Alexamenos graffito

[5] The image depicts a human-like figure affixed to a cross and possessing the head of a donkey or mule.

[1] To the left of the image is a young man – apparently intended to represent Alexamenos[6] – as a Roman soldier or guard, raising one hand in a gesture possibly suggesting worship.

ϹΕΒΕΤΕ can be understood as a variant spelling (possibly a phonetic misspelling)[2] of Standard Greek ϹΕΒΕΤΑΙ, which means "worships".

Later, the street along which the house sat was walled off to give support to extensions to the buildings above, and it thus remained sealed for centuries.

[22] Origen reports in his treatise Contra Celsum that the pagan philosopher Celsus made the same claim against Christians and Jews.

[23] Tertullian, writing during the late 2nd or early 3rd century, reports that Christians, along with Jews, were accused of worshipping such a deity.

[27] 19th century scholar Charles William King says it is disputed whether it is a caricature of a Christian convert or an adoration of the jackal-headed god Anubis.