Angels with Instruments
By: Philip Risher
Saint Angelo’s Bridge is home to ten Bernini angel statues, each accompanied by a different passion instrument. Previously known as the Aelian Bridge, it was erected in 134 AD by Hadrian in order to span the Tiber River. It was designed to range from the city center to his newly designed mausoleum now known as Saint Angelo’s castle. The bridge is layered with travertine and has three arches supporting it. The Aelian Bridge leads directly to St. Peter’s basilica. Upon request from Clement IX, the angels were added by Bernini in 1688. Each angel has a different inscription and a unique connection to the crucifixion.
Since we now have a basic understanding of why the bridge was made and the different purposes it received over the years, let’s now look at the ten angels which are on it. The first angel is the Angel with a Column. According to John 19:1, “Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.” Flogging is the act of tying someone around a column and whipping them. This depiction of the angel carrying the column, where Jesus had been flogged aids us in the visual torture use of this passion instrument. The inscription on the statue translated into English is “My Throne is upon a Column.”
The Angel with a Column symbolically represents Jesus being tortured before his crucifixion. The next angel, the Angel with the Whip, is seen carrying a flagrum: a short whip made of two or three leather strips. The leather strips were knotted with bones and or bronze, to aid in the removal of skin. The Romans used this method of scourging to torture criminals before they were killed. The whip symbolically shows the beating Jesus endured before even paying the price for our sins. Isaiah 53: 5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The inscription on this statue translated into English is “I am ready for the Scourge.”
Once the initial torture was done, Jesus, like all other criminals, was required to carry his cross to the place he would die. The Angel with the Cross is a very moving piece of artwork. Not just because it was a torture piece used by the Romans, or even because people wear it around their neck, but the fact that an angel is carrying the cross is very meaningful. The cross is symbolic of the whole sacrifice Jesus made. All of the passion instruments can be summed up by the cross. The inscription says, “Dominion rests on His Shoulders”. The cross is a monumental turning point in the world’s history.
The next angel is the Angel with the Nails. The nails the angel is holding are symbolic to the nails that pierced Jesus as he died for our sins. In John 19:37 the prophesy is fulfilled, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” This scripture is also the inscription found on the statue. The angel is holding three nails for His hands and His feet. In the right hand the angel is making a motion to show everyone the nail.
The Angel with a Sponge is yet another interesting torture method used by the Romans. On the angel there is an inscription which reads, “They gave me vinegar to drink.” The angel is holding a sponge, upon first glance a sponge doesn’t seem like a passion instrument. But, the holy sponge was used to wipe vinegar over the wounds of people during their crucifixion and stanch the blood, which would in turn allow the criminal to continue persecution for longer. The angel symbolically reveals the agony and pain Jesus Christ went through to cover our sins with his blood.
The previous instruments are basic methods of crucifixion by Romans, but the Angel with the Crown of Thorns is an exceptional chastisement for Jesus. The verse in the Bible that depicts this scene is John 19:2, “The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his (Jesus) head.” This is the most notable piece on any crucifixion depiction of Jesus. The crown of thorns was given to Jesus’ bruised head as a sign of mockery, for he was claiming to be a king. Although the guards tormented Him, he paid the ultimate sacrifice. The inscription on this statue translated into English is, “The thorn is Fastened upon me.”
Along with having a crown of thorns on his head, Jesus also had an inscription on his cross. The Angel with the Inscription is a passion instrument that helps paint a vivid picture of the mockery Jesus went through. “INRI” is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase which means “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.” The reason the Romans put this inscription was to make His followers turn away from Him. According to Mark 15: 29-31, “those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘so you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days’… the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself!”
The following statue is the most unknown passion instrument. It is the Angel with the Garment and Dice. Mark 15:24 says, “And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.” In Psalms 22:18 Jesus makes the prophecy and then it is carried out in Mark. The main reason the garment and dice were used as passion instruments is because of the significance of his clothing, that at this moment He is hanging, dying for their sins. The inscription on this statue translated into English is “For my clothing they cast lots.”
As Jesus hung on the cross lifeless, a soldier pierced His side in order to be certain that He was dead. The Angel with a Lance depicts the passion instrument of the lance which was used to pierce Jesus’ side. According to beliefnet.com, “Christian tradition has tied this action to the "ravishing" or "wounding" of the heart of the beloved in the Song of Solomon. This tradition emphasizes that Jesus underwent death by crucifixion as an act of love for humankind.” The inscription on this angel is from Song of Solomon 4:9, “You have ravished my Heart.”
Once Jesus received the crown of thorns, he hung there, being mocked and ridiculed. When he was removed from the cross his head was wrapped. The next statue is the Angel with the Sudarium. After seeing this statue I had no idea what the Sudarium was. The Sudarium is the only surviving relic of the crucifixion of Jesus, and is in Spain. According to CatInFor.com, “The Sudarium is a bloodstained cloth purported to have covered the head of Jesus of Nazareth after his burial.” According to John 20: 6 -7, “Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.” The angel is seen holding this Sudarium as a remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The inscription on this statue translated into English is “Look upon the face of your Christ.”
All except one of the mentioned passion instruments are methods of torture used by the Romans. The Sudarium is the only passion instrument that was not used for this purpose. Could it be that the only relic left that is known to have touched Jesus is seen as a passion instrument? The symbolism that each torture instrument gives is very vivid, but they give the audience an ability to create their own representation of what happened. This scene in the Bible was played out through the illustration on the bridge, and it is as if one goes back to Calvary and reanalyzes just how much Jesus loves you.
Bibliography
"The Roman Scourge (Bible History Online)." Bible History Online Images and Resources for Biblical History. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2010. .
"Rome - Bridge and Castle of St. Angelo." Old And Sold Antiques Auction. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2010. .
BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.."BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. .
"Sudarium of Jesus | CatInfor.com." CatInfor.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .
"Angels of the Passion, Jesus and Angels, Bridge of Angels, Christian Prayer, Passion, Crucifixion, Pictures of Angels, Rome -- Beliefnet.com."Inspiration, Spirituality, Faith, Religion.- Beliefnet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2010.
