skip to content

Angel at the Tomb

An angelic figure at Christ's empty tomb announcing the Resurrection to the women, a major Easter image in Christian art.

Short Definition

An angel represented at Christ's tomb announcing the Resurrection.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Language Origin

Greek / Latin / English

Pronunciation

AYN-jəl at thə TOOM

The Angel at the Tomb appears in the Gospel Resurrection narratives, seated or standing at the empty sepulchre and announcing that Christ has risen. Medieval sculpture often places the angel opposite the holy women across the sarcophagus-like tomb.

Etymology

Tomb from Greek tymbos through Latin tumba; angel from Greek angelos.

Sculptor Notes

The empty tomb is a physical gap carrying theological meaning. The angel's pointing or speaking gesture should direct attention toward absence—the body that is no longer there—rather than simply toward another figure.

References

https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_one/section_two/chapter_one/article_1/paragraph_5_heaven_and_earth.html; Matthew 28:2-7; Mark 16:5-7