The Pharisees Ask for Guards to Watch over the Sepulchre, Sealing of the Tomb

Pontius Pilatus, enthroned on the south-west corner of the capital, is identified by the painted inscription PILATV [...] above him. Before him appear three men, who are identified as Jews by their dress with hoods over their heads, wrinkled hose and shoes. The composition is similar to that of capital E06PP18. The three Pharisees petition the Governor to have Christ’s tomb sealed and an armed guard set over it.
The sarcophagus is represented on the west side of the capital. Coffin and lid are bound together with a strap. Behind it, in the middle, stands a tree with interlaced boughs, foliage and fruits. Four guards, dressed in coats of mail and armed with helmets, swords and shields, approach the sarcophagus from the south-east side. On the opposite side, one of the Pharisees bows over the tomb; two further soldiers appear behind him.
Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 27:62-66) describes how the high priests and Pharisees demand that the tomb be sealed, in their fear lest Christ’s disciples should steal the body and so, by theft and by fraud, fulfil the prophesied Resurrection of Christ. The sealing and guarding of the tomb are remembered in the liturgy of Holy Saturday: Santo sepulto domino, signatum est monumentum; ponentes milites qui custodirent eum.

high Matthew gospel shield tree PILATV Pilate Christ securing tomb guard Pharisees priest