Soldiers at the Crucifixion, and Mocking of Christ
detail from Scenes from the Passion and the Nativity

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales Right hand light of the window. larger image

1868 Three-light window with the Crucifixion with Mary and John at the centre, flanked by soldiers. Lower panels showing Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Nativity and the Mocking of Christ. technique: stained glass firm/studio: Alexander Gibbs Church of St Peter, Bont-goch, Ceredigion east wall of sanctuary Centre light: Crucifixion, with Mary & John as flanking figures (John 19:25). Below is a Nativity scene, with Mary, Joseph (note the rod, a reference to Protoevangelion 8:8-12) and the ox and ass. Left light: two soldiers at the crucifixion, one bearing a halberd, the other a shield with the initials SPQR. (Senatus Populusque Romanus - the Senate & People of Rome). This is the official formula of the Imperial Government, used on seals, coins, documents and the standards of the Legions. Its use here by the artist is to signify the official recognition by the Roman authorities of the sentence of death pronounced on Jesus. Below is a representation Gethsemane, with three sleeping apostles, the praying Christ, and the angel with the cup (Luke 22:40-45). Right: two soldiers, one bearing a spear (i.e. Longinus, a reference to John 19:34), the other holding a white robe. In the foreground a stool with dice (John 19:24). Below soldiers crown the seated Jesus with thorns. It is interesting that the artist has chosen to depict Christ's robe as white (the colour of Divinity) and not purple, as (e.g. John 19:2) the gospels record. He has also depicted the soldiers wearing medieval and not Roman armour.  (ObjectID=885 ImageID=1661) Original File Name=_MG_4844.jpg

This artwork is indexed under the following main subject(s):
for other works containing these subjects please click on the links.

• Christ is mocked by soldiers in Pilate's palace  [Luke 22:63-65; Mark 15:16-20; Matthew 27:27-31; John 19:2-3]
• Crucified Christ with Mary and John on either side of the cross; Holy Rood  [John 19:25-27]
• crucified Christ with Stephaton and/or Longinus 
• Gethsemane, Mount of Olives  [Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-12]
• Mary, Joseph and the new-born Christ (Nativity)  [Luke 2:1-7]
• soldiers throwing dice for Christ's seamless garment - Christ's death on the cross  [Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-24]
• the crowning with thorns: soldiers with sticks place a thorny crown on Christ's head and give him a reed  [Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; John 19:2-3]

Thomas Lloyd, Julian Orbach and Robert Scourfield, The Buildings of Wales: Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion (London: Yale University Press, 2006), p. 468.

John Morgan-Guy, Glass by Alexander Gibbs at Elerch (Lampeter: 2009).

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), p. 118.

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales