# When Did Images of Jesus First Become Popular **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275 "2011-06-13T01:59:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/1 "2011-06-13T01:59:32Z")
I am asking this as apparently the Code of Emperor Justinian forbade any images of Jesus and threatened a “heavy penalty” to those who did. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/2 "2011-06-13T03:16:21Z")
The first images of Jesus as a person in art date from the third century. Before that, Jesus was usually portrayed in art as a fish or a lamb, for instance. This is the first known image portraying Jesus (he’s the one standing to the top of the paralytic: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dura-europos-paralytic.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dura-europos-paralytic.jpg) And this piece of anti-Christian graffiti, from probably the end of the second or beginning of the third century, is probably the actual oldest image of what’s meant to be Jesus: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexorig.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexorig.jpg) It’s a crucified man with a head of a donkey, and beneath him is a man looking up at him, and there’s the caption, “Alexamenos worships his god”. Images of Jesus really got popular in the 5th-7th centuries, leading to the iconoclasm controversy. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FlyingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/3 "2011-06-13T04:43:46Z")
Very cool! I had never seen either of those before. I find an interesting parallel in the fact that we don’t see images of the Buddha in human form start appearing until a few centuries after his death-- before then he is represented by a footprint or other symbol. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/4 "2011-06-13T11:04:05Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I am asking this as apparently the Code of Emperor Justinian forbade any images of Jesus and threatened a “heavy penalty” to those who did. I am a bit surprised. [Byzantine iconoclasm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconoclastic_Controversy) didn’t really get going until a couple of centuries after the time of Justinian. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/5 "2011-06-13T16:27:32Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I am asking this as apparently the Code of Emperor Justinian forbade any images of Jesus and threatened a “heavy penalty” to those who did. Yeah, I have to ask for cite here. . . I’m not a Byzantine expert but from Justinian’s time there are some things in Ravenna at least-- S Vitale, S Apollinare Nuovo, although I might have the dates slightly off. There’s some Jesus on the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, which is darned early, as is Galla Placidia, and the doors from Sta Sabina. Dura Europos stuff I’ll accept as purposefully ambiguous. For manuscript Rossano and Rabbula Gospels are both 6th c-- still early. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/6 "2011-06-13T17:23:37Z")
> [@capybara](#): > > Yeah, I have to ask for cite here. . . I’m not a Byzantine expert but from Justinian’s time there are some things in Ravenna at least-- S Vitale, S Apollinare Nuovo, although I might have the dates slightly off. > There’s some Jesus on the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, which is darned early, as is Galla Placidia, and the doors from Sta Sabina. Dura Europos stuff I’ll accept as purposefully ambiguous. For manuscript Rossano and Rabbula Gospels are both 6th c-- still early. _Codex Justinianus_, Book I, Title 8: > [@](#): > > The Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian to Eudoxius, Prætorian Prefect. > > As it is Our diligent care to guard in every way the religion of the Celestial Divinity, We specially command that no one shall be permitted to trace, carve, or paint the image of Christ the Saviour either upon the earth, upon stone, or upon marble placed in the earth, but it shall be erased wherever found; and anyone who attempts to violate Our laws in this respect shall be subject to a heavy penalty. > > Given on the twelfth of the Kalends of June, during the Consulate of Hierius and Ardaburius, 427. Please note, however, the the Codex was a compilation of all existing imperial edicts back to the time of Hadrian; as the text shows, this was an edict collected from the earlier code of Theodosius II. I can’t say why this particular edict was issued, but considering the Christ-based theological controversies at the time and the fact that iconography was often used to promote “heretical” interpretations, this may have been part of an effort to stifle debate. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/7 "2011-06-13T18:12:34Z")
Interesting wording-- sounds like it might have been intended to mean sculpture in particular. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/8 "2011-06-13T18:38:52Z")
I don’t think sculpture in particular. It also covers murals. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/9 "2011-06-13T19:02:46Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > The first images of Jesus as a person in art date from the third century. Before that, Jesus was usually portrayed in art as a fish or a lamb, for instance. So does that mean the traditional image we have of Jesus is completely made up? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/10 "2011-06-13T19:15:56Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > So does that mean the traditional image we have of Jesus is completely made up? Did you really think he looked Caucasian? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/11 "2011-06-13T19:22:56Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > So does that mean the traditional image we have of Jesus is completely made up? If by “completely made up”, you mean, “not having any relation to what the actual Jesus looked like”, yes. If you want some more early images, here’s Jesus as Apollo: [http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/images/christ-as-apollo-mosaic-3rd-cent-tomb.jpg](http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/images/christ-as-apollo-mosaic-3rd-cent-tomb.jpg) Jesus and his apostles: [http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/image\_gallery/350\_christ\_and\_apostles\_catacomb\_domitilla.htm](http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/image_gallery/350_christ_and_apostles_catacomb_domitilla.htm) Jesus as teacher: [http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/images/christ-as-teacher-sarc-of-junius-bassus-rome-359-peter-paul.jpg](http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/images/christ-as-teacher-sarc-of-junius-bassus-rome-359-peter-paul.jpg) Jesus as Orpheus: [http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/image\_gallery/4C\_christ\_as\_orpheus.htm](http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/image_gallery/4C_christ_as_orpheus.htm) The Last Supper: [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/ravenna-sant-apollinare-nuovo-photos/slides/xti\_6926p.htm](http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/ravenna-sant-apollinare-nuovo-photos/slides/xti_6926p.htm) Image of Jesus in the Hagia Sophia: [http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/images/christ-mosaic-hagiasophia.jpg](http://www.religionfacts.com/jesus/images/christ-mosaic-hagiasophia.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/12 "2011-06-13T19:30:10Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Did you really think he looked Caucasian? My assumption was that his skin color and features were gradually modified to be more Caucasian-like, but that his image was based on the real person. Much like the transformation of Michael Jackson over the years, although his was done to his actual face. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-images-of-jesus-first-become-popular/585275/13 "2011-06-13T19:38:23Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > My assumption was that his skin color and features were gradually modified to be more Caucasian-like, but that his image was based on the real person. Much like the transformation of Michael Jackson over the years, although his was done to his actual face. I sure sounded like a smartass. Thanks for not being offended. I suppose someone may have drawn or painted a picture of him and that likeness was passed down and copied and all we have are later copies that were morphed to make him look more and more European over time.