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Roman lead seal “Sacrifice of Isaac” 3rd-4th century AD
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Roman lead seal “Sacrifice of Isaac”
3rd-4th century AD
Abraham standing left, holding dagger in uplifted right hand; before him, kneeling left, Isaac; to right, tree with ram; to right above, hand of God
Cf. J. Spier “Late antique gems” S4 (with inscription EIC ΘEOC) and S5 (scene reversed); 17x14x6mm; 4.38 gram.
The story of the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22, 1-19) serves as an archetypical story of salvation and the ram sent by God to replace Isaac as a sacrifice was (and still is) interpreted by chistians as a typology for Christ. For this reason it was a popular iconographical theme during the earliest stages of christianity.
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