User:Rosado, Arturo

Christ the Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.” (John 10:11)

During the late third century and early fourth century, images of Christ as a shepherd find themselves in churches. These are depictions of Jesus Christ herding and protecting a flock of wondering sheep. This is what Jesus was usually shown as before Christianity became the Roman Empire’s official religion. In these works of art, Jesus is often shown as being beardless. This is meant to bring youth and loyalty into his character. The sheep in these works symbolizes man, the unsaved, the lost and helpless. Sometimes pictures of the good shepherd would have Christ holding or carrying a sheep on his shoulders. The sheep over his shoulders represents the saved sheep, a sheep saved from sin. After the Roman Empire converts to Christianity, Christ obtains different attire in the good shepherd artworks. Christ is now under purple robes and is haloed. These attributes invoke the sense of rulership and hierarchy. Christ also has a lot more gold surrounding him, gold being a symbol of heaven or something heavenly. A good example of the more heavenly shepherd would be the mosaic in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy from ca. 425. Christ is shown with a halo, wearing a purple and gold robe, holding a cross staff. Instead of holding the lamb or carrying it on his shoulders, he is shown sitting amongst his sheep. The image is very organic and nonlinear with three lambs to each side of Christ. The mosaic shows him touching one of the sheep as if leading it to safety.