Sarcophagus with Images from Scripture: Detail, the daughter of Jairus

330 A.D.
Stone sarcophagus
Musée Réattu, Arles, France

Jesus places his hand on the head of the small figure below. In the sarcophagi this is commonly the gesture he uses for the woman with the flow of blood, but the figure can only be the daughter of Jairus because she is on a bed. Her father gestures to present her to Jesus.

Usually the sarcophagi picture only Jesus, Jairus, and the child; but this artist has placed two disciples in the background. One has a short, square beard and the other is beardless, so they might be Peter and John.

Read more about images of the daughter of Jairus.

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• Paleo-Christian Sarcophagi
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Source: Wikimedia Commons.