Holy Marriage

on Early Christian Sarcophagi

In the fourth century, some Christian couples

memorialized their holy marriage.

They commissioned beautiful double sarcophagi

to commemorate their marriage even in death.

Their sculptors carved a portrait of the couple

in a medallion in the center of their sarcophagus.

The wife was on the left.

Her right hand was usually on her husband’s arm.

Double sarcophagus dated 325-350

in the Vatican Museum

All the scenes were Christian.

Jesus raised Lazareth.

Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.

Abraham and Isaac.

Jesus healed the blind boy.

Jesus and Peter and the crowing cock

Jesus between Adam and Eve

Moses held a scroll of the law

and lifted his sandal.

Jesus healed the woman with an issue of blood.

Jesus with the jars of wine

Jonah cast overboard and safe on land.

Daniel between lions

Peter arrested.

Peter strikes the rock for water

and baptizes his jailers.

Portrait of the loving couple

Double Sarcophagus of “two brothers”

dated 325-350 in the Vatican Museum.

Vatican Museum plaque for the Sarcophagus

“of the two brothers” in March 2014:

“. . . the female figure on the left, who was to represent the

bride, took on male features during the portrait execution.”

Vatican Museum plaque for the Sarcophagus

“of the two brothers” in March 2014:

Hold on! Some early Christian texts said a woman

put on men’s clothes to evangelize. But no text said a

woman grew a beard or became bald like a man!

All the scenes were Christian.

Jesus and Mary at the tomb

Jesus, Peter, and the crowing cock

Moses received the law.

Abraham and Isaac

Jesus before Pontius Pilate

The apostle and his jailers

Daniel between the lions

The apostle with a scroll

Jesus healed a blind boy.

Jesus multiplied the bread and fish.

Portrait of the loving couple

Art as Text

By Ally Kateusz

In honor of Bernadette Brooten