Good Shepherd as an Ancient Christian Symbol -- Early Christian Symbols of the Ancient Church

Good Shepherd as an Early Christian Symbol

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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In the earliest Christian art, there are no depictions of Jesus, except symbolically, as the Good Shepherd and others. The Good Shepherd as an image of Jesus persisted until about 500 AD.

Inscriptions with Good Shepherd

Inscription dedicated by parents of deceased 7 year old girl, Apuleia Crysopolis; Good Shepherd and bush (Catacomb of St. Callisto, Rome). Another.

Gravestone for Mouses and his wife (Rome, 3rd century A.D.), Pio Cristiano Museum, Vatican. Shows Orante and Good shepherd, with a sheep at his feet.
Good Shepherd inscription
Good shepherd on tombstone in the catacomb of Domitilla
Rilievo del buon pastore, third century, Catacomb of Pretestato, Rome.
Good shepherd, Chi-Rho, swastika, anchor, fish, and ichthus from Catacombs of St. Sebastian, Rome

Christ as the Good Shepherd is found as a fresco in the Crypts of Lucina, ceiling of the Cubiculum of the Good Shepherd, catacomb of Callixtus in Rome (mid-third century).

Frescos of the Good Shepherd

Catacomb fresco of Christ as the Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd, fresco, third century, Catacombs of Priscilla, Cubiculum of the "Velatio"
Fresco of Good Shepherd, Coemeterium Majus catacomb, Rome
Good Shepherd (Buon Pastore) with two sheep in paradise, fresco Catacomb of Priscilla, third century. Another. Another. Another.
A Good Shepherd wall painting decorates the room of a private house in Dura-Europos (modern Salhiyeh), Syria, adapted for the use of a Christian congregation. It would hold about 100 people, with a small platform for the bishop and a baptistry. (Moved in the 1930s to the Yale University Museum.). Another. Another. Cutaway plan.

Detail from the Sarcophagus of the Good Shephers, Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, 390s AD

Detail of the central shepherd from the Sarcophagus of the Good Shepherd, Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, 390s AD. Full sarcophagus.

Good Shepherd Sarcophagi

Good Shepherd Sarcophagus, from the Catacomb of Praetextatus, Rome, 390s AD, marble. Lateran museum (later moved to Pio Cristiano Museo). Lots of grapes and vines. Detail, detail, BW, BW Detail shows angels harvesting grapes from the vine emanating from Christ.
Good shepherd sarcophagus, Vatican #181, c.250-275, Rome. Another.
Sarcofago con il Buon Pastore, in marmo pario, 260-270 d.c., da Via Salaria, Roma, Musei Naz. Romano
Sarcophagus with the Good Shepherd and the Apostles, Pio Cristiano Museum, Vatican.
Sarcophagus of the Good Shepherd, 310 to 315 AD, Solin, a Salonitan workship, dressed marbal.
Shepherds at ends of sarcophagus, Brooks Museum
Good Shepherd and Four Seasons, early fourth century.

Several depictions of Christ as the Good Shepherd.

Statue of the Good Shepherd, from the Catacomb of Domitilla, Rome

Statue of the Good Shepherd (third century), 39" high, marble, from the Catacomb of Domitilla, now in Museo Pio Cristino, Vatican.

Mosaic of the Good Shepherd

Christ as the Good Shepherd, the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, c. 425 - 426. Mosaic.

Statue of the Good Shepherd

Statue of the Good Shepherd, Third century, marble, 39"H., Rome, from Catacomb of Domitilla, Vatican, Museo Pio Cristiano. Another. Another. Another. Another.
Christ as Good Shepherd, 3rd century, Cleveland Museum of Art

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Early Christian Symbols of the Ancient Church