ROMAN ART 3rd century - Lot 20

ROMAN ART 3rd century Engraving: The sacrifice of Abraham, a winged figure wraps his arms around a child a child seated before him. Above, the hand that dropped Abraham's knife knife. Oval garnet intaglio (15 x 11 mm) Interesting subject. Very rare. Very beautiful. Abraham's sacrifice is a major biblical event, described in the book of Genesis (Genesis 22). This act is often interpreted as a test of faith, in which Abraham is called upon to sacrifice his son Isaac. This story goes beyond a simple test of devotion; it is seen as a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, offering a new dimension to our understanding of grace and redemption. Moreover, Abraham's sacrifice is also addressed in the Koran, where it is mentioned without explicitly naming Isaac or Ishmael, underlining the importance of this act in many religious traditions. This story raises profound reflections on faith, sacrifice and divine intervention, as shown by the symbolic interpretation of this event. This scene can be compared with representations in the synagogues of Dura-Europos (3rd century) and Beth Alpha (6th century). (See next page)