The Sarcophagus of Domatilla: Detail, the crowning with thorns

Mid-4th century
Museo Pio Christiano, Rome

A soldier puts the crown of thorns on the head of a young and beardless Jesus. But the mocking intent of the "crown" is belied by the figure of Christ himself. He wears a toga to express high status, whereas Pilate wears only a tunic. His scroll, an attribute of a philosopher in classical iconography, can refer in this case to the Gospel and/or to the scroll he gives St. Paul in Tradition Legis images.

The crown itself is also a symbol of Christ's triumph over the death that has been assigned him. In shape and texture it echoes the wreath in the central panel that symbolizes the Resurrection.

View the main image.
Read more about images of the trials of Jesus.

Photographed at the museum by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.