Jonah sarcophagus
Type:
Sarcophagi
Date:
Late third century
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
United Kingdom
Medium:
Marble
Dimensions:
192 × 60 × 77 cm
Description:
The naked figure of the biblical Jonah dominates this sarcophagus carved from a single piece of marble. He reclines under a gourd vine after the ordeal of being thrown overboard, swallowed by a huge fish, and spat back up after three days. Christians would have understood the story typologically, connecting the figure of Jonah to Christ rising from tomb after three days.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
1
Repository and Online Resources:
• Read more about the sarcophagus on the website of the British Museum.
Image Credits:
© Trustees of the British Museum
