FIL AVG Constantine Follis

That’s an interesting suggestion about nudity and Christianity. But as you point out, that clothed Sol with Serapis was contemporaneous with nude Sol issues. And they were struck for Maximinus II— a proud pagan if there ever was one. I don’t know if he controlled the striking mints.

At any rate, when does the Church get prudish about the body? The late fifth-century Arian baptistry at Ravenna practically shows full frontal nudity at Christ’s baptism. It doesn’t look like Church officials were going around attaching fig leaves to statues just yet.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.