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Sarcophagus of Livia Primitiva

The Sarcophagus of Livia Primitiva is made out of stone with ornamental engravings of an anchor, fish, the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd is seen with one sheep on each of his sides. There has been speculation on the religious origins of the Sarcophagus of Livia Primitiva. It was thought to be Christian because the inscriptions that are seen on the Sarcophagus was tied to Christianity, but later evidence has proven that the Sarcophagus of Livia Primitiva is actually Pagan. Livia Primitiva was 24 years and 9 months of age at the time of her death. Raoul Rochette Had his suspicions and proclaimed that Livia Primitiva’s monument was actually Pagan. Raoul-Rochette proclaimed this theory because of the symbols on Livia Primitiva’s monument were Christian symbols that were added later. The monument of Livia Primitiva had some inscription within the inscription there was a blank space that was left originally. The inscription and the symbols filled the space amicably therefore it past as a Christian monument. Victor Schultze Agreed with Raoul-Rochette’s theory, in Victor Schultze argument he upholds this argument by stating that the representation of the shepherd carrying a sheep in his arms is a full representation of Christianity. In Christian monuments of the shepherd either carries the sheep with both hands, or he carries the sheep by the legs with one hand, or the sheep lies on the shepherds shoulder without being held for any support. The shepherd on the sarcophagus of Livia Primitiva the sheep is seen on the shepherds shoulder while the shepherd is holding the sheep providing it support. The inscription on the monument proves to not be Christian. The style in which the shepherd is carrying the sheep indicates that Livia Primitiva’s sarcophagus was suspected to be that of a Pagan faith.

File:Fronte frammentario di sarcofago di livia primitiva, 200-225 dc ca..JPG

Rochette, Raoul. ''“Memoire de l’acad. desnscript,.”'' (XIII, pp.107-108,224). The Open Court, volume 25.

Schultze, Victor. “Altchristliche Monumente,” (p.223). The Open Court, volume 25.