Hinton St Mary Christ Mosaic
2022 © Maxim Tabachnik
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Hinton St Mary Christ Mosaic

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This (4th c.) mosaic from Hinton St Mary, Dorset, may be the earliest known depiction of Christ in mosaic form. The central roundel shows Christ flanked by pomegranates, symbols of immortality, and adorned with the Greek letters chi and rho , an early Christian emblem. It marks a pivotal transition from pagan to Christian iconography in Roman Britain, reflecting the spread of Christianity and its integration into local artistic traditions.