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Pio Cristiano Sarcophagus 31551: Detail, Daniel in the Lions' Den

Directly below the clipeus of the sarcophagus is a naked Daniel in the lions' den (Daniel 6:1-24 and Vulgate Daniel 14:27-42). Jensen (Nudity) argues that naked portrayals of Daniel with the lions allude to the Roman practice of disrobing martyrs in the arena as a way of shaming them.

On the right Habakkuk is bringing Daniel loaves of bread, for which he rejoices, "Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee" (14:37). This is a sentiment obviously appropriate for a sarcophagus. Also apt is the exclamation of King Darius, probably the person on the left: "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has the God whom you serve so constantly been able to save you from the lions?" (6:21).

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