A NEW THEORY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929, Page 21

A NEW THEORY

CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS

Since the announcement was made | recently that the world-renowned Portland Vase was to be sold by auction, there has been a revival of the old debates as to the interpretation, of the figures on. the vase. Wedgwood, who studied the vase closely, and copied it, leant- to the opinion that the groups represented the death and resurrection of Adonis.- Others thought that subjects connected with the Eleusinian. mysteries were suggested. In the end archaeological Opinion seemed settled that the" story of Peleus-wooing Thetis, with the introduction of Poseidon and Aphrodite as witnesses, was the subject of the masterly reliefs (says the London "Daily Telegraph"). It will be recalled that it used to be believed that the vase Was found in a sarcopha gus held to be that in which were the ashes of Alexander Severus and his mother Mammaea. But the authorities on art reject this theory, and claim that the craftsmanship of th vase points to a much earlier date than that of the sarcophagus; The distinguished scholar, Professor Frank Granger,, of University College, Nottingham, however, brushes aside these technical arguments, and claims an early Christian interpretation of the vase and its decoration. He, in fact, stoutly reaffirms the association of the vase with Alexander and his famous mother, stating:—- " "We are on firmer ground when we turn to the interpretation of the vase. Alexander Severus in the spirit of N*eo-Platonism combined many worships. The figures of ApoUonius of Tyana (a Pythagorean prophet of the first century), Abraham, and Orpheus, were found with' that of Christ among the images of the Imperial Chapel." "Alexander's mother, who gave birth to the Emperor in a Syrian temple of Alexander the Great, was inspired to add the name of Alexander to the other names of her son, whose birth she interpreted in the spirit of'the legend about Olympia, the mother of Alexander the Great. The mysterious serpent appears both in that legend and in many Christian heresies.

"Mammaea,-who came under the influence of Origen, the Alexandrian heretic, influenced her son. It is possible to regard their joint rule, wich, for twelve years (A.D. 222 to 234), gave toleration to the Church and peace and prosperity to the Empire, scarcely equalled before or since, as the first Christian government known to the world.

"If, therefore, we approach the subjects represented on the vase in the light of early Christian art,' combined, as it bo often wfis, with the use of classical symbols, we may discern' with some probability some such intention as the following: On the one side Mammaea is greeted by Alexander the Great on the steps of his temple; and the scene indicates the mysterious birth of Alexander Severus. On the other side, Mammaea, in the attitude of the sleeping Ariadne of the Vatican" (whose arm was encircled by a serpent), holds an inverted torch, which might denote sleep. But the Fate, Clotho, with her spindle, seated behind Mammaea, gives a funereal meaning to the torch. The object at Mammaea's feet may perhaps be a book.

"On the base of the vase is x represented a youth in a Phrygian cap with his finger to his lips, probably Orpheus on his mysterious errand, the descent into hell. Him ari'imaginative believer might well identify with Christ —an identification v for, which there, were many precedents. The vase thus may stand for pirth, Death, and Immortality. These suggestions are made with no claim to certainty; but in the light of the whole circumstances of the.case, they seepi to me exceedingly probable." ,•,'■•■ ;'