The Staurogram
Writing a Picture of the Crucified Christ
Will be published approx. on 25. June 2026
200 pages
978-0-567-70411-5 (ISBN)
Description
Dieter T. Roth presents an extensive study of the so-called "staurogram," argued to be the earliest visual depiction of the crucifixion of Christ. Roth examines the origins of this depiction in early New Testament manuscripts as a ligature or compendium of two letters in certain abbreviations of the words "cross" (stauros in Greek) or "crucify" (stauroo in Greek) in which the Greek letter rho is superimposed upon the Greek letter tau. In this work, the staurogram, ultimately understood to be a simple yet powerful depiction of Jesus crucified, is analyzed and located within the framework of ancient abbreviations, the nomina sacra, and the developing Christian visual culture in order to offer, for the first time, a wide-ranging presentation of this symbol in early Christianity. From the symbol's origins within words in some of our earliest, extant New Testament manuscripts to its use as a free-standing Christogram, this volume provides important insight into how Christians, beginning with the staurogram, depicted visually their faith in a crucified Christ.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
File size
2,71 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-567-70411-5 (9780567704115)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 07/2026
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€121.50
Not yet published
Person
Dieter T. Roth is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Boston College, USA.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1. Introduction: The Staurogram in Studies of Early Christianity
2. The Cross and Crucifixion in Early Christianity
3. Abbreviations in Antiquity and the Nomina Sacra
4. The Curious Case of "Cross" and "Crucify" as Nomina Sacra
5. The Staurogram within Nomina Sacra
6. The Staurogram as a Freestanding Symbol and Christogram
7. Conclusion: The Staurogram in Christian Visual Culture
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1. Introduction: The Staurogram in Studies of Early Christianity
2. The Cross and Crucifixion in Early Christianity
3. Abbreviations in Antiquity and the Nomina Sacra
4. The Curious Case of "Cross" and "Crucify" as Nomina Sacra
5. The Staurogram within Nomina Sacra
6. The Staurogram as a Freestanding Symbol and Christogram
7. Conclusion: The Staurogram in Christian Visual Culture
Bibliography
Index
