Nicola d'Angelo and Pietro Vassalletto
Easter Candle Stand

Circa 1170
St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome

Also called the Paschal Candle, the Easter Candle symbolizes Christ as "light of the world." It is lit during the Great Easter Vigil, which begins after sundown on the eve of Easter and customarily involves the baptism of converts. It is then lit during the weeks that follow Easter and on certain special occasions during the year. The stand for St. Paul Outside the Walls' candle is especially elaborate; in the photo at left it seems to dwarf the candle itself.

We have detail photographs for the following:

• Going around the base (rams, lions, sphinxes): view 1, view 2, view 3, view 4
• Going around the first tier (plant and animal forms): view 1, view 2, view 3, view 4
• Going around the second tier (Jesus arrested, taken to Caiaphas): view 1, view 2, view 3
• Going around the third tier (his passion and crucifixion): view 1, view 2, view 3 view 4
• Going around the top tier (the resurrection): view 1, view 2, view 3 view 4

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Source: this page at Wikimedia Commons.