Il Cristo filosofo della domus di Porta Marina: un approccio teologico

The hall of the domus found in Porta Marina (Ostia) is an exceptional example of 4th century decoration in opus sectile. Among the various zoomorphic and phytomorphic figures present in the environment, two virile portraits stand out at the center of the east wall: a bearded man and a young man. The debate focused mainly on the first figure which could be a representation of Christ, a philosopher or both. Becatti was the first to come forward with the thesis that the bearded portrait could adhere to this iconography, assuming that the hall was a collegiate meeting place where some forms of Christian worship could also take place. Subsequent positions on this matter perched on two apparently parallel theses, interpreting the portrait either as a religious subject or as a philosopher. The work aims to resume Becatti’s original idea in the light of the theories advanced over the years and through a theological approach necessary to interpret the late-ancient thought