junius Bass

A copy of the sarcophagus in the Museum of Roman Civilization .

The Junius Bassa Sarcophagus is a marble early Christian sarcophagus in which a prominent official, Junius Bass, was buried in 359 in the Basilica of St. Peter . At present, the sarcophagus, recognized as the most significant monument to early Christian relief sculpture, is on display in the museum under the cathedral.

Junius Bass (317–359) belonged to the apex of the Roman aristocracy. At the time of his death, he served as the city ​​prefect (that is, the metropolitan governor), and his father was the prehori prefect . On his deathbed he converted to Christianity , therefore the sarcophagus depicts scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

According to the tradition that came to Rome from the east, the entire sarcophagus is covered by biblical scenes, separated by columns, row by row. Unlike the bas-reliefs of the Arch of Constantine , the faces of the characters are not the same; heads disproportionately large. The portrait of the deceased is absent, but on the lid of the sarcophagus there is an inscription praising his prowess.

Christ is represented on the sarcophagus in accordance with the iconography prevailing at that time in the form of a bezborodogo, shortly cropped young man. Scenes from the Old Testament (for example, the sacrifice of Abraham) are chosen in such a way as to foreshadow the sacrifice made by Christ. Early Christian artists avoided culminating scenes in the narrative sense (as, for example, the crucifixion of Christ ).

The reliefs of the sarcophagus of Junius Bass captured the symbiosis of ancient Roman iconography with nascent Christian art. There are still numerous references to the pagan artistic tradition: these are allegorical figures like Celius, and those who harvest at the ends of the sarcophagus putti . Of the surviving monuments with the Junius Bass sarcophagus, only the Two Testament sarcophagus from the Pio Cristiano Museum can be placed nearby.