Being an historical city Rome is really full of symbols, which come from different periods and cultures. It is cool to get in touch with them, observing how many symbols could be found in a gorgeous museum like the Vatican Museums. In this case you can observe, on this picture, a very common symbol that could be found not only at the Vatican Museums, but even in the catacombs or carved in thousand of objects. What is it?

In Rome you will discover this symbol everywhere, mainly inside churches or basilicas, painted on the walls of the catacombs or carved in some marble coffins. I'm talking about the so called monogram of Christ, something that indicates the first two initials of the word Christ in the ancient greek alphabet. Here we see a big X (the greek letter "chi" that is read kh) and a big P (the greek letter "rho" that is read r). They are demostrating the first two initials of  the word Khristos, which means anointed in the ancient greek language. Moreover try to see how the "chi" thanks to its specific shape, really seems a cross. So mainly this letter was also used to underline Christ and His passion, when He died being crucified. It is the reason why the Christians used the Monogram of Christ in order to be recognized by the other believers, in a period where, sometimes, due to the persecutions they could not reveal their real faith. But it is not the end!

Sometimes close to the monogram of Christ, like this one marble made at the Vatican Museums, it is possibile to see other two symbols. On the left, for example, you see an A. It is Alfa, the first letter of the greek alphabet. While on the right there is a big W, which is Omega, the last letter of it. Why? To understand the significance of this symbolism we have to read the Apocalypse, the famous book wrote, according to the traditions, by St John after his visions. Keep in mind how the Apocalypse, with its aggressive and extrame stories of demons and blood, didn't described something bad. The vision is simply a message of peace and redemption, because it is focused on the end ot the days, when Jesus will come back to judge us. And exactly one sentence of the Apocalypse says: "I'm the Alfa and the Omega, the beginning and the end". It is impressive how the Monogram of Christ could be really found everywhere, carved in objects or architectonical elements. Already with Costantine, the famous roman emperor who helped a lot the Christianity, commissioning specific christian buildings like basilicas or the wonderful Baptistery of St John in Lateran, the cross and other christian symbols spread out. What is important to understand is the real meaning of the monogram of Christ. So, now, when you will find it somewhere, visiting the museums of Rome, you will know something more about it.