Coffin from the Christian period
Antiquities dating back to the ancient Numidian era from Boumerdes Province, Kabylie, Algeria
A coffin from the Christian period from Dills representing the seven miracles of Christ. The symbol of the Donatist Christians. The cross does not exist. The ancient Amazighs did not believe in the Trinity, that is, they followed the Donatist doctrine (the coffin is in the Museum of Ancient Antiquities in the capital)
It was discovered in December 1857 AD in the Dills region, west of the capital, and dates back to the fourth century AD. It is rectangular in shape, made of white marble, and consists of two parts: a cover, which is a flat slab on which three dolphins are carved.
As for the coffin, its outer façade bears a relief carving of seven records of the miracles of Jesus Christ according to the Holy Bible (the Gospel), separated by columns with capitals topped by alternating simple and broken arches. The first record: engraved with two people in a state of dialogue, one of whom holds a manuscript in his left hand and feeds a snake coiled around itself with his right hand. The other person holds in his right hand something flat, thin, and rectangular, as if he were a doctor offering a recipe (the miracle of the Prophet Daniel offering the poison of the papillon snake). The second record: We see the doctor with a book in his left hand and holding a palm frond in his right hand, stirring a liquid in a large bowl in front of him as if he were preparing medicine. According to the Gospel, this scene represents the miracle of Christ turning water into wine.
The third record: The doctor holds a book and places his right hand on the head of a young girl who is kneeling and holding the bottom of the doctor’s dress with her hand, and next to her is an elderly man with a thick beard. This scene, according to the Bible, represents the miracle of Homorus, the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, and when she touched Christ’s garment, she was healed of her illness, so she prostrated before him. The fourth record: of an unbearded person, who is assumed to be Jesus Christ, sitting on his throne between two palm trees, and placing his feet on a large head as a symbol of heaven. At his feet sit two smaller men, who may be Saints Peter and Paul. His right hand is raised in blessing, and his left hand holds the Bible. Fifth record: We see a doctor moving what is inside a vessel with palm leaves, which may be food. He has a book in his right hand, part of his upper garment, and the other part of the garment in his left hand. Behind the pot is a person with a beard and thick hair, wearing a necklace and holding something in his hand. According to the Bible, this is the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish. Where large crowds of hungry people fell under the feet of Jesus Christ, and his disciples only had seven loaves of bread and a few fish. So Jesus took them and divided them among the poor crowd, and they all ate. Their number was about four thousand, including men, women, and children, and seven baskets remained full. Sixth record: The doctor is examining the eyes of a young child in public with two fingers, and behind them is a person anxiously waiting for the doctor for the results of the examination. According to the Bible, this scene explains the miracle of healing the blind man. Seventh record: The doctor holds a book in his left hand and between the fingers of the right hand is something in the shape of a rectangle. There is a second person pointing with his finger at a rooster in front of his legs. According to the Bible, this scene explains the miracle of the three predictions, Saint Peter’s denial of Christ, and the crow of the rooster. This coffin was carved in relief, Its thickness ranges between 5 to 6 cm, and it is rare and unparalleled, as the main character (the doctor, Jesus Christ) is rarely sculpted in one way. Facial features were meticulously executed, in addition to hairstyles that differed from one person to another, with the exception of Jesus Christ, who was depicted with thick hair ending in round locks.
Source: websites