How old is the oldest mosaic showing Jesus Christ?
Believe it or not, the Hinton Saint Mary Mosaic could be nearly 1,750 years old!
It was first discovered in 1963 when a local blacksmith found the remnants of a Roman building in Dorset, Southern England.
On the floor of one of the rooms was a large mosaic, a portrait depicting the Son of God.
The mosaic is an astounding 17 by 15 feet!
A central circle shows Christ standing before the chi-rho wearing a pallium flanked by two pomegranates. Surrounding the portrait of Christ are four lunettes showing forest and hunting scenes. In the corners are four other portraits, thought to anthropomorphically depict the four seasons.
Today, the central mosaic is on display at the British Museum in London, thought to be the oldest depiction of Jesus Christ anywhere in the Roman Empire.
The Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics said about the mosaic:
“The mosaic possibly contains the only known representation of Christ in an ancient pavement, it is of unique importance not just in Britain but in the context of the Roman Empire as a whole, and merits being displayed in its entirety. It is insufficient to show the central roundel in isolation, however important. The full meaning of the pavement can be appreciated only if the whole of it is visible, including the accompanying heads and figure scene.”
Take a look at the complete Hinton Saint Mary Mosaic!
Photo credit: JMiall, Medelam via Wikimedia Commons
