Check out 5 of the oldest depictions of Jesus Christ

Although we are used to seeing Jesus portrayed with fair skin, blue eyes, a full beard, and long hair, as we explained in an earlier article here from Mega Curious, this “Europeanized” image is relatively recent. Here are some of the oldest representations of Christ ever discovered in the world:

1 - Cure of the paralytic

The illustration above, dating from the year 235, was discovered in 1921, and is among the oldest depictions of Jesus in the world. The mural was found on the walls of the baptismal chapel of the Hard Church Europos in Syria, and the image depicts one of the best known biblical passages in the New Testament, the healing of the paralytic.

By the way, the Hard Church Europos is considered to be the first recorded house of Christian prayer, and is among the first Christian churches in history. It is believed that the structure served as a common dwelling until it was converted into a place to welcome the followers of Christianity, and it was active between the years 233 and 256 until it was abandoned during the Persian conquest.

2 - The Good Shepherd

Quite unlike the traditional image of Jesus that we are used to, the figure above, possibly created in the middle of the 3rd century, was discovered in the Callisto Catacombs on Via Apia in Rome and shows Christ with his short hair and carrying a ram on his shoulders - symbolizing one of the souls he saved.

3 - Madonna and Child Jesus

The image above is considered to be - possibly - the earliest representation ever found of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus in her arms. Discovered during a series of excavations in the Catacombs of Priscilla, located on Via Salaria in Rome, the fresco is believed to have been created in the 3rd century.

4 - Jesus healing the bleeding woman

Found in the Catacomb of Marcellin and Peter in Rome, the fresco you just saw above was probably created between the years 300 and 350, and depicts a biblical passage described in the Gospels of Luke, Mark, and Matthew known as “Jesus Healing. the bleeding woman. ”

More precisely, the episode refers to a woman who had not stopped bleeding for 12 years. According to the gospels, she would have spotted Jesus in a crowd and touched his tunic in the hope of being healed. However, Christ tells her that it was her faith that saved her.

5 - Alexamenos graffiti

The image above, also known as the “Blasphemous Graffiti, ” is among the earliest known depictions of Jesus - and was possibly created around the year 200 of the Christian Era. The figure was discovered engraved on the plaster of a wall near the Palatine in Rome and shows Christ crucified. The composition also features the words “Alexamenos worships God!” In Greek.

But as you can see in more detail below - and understand why he is called blasphemous - instead of the traditional figure of Jesus attached to the cross, graffiti brings a donkey-headed human body in its place:

Although it is a little shocking, especially for devout Christians, it is worth remembering that the above graffiti - with evidently ironic significance - was created at a time when the followers of Christianity were persecuted. Currently, the piece of plaster with the inscription is in the Palatine Antiquary Museum.

* Originally posted on 12/27/2016.