The Earliest Depiction of Mary Magdalene

This fresco from the nave of the Dura-Europos church dates to c. 240[133] and contains the oldest surviving depiction of Mary Magdalene.[134] She is shown alongside two other women (the third now almost completely missing due to extensive damage. (From Wikipedia)

One of the earliest depictions of Mary Magdalene is found in the frescoes of the catacombs in Rome, where she is portrayed holding a jar of ointment. It seems the women have arrived to Jesus’ tomb to anoint the body. Mary Magdalene eternally holds her jar of ointment as her attribute.

It makes sense that early Christians would have painted this bible scene in a catacomb, an underground system of tunnels and chambers, typically used for burial and religious practices, often associated with the ancient world.

Anointing the dead is a practice with both religious and practical roots, often involving the use of oils or fragrant substances to prepare the body for burial or as a sign of honor and respect. While not explicitly detailed as a ritual in the Bible, it's rooted in broader biblical traditions of anointing and burial customs. In some religious traditions, it may also be seen as a symbolic representation of purification or consecration.

Mary Magdalene was present in Jesus’ life, in his death and in his resurrection. For early Christians, she was an inspiration.

Today’s drawing of Mary Magdalene