The Crucifixion

Portrayals of the crucifixion of Christ derive their visual details mainly from the four Gospels.

Mary and John standing together to the left of the cross.

We now find a highly emotional Mary Magdalene embracing the foot of the cross.

INRI

The letters INRI are initials for the Latin title that Pontius Pilate had written over the head of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 19:19). Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire. The words were "Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm." Latin uses I instead of the English J, and V instead of U (i.e., Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum). The English translation is "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The Early Church adopted the first letters of each word of this inscription INRI as a symbol. Throughout the centuries INRI has appeared in many paintings of the crucifixion.