The Alexamenos Drawing

The Alexamenos Drawing was made in Rome during the second century CE.

The drawing depicts a man with a donkey’s head hanging on a cross. To the left is another man facing the donkey-headed man, raising one hand. Below the cross is an inscription written in Greek:

ΑΛΕΞΑΜΕΝΟΣ ΣΕΒΕΤΕ ΘΕΟΝ

Alexamenos worships god.

Presumably, Alexamenos was a Christian, and his associates had come to know about his faith. Apparently, Alexamenos’ associates found it laughable that he worshipped a man who had been crucified as a common criminal. They created this drawing to mock Alexamenos and his faith.