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