Literary record of silver statues of Christ and John the Baptist, flanking a golden Lamb, and of seven silver deer. Rome, Baptistery of the Lateran Basilica. 314-335
... In labio fontis baptisterii agnum aureum fundentem aquam, pens. lib. XXX; ad dexteram agni, Saluatorem ex argento purissimo, in pedibus V, pens. lib. CLXX; in leua agni, beatum Iohannem Baptistam ex argento, in pedibus V, tenentem titulum scriptum qui hoc habet : ECCE AGNVS DEI, ECCE QVI TOLLIT PECCATA MVNDI, pens. lib. CXXV; ceruos argenteos VII fundentes aquam, pens. sing. lib. LXXX ...
Mommsen, Th. (ed.), Gestorum Pontificum Romanorum Vol. I. Libri Pontificalis pars prior (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, inde ab anno Christi quingentesimo usque ad annum millesimum et quingentesimum), Berlin 1894, p. 55
Duchesne, Abbé L. (ed.), Le Liber Pontificalis. Texte, Introduction et Commentaire. Tome I, Paris 1981 (reprint), p. 174
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Text:
Liber Pontificalis XXXIIII. SILVESTER (314-335): 9. Huius temporibus fecit Constantinus Augustus basilicas istas quas et ornauit : Basilicam Constantinianam, ubi posuit ista dona : .... 13. Fontem sanctum, ubi baptizatus est Augustus Constantinus, ex lapide porfyretico et ex omni parte coopertum intrinsecus et foris et desuper et quantum aquam continet ex argento purissimo lib. ĪĪĪ VIII. ... In labio fontis baptisterii agnum aureum fundentem aquam, pens. lib. XXX; ad dexteram agni, Saluatorem ex argento purissimo, in pedibus V, pens. lib. CLXX; in leua agni, beatum Iohannem Baptistam ex argento, in pedibus V, tenentem titulum scriptum qui hoc habet : ECCE AGNVS DEI, ECCE QVI TOLLIT PECCATA MVNDI, pens. lib. CXXV; ceruos argenteos VII fundentes aquam, pens. sing. lib. LXX ; tymiamaterium ex auro purissimo cum gemmis prasinis XLVIIII, pens. lib. XV.
Trans:
Liber Pontificalis XXXIIII. SILVESTER (314-335): 9. In the time of this pontiff, the emperor Constantine had the following basilicas built which he also decorated: The Basilica Constantiniana where he placed the following gifts: ... 13. A holy font where the emperor Constantine was baptized, from porphyry, and covered in all parts, inside and outside and on top, and the entire basin, with purest silver weighing 3008 pounds. ... On the rim of the basin of the font he placed a golden Lamb spouting water, weighing 30 pounds; to the right of the Lamb our Saviour, made from purest silver, five feet high, weighing 170 pounds; to the left of the Lamb the blessed John the Baptist, made of silver, five feet high, holding an inscription which says: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world' (John I, 29), weighing 125 pound. And seven silver deer spouting water, each weighing 80 pounds; and an incense burner made of pure gold with 48 green jewels, weighing 15 pounds.
