Anatolia, late Roman-early Christian / 280–90 CE
Jonah Swallowed
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Jonah Swallowed as sculpture (Anatolia, late Roman-early Christian · 280–90 CE).
Although usually thought of as a whale, here the artist has depicted Jonah swallowed by a cetus, a large, monstrous sea creature.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as marble.
The museum's collection notes: After disobeying the Lord’s command to proclaim judgment on the city of Nineveh, the Old Testament prophet Jonah was cast into the sea and swallowed by a sea monster. Here, the beast swallows Jonah headfirst.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtJonah SwallowedOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.