1.12 – Apse Mosaic – The Tree of Life

An apse is a half of a domed roof. The Tree of Life is found in the Church of San Clemente in Rome.

The Mosaic is filled with symbolism. First watch the video about it and then after look below where the mosaic is broken up into sections.

TASK – write down as many different bits of symbolism as you can to keep your attention up as you watch the video. Check below to see how many you got right!

The Cross and the Tree

HADAD

TASK – LEARN WHAT EACH LETTER STANDS FOR. REPEAT. TRY WRITING DOWN EACH LETTER AND SEEING HOW MANY YOU GET RIGHT

Healing

• At the base of the cross is the tree of, considered to be the tree of life. This is a reference from Revelation 22:2 “on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations”
• Similar to the crucifixion saving all people of all nations from their sins, the leaves of the tree of life heal all nations.

All Humanity

• The cross seems to emerge out of the tree of life and is then wrapped with the vines. Branching out from the tree on both sides are swirling vines that cover the entire mosaic branching out to all humanity.
• Christ reached out to all humanity by dying on the cross for our sins. This act heals the world of its sin and suffering and spreads across the whole world for us.

Death

• The cross is the crucifixion scene
• Religious people will see the cross as a symbol of the death of Christ. He did this for immense good. He did this to absolve humanity of their sins.
• Mary and John stand either side
• The Hand of God the Father above offering a wreath of victory to Christ.

Adam

• The tree is also a reminder of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They ate the fruit bringing sin and death into the world.
• Jesus reverses the disobedience of Adam by being obedient to God and offering his life on the cross.
• St Paul writes about this calling Jesus the new Adam. Adam went against God and brought pain, suffering and sin to the world. Jesus was faithful to God and brought a way back to God and a new way to be human.

Dove

• The apostles are here represented as doves surrounding Jesus on the cross (they are shown in several different ways in the mosaic)
• Doves are a symbol of piece and a sign of the Holy Spirit filling the earth on Pentecost

Alpha and omega and Chi-Ro

Above the cross is a symbol that looks like a white P and X written on top of each other. This is the Chi-Rho symbol. Either side of this are the Greek letters alpha and omega.

Chi-Rho

The P and X are the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek. Is is a very early symbol of Christianity and can be viewed as the first Christian cross.

Alpha and Omega

These are the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet. This reminds Christians that God is the beginning and the end of all things. In the Book of Revelation God speaks of himself as the alpha and omega. From early Christian times it was also used to refer to Jesus. This reminds us that Jesus is eternal because he is God.

TASK – MEMORISE AND REPEAT. TRY WRITING DOWN EACH POINT AND SEEING IF YOU GET IT RIGHT

The Lamb

At the bottom of the cross their are 12 lambs who are facing towards a lamb at the centre of the picture directly under the cross. This central lam is the ‘lamb of God’ or Jesus.

SPADE

TASK – LEARN WHAT EACH LETTER STANDS FOR. REPEAT. TRY WRITING DOWN EACH LETTER AND SEEING HOW MANY YOU GET RIGHT

• SACRIFICE – The lamb is a symbol of sacrifice
• PASSOVER – In the passover story a lamb was sacrificed (killed for the good of others) and its blood put on the door posts of the Israelites. The Angel of Death ‘passed over’ these hoses and instead killed the first born sons of the Egyptians.
• APOSTLES – 12 lambs are the apostles. They also lived a life of sacrifice. They gave up their homes and families to follow Jesus and spread the word after his death.
• DEATH – Jesus is described as the ‘lamb of God’ because his death on the cross saved humanity from their sin and death, just like the sacrificed lamb had saved the Israelites.
• END AND BEGINNING – Beginning to End. The 12 apostles come from Bethlehem the place of Jesus’ birth and Jerusalem the place of Jesus’ crucifixion.

The Four Apostles

Above the dome are the symbols of the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

TASK – DRAW EACH SYMBOL FROM MEMORY AND WRITE DOWN WHAT IT MEANS

Left to Right

WINGED LION – MARK – Signifies leadership and royalty. This is seen as a symbol for Christ the KING!

THE MAN – MATTHEW – Matthew is the Gospel about Christ’s humanity and his humbleness and humility are highlighted throughout the book.

THE FLYING EAGLE – JOHN – This book is unlike the other gospels in that it begins with a theological meditation (wondering) upon the meaning of the fact of Christ.

WINGED OX – LUKE – An Ox was used in sacrifice in the Temple. The winged ox is a reminder of the priestly character of Jesus and of his sacrificial death for the sings of all mankind.

TASK – LOOK AT THIS PICTURE. CAN YOU IDENTIFY EACH PIECE OF SYMBOLISM?

RED ZONE

Describe the symbolism of the cross and the tree in the Tree of Life Apse Mosaic

Describe the symbolism of Alpha and Omega and Chi-Rho in the Tree of Life Apse Mosaic

Describe the symbolism of the lamb in the Tree of Life Apse Mosaic

Describe the symbolism of the four evangelists in the Tree of Life Apse Mosaic

Explain why Jesus is sometimes called the ‘new Adam’

‘The Tree of Life Apse Mosaic is the bible symbolised in art’ discuss possible views on this statement.

Which piece of art could Christians think of as more important. The Creation of Adam or The Tree of Life Apse Mosaic?