The Jonah Sarcophagus at Santa Maria Antiqua in Rome

The Jonah Sarcophagus was discovered in 1906 excavations under the Greek church of Santa Maria in Antiqua, beneath the Palatine, in what was to become the Greek Quarter.It dates to the third century (275?). The scenes from the left: first we have the ship from which Jonah has been thrown, commanded by a sea god with a trident. We know that the ship is in a storm, from the furled sail. The sea monster-whale comes next, and he has just spit Jonah from his belly.Jonah is sleeping with his arm over his head under an ivy, and it is thought from his nakedness that he is drawn from the Greek mythological figure of Endymion, who was granted eternal rest by Luna. What the three sheep on top of the tree mean is unclear. Next comes a Christian woman in an orantes, or praying position with outstretched arms.She is next to a seated philosopher.No face is carved on either figure, meaning that this sarcophagus was probably carved for sale, and that no deceased stepped forward!

Next to the right is the Good Shepherd carrying one of His sheep.. Then we have a baptism scene, strangely with a grown Baptist and Jesus as a youth.The Holy Spirit is represented with the dove.On the far right are two fishermen, thought to represent the Apostles. The eighth century frescoes above the sarcophagus give us rows of Eastern and Latin saints, Christ in the center.