(ii) Describe two of the symbols in the 'Tree of Life' apse mosaic in St Clemente in Rome represent.

Question 1

(ii) Describe two of the symbols in the ‘Tree of Life’ apse mosaic in St Clemente
in Rome represent.

Answer 1

The four evangelists-
The symbol of matthew is a man. Matthew is a gospel of christ’s humanity and his humbleness and humility can be seen throughout the book
The image for mark is a winged lion-signifies leadership and royalty, is therfor seen as an image of christ as a king
The Lamb-
At the bottom of the cross there are 12 lambs, directly at the centre is the “lamb of god”-jesus.A lamb is a symbol of sacrifice. In the storry of the passover, a lamb was sacrificed and its blood was smeared on the doorsteps of the israelites. The angel of death would passover them and instead killed the first borns of egypt. Jesus is described as the lamb of god because his sacrifice on the cross saved humanity from sin and death.