Sarcophagus with Lambs Approaching Christ

Circa 3rd to 8th century
Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, Italy

In a paradisiacal setting suggested by the palm trees, two lambs symbolizing the Christian faithful flank a cross representing Jesus Christ. The cross is enclosed by a wreath, a common motif in paleo-Christian sarcophagi, and the wreath has developed foliage on which the lambs are feeding.

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Photographed at the basilica by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.