Image Details
Joseph Wilpert, Die römischen Mosaiken und Malereien der kirchlichen Bauten vom IV. bis XIII. Jahrhundert (Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1916) 4.168, #2. Courtesy of Digital Resources, Heidelberg University Library (Creative Commons License)
RISING TOGETHER. The earliest extant depiction of the Universal Resurrection Tradition, where Jesus rises in company, is found on a fresco in Rome’s Santa Maria Antiqua Church. Dated to 705–707 C.E., the fresco shows Jesus rising from the grave, stepping on the head of Hades (death personified), and pulling Adam out of his sepulcher. Although Hades tries to push Adam back down, he is not successful. Standing next to Adam, Eve also extends her hand. By raising Adam and Eve with him, Jesus symbolically raises all humankind in his resurrection. This imagery was created by a Byzantine pope—and thus reflects the East’s vision of Easter. Archaeologist Joseph Wilpert took this photograph in 1916—16 years after the fresco had been discovered and exposed.