St. Paul as Martyr

4th century
Sarcophagus fragment
Pio-Christian Museum, The Vatican, Inventory # 31524 ex 170A

This bust of Paul is quite unusual. It is the only one I know of from the 4th century that gives the saint a full head of hair. Also, he holds a wreath that normally signifies martyrdom. Although Paul was indeed a martyr, it is not common to give him any attribute referring to this fact.

View this image in full resolution.
Read more about St. Paul.

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