The Lamb of
God
Dating suggestions vary
from 8th to 11th centuries
Marble
Protyrum
(see
photo) of the Church of Santa Pudenziana
The inscription reads "HIC AGNVS MVNDVM RESTAVRAT SANGVINE LAPSVM .
MORTVVS ET VIVVS IDEM SVM
PASTOR ET AGNVS." The first
sentence means, "Here the Lamb restores the fallen world."
The
second sentence means, "Both dead and alive I am shepherd and sheep,"
perhaps a reference to the name of St. Pastor, whose name means
"shepherd" and who is represented on this same frieze.
More of the Symbols of Christ
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke