Art work

• Apse


  A semi-circular dome which is positioned above the altar in a church
• The Tree of Life Mosaic


  A mosaic found in the Apse of the Church of San Clemente in Rome, filled with symbolism
• 12th century


  The date of the mosaic
• Central image

  A cross which merges with many other important symbols
• Symbols

  • Twelve lambs
  • Tree
  • Vines
  • Hand
  • Alpha and Omega
  • Chi-Rho
• Meaning of symbols

  • Twelve lambs represent the twelve disciples
  • Lamb in the centre with a halo represents Jesus
  • Tree and vines are symbolic of how the message of Christianity will grow and spread throughout the world
  • Hand represents God reaching out to his son Jesus and taking him to heaven
  • Alpha and Omega symbolise the Christian belief that God is eternal
  • Chi-Rho is a Greek term for Christ and links to the belief that Jesus is a saviour
• Additional information

  • The twelve lambs represent the twelve disciples who were given the task of passing on Jesus’ message
  • The lamb in the centre with a halo represents Jesus who is known as the lamb of God who sacrificed his life
  • The tree is the tree of life and vines/branches will grow as the Jesus’ message is passed on
  • Following Jesus’ death on the cross it is believed that Jesus rose again
  • The Alpha and Omega are the first and last Greek letters of the alphabet
  • The Chi-Rho is one of the earliest Christian symbols