Vatican Museums

This monumental sarcophagus (c. 325-350) from the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls is notable for its exceptional artistic quality within the panorama of early Christian sculpture. Recent restoration work has revealed that the candid surface of the marble may have been originally embellished with gilding and polychrome finishes. The similarity between the two characters portrayed in the central “clypeus”, or round medallion, arranged like a hinged shell, gives rise to the name of the sarcophagus; in reality, the portraits were originally intended for a couple and only once the work was in process did it become necessary to adapt them to represent the two men, possibly brothers, for whom the tomb was effectively destined. Various biblical scenes, rich in original iconographic details, are arranged seamlessly at two levels along the front panel: at the top there is the resurrection of Lazarus, the prediction of the denial of Peter, the consignment of the Law to Moses, and on the other side of the portrait of the deceased, the sacrifice of Isaac and the presentation of Christ to Pilate. At the bottom, there is Peter baptising his gaolers, Daniel in the lions’ den, the rare scene of Peter’s catechesis to the soldiers, the miracle of the man blind from birth and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.