Color Plates

Baptism Cross

Cathedral of St. Giovanni in Laterano, Rome, Italy. Apse, mosaic. Fourth to thirteenth centuries.

See Saving Paradise,  xii-xiv, 2, 4.

This mosaic amalgamates images of the baptism of Jesus with images of earthly paradise and resurrection.

At the top of the cross, water flows from the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove.  In the medallion at the center of the cross, John baptizes Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22; John 1:31-34).  From the pool of water at the base of the cross, four rivers emerge.  Letters along side the rivers spell their names: Gion, Pison, Tigris, and Eufrates.   These are the four rivers of paradise named in Genesis 2:10-14.  On either side of the rivers, sheep and deer are refreshed in the meadows of paradise (Psalms 23 and 44)  The golden city between the rivers, sheltered by a palm tree with a phoenix,  signifies the New Jerusalem as described in Ezekiel and Revelation-images of the resurrected community.

The river Jordon flows across the bottom of the apse - watering all the earth.  This is the oldest portion of the mosaic, dating to the fourth century. Notice the wind-surfing cherub. Of the renewing river of life, Ezekiel 47:9-12 writes, “wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will live . . . on the banks of both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food . . .  their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”   See also Joel 3:18; Zechariah 14:8, and Revelation 22.

The figures of Mary and John and the saints were added in the thirteenth century.

Alternate view: http://www.travelcreek.com/laterano.jpg