Wall Painting of Christ Healing the Paralytic

 

Paint on Plaster, H. 107.0 cm, W. 165.0 cm. From the Temple of the Palmyrene Gods, Dura-Europos, ca. 239 CE. Yale University Art Gallery, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos: 1931.386. Photography © 2011 Yale University Art Gallery.

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Paint on Plaster, H. 145.0 cm, W. 88.0 cm, D. 5.0 cm
From the Christian Building, Dura-Europos, ca. 232 CE
Yale University Art Gallery, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos: 1932.1202
Photography © 2011 Yale University Art Gallery

The upper register of the baptistery walls is painted with scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, many of which involve water and focus on redemption. In this scene, probably derived from John 5:2–19, Jesus heals a bedridden man at the pool of Bethesda. The man appears twice in this serial narrative, paralyzed in the center and then joyfully carrying his bed away on the left.