Motyw drabiny Jakubowej (Rdz 28,10-22) w starożytnej symbolice zachodniego chrześcijaństwa

The episode of “Jacob’s ladder” in the book of Genesis inspired numeroussymbolic interpretations in ancient Christianity. Most often we find moralsymbolism, which basically proceeds in two directions. After Tertullian,“descending angels” symbolise sinners, and “ascending” ones symboliserighteous people. After Augustine, “descending” means those who careabout the needs of others, whilst “ascending” refers to those who direct theirhearts to God. For Jerome, ascending and descending angels symbolise notso much people as the mercy of God who descends to the sinner, whereas forAmbrose and Zeno of Verona the ladder depicts the Old and New Testamentand its rungs, namely the Christian virtues. An important literary motif inthe story of “Jacob’s ladder” is the stone under the Patriarch’s head, whichin the Christian tradition assumes a Christological meaning.