INTERPRETARE ȘI CORESPONDENȚĂ ÎNTRE ORFEU ȘI BUNUL PĂSTOR
INTERPRETATION AND CORRESPONDANCE BETWEEN ORPHEUS AND GOOD SHEPERD

Summary/Abstract: Humanity has always lived sentimentally the need for art. From the perspective of time, the symbols constituted the essential and permanent modality of transmitting the artistic message in the existence of society, culture and religion. The representations kept the initial core significant, enriching the meanings over time.The article addresses the transformation of a symbol of pagan origin, originated from an ancient Hellenistic myth, into an illustration with Christian significance; as well as the interpretation of this pre-Christian symbol in the context of the art of the Catacombs. The theme is given by the correspondences between the myth of Orpheus and the paleo-Christian representation of the Good Shepherd. Therefore, between the mentality of the pagan world and that of early Christianity there are certain differences and similarities, in the sense that both Orpheus and the Good Shepherd are two characters with similar roles: the first - a legend, the second - a reality. Starting from their origin and family, both - Orpheus and Christ - are symbols of humility, but also of arts and beauty, to both of them bend the nature and living beings at the sound of the comforting song, being common even the sacrifice of love, of the descent into inferno/hell. Orpheus receives a new mission, namely the idea of preparing civilization for the appearance of the Good Shepherd, while the Good Shepherd is the one who renews Orpheus, that is, the whole pagan world.

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