Unnumbered pageScan 17 of 97
16
Handwritten: And answered, "Elementum commune, sine ullo sacramenti effectu. Nec literarum sine aqua, regenerationis mysterium est." 79
If the four crosses stand for the four directions and the four circles for the four seasons, the mixture of the four circles for the four seasons is symbolized. In space is symbolized the universality of baptism in time [handwritten: and] space and [handwritten: together with] time. Whatever these circles may or may not have represented, the crosses and the water as represented by the birds and the fishes combined together [handwritten: denote] connote some connection with baptism. As Ambrose [handwritten: asked] said in speaking of baptism, Quid "[handwritten: mx]" est enim aqua sine cruce Christi? This connection is confirmed not only by the inscription "[handwritten: Ἀντὶ λίθων ... σήματα Χριστοῦ]" but, also, by a painting and inscriptions found on the wall of a cistern located near Salamis in Cyprus and in all probability approximately contemporary with our building. [handwritten: 80] This painting is an oblong horizontal panel. [handwritten: 81] About midway between either end and probably above the painting is a head of Christ; [handwritten: be-] hind this head, [handwritten: there] is a cross. [handwritten: 82] On either side of the head, of the shapes that can be distinguished [handwritten: is] a duck sitting on what appears to be a nest, [handwritten: There is also] a fish, and an eel or eels or possibly snakes and a flamingo. [handwritten: 83] All these animals are portrayed in a naturalistic setting of water in which are, also, plants with broad leaves. [handwritten: 84] In the border above and below the picture, are inscriptions which do not concern us here. [handwritten: 85] Those that do are around an arch into an adjoining cistern. Above the arch is + B(οη)σον Ὁ Κόσταν Α Five κ(ύ)ε τ(ῷ) ἐγνο(ι) ... [handwritten: 86]
Around the edge of the arch, [handwritten: +] Ἐλησεσῦ φωνὴ· "ταδε λέγει"
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain