Early Christian Chi Rho monogram or Christogram, symbolising the Greek word for Christ, sculpted in relief on a plundered Roman sarcophagus or tomb chest in the Necropolis of Manastirine, outside the walls of the ancient Roman city of Salona, at Solin near Split in Dalmatia, Croatia. Martyrs tortured and executed for their faith by Roman Emperor Diocletian were buried here, as were later Christians wishing to honour his victims.
Salona, Solin, Dalmatia, Croatia: this early Christian Chi Rho symbol, sculpted in relief, is among similar Christograms on plundered sarcophagi or tomb chests in the Necropolis of Manastirine and other cemeteries outside the walls of the ancient Roman city of Salona. Many Christian martyrs - executed for their faith by Roman Emperor Diocletian - were buried here, as were later generations of Christians, at last able to worship freely, who chose to be interred near Diocletian's victims. The Chi Rho is found in Rome's catacombs and at other sites and it was used by Constantine I, the first Christian Roman emperor. The monogram superimposes the Greek capital letters 'chi' and 'rho' (X and P), the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, and often - as here - it also includes Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and the title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation. Salona, a former Adriatic port, was founded in the 3rd century BC by Illyrians. It became a Roman colony around 40 BC, and was later the provincial capital of Dalmatia. The strongly fortified city grew quickly to include public baths, an aqueduct, a forum, a theatre and an 18,000-capacity amphitheatre. Diocletian, probably born in or near Salona, became Emperor in 284 AD and Salona thrived as he built his magnificent palace at nearby Split. Christianity took root, but Diocletian executed many believers, including future saints Domnius and Anastasius. Later Christians flocked to Salona to honour the martyrs, building memorials in the amphitheatre where many had died, as well as basilicas over their graves. The city fell to Ostrogoth king Theodoric in 493 AD. It was returned to Rome in 535 but in 614, the citizens fled invading Slavs and Avars. The excavated site is now an archaeological park open to visitors.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Salona, Solin, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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