From Rome to Mount Sinai in Egypt, early Christian iconography is surprisingly diverse
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None of the four Gospels describes Jesus in detail. However, the Christian tradition has nevertheless represented him using different iconographic models. From the beardless and youthful “Alexandrine Christ,” based on classic Greek proportions and canons normally applied to sculpture, to the long-haired and bearded “Syrian Christ” following the Byzantine Empire’s custom, Christendom has always recognized in the image not only a liturgical, cultural related element but also an effective evangelization tool in a world where reading and writing are not widespread skills.
Here, we wanted to share with you just three of the earliest images in the Christian tradition, which bear witness to different latitudes and traditions.
