Mosaic with Peacocks and Kantharos

4th century
Baptistery, Stobi, North Macedonia

The object is clearly a fountain, with two jets flowing from the fountainhead into the body. But it has the shape of a high-necked kantharos. The peacocks and other birds approaching the fountain symbolize Christians in general and catechumens non-Christians preparing for Baptism in particular.

Read more about bird and fountain symbols.

Photo © by Jan Piebe Tjepkema