Saints Peter and Paul: some ironic aspects of their imaging

The union of Saints Peter and Paul in much early Christian art is both paradoxical and ironic since the two were adversaries in life. The prominence of images of Christ flanked by the two Apostles in much official Roman art until the mid-fourth century symbolizes Church unity. Paul's dominant position at Christ's right hand in monumental Christian art from the mid-fourth century through the late Middle Ages despite the early Catholic church's assumption of the doctrine of Petrine primacy symbolizes the triumph of the Christian church over the synagogue.