The Symbolism of Water in Early Christian Baptisteries Olof Brandt The symbolism of water in the Early Christian baptisteries was not ex- pressed in the architecture of the building but rather in its decoration. This article illustrates the references to water in the sculptures and inscriptions of the fourth and fifth-century phases of the Lateran baptistery in Rome. This decoration shows that the water was a symbol o f both li fe and death: the death of the sinner and the life of God, to which baptism gave access. Olof 8randt, lstituto Svedese di Studi Classici, Via Omero 14, 1-00197 Rama, ltaly Key words: Architecture, baptism, baptisteries, deer, lamb, sculptures, symbolism, water. An interesting example of the deep symbolic meaning which can be ascribed to water is the Early Christian baptistery, built as an architectural setting for Christian initiation through the ritual bath of baptism. The preserved Early Christian baptist- eries, about 500 in all, were mainly built in the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries in Italy, Greece, Croatia, North Syria, Palestine and Tunisia. These buildings consist of a simple or a monumental room or hall with a basin, the font, where the initiation of new believers took place through the ritual bath of baptism in solemn cerem- onies during the Vigils of Easter and Pentecost (for Early Christian baptism, see: Saxer 1988). Baptism was normally the prerogative of the bishop, which is why most baptisteries are found close to churches identified as cathedrals or bishop churches. The symbolic value of the water of baptism was deeply felt already in the earliest Christian generations (see Saxer 1988 and Finn 1992): the Didaché of the late first century AD states that it is preferable to baptize in "living water", that is, in running water (Didaché 7. 1-3. In: SC 248. On the Didaché, see: Saxer 1998). The expression "living water", discussed long ago in a famous article by Theodor Klauser (K. lauser 1939), shows that the water itself was seen as an important symbol of the life of God to which the Christian initation gave access, and which is a reminder of the promise of Jesus that whoever believes in Him will have within him a source of "living water" (John 4:14; 7:38). The "source of living water" was denoted as God himself already in the seventh century BC by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 2:13). Still in the fifth century AD, God the Father was Cttrrent Svvedish Atchaeology, Vol. II, 2003