A melange of apostate Jews and déclassé Greeks create a God:

From Apollo to Jesus Christ!

During the 2nd and 3rd centuries Greek sage and Jewish scribe, pagan hierophant and Egyptian priest, all contributed to the fabulous 'Christian' legend. The common hope was for an afterlife, no longer just for the elite but for all and sundry. To Constantine the superstition was useful.

In the early 4th century, the worship of Jesus Christ became a State sponsored cult throughout the Roman Empire – and was particularly successful in Egypt.

Apollo – Fit

Handsome, young, healthy and naked

(Um, that won't do for a Christian empire... )

Jesus Christ – Super-synthesis

Messianic savior god, promising a personal salvation – the ultimate product of East Mediterranean syncretism.

Synthetic, composite character, combining characteristics of Serapis (king and judge), with Greek sage (wisdom, compassion), Antinous (perfect man, protecting sacrifice) and the Roman variant of the sun-god – Mithras.

The winning ingredient of the Christians was to bring this new god to life by setting him in a Jewish pageant, clobbered together from plagiarized episodes of Old Testament scripture (over 400 direct quotes) and well-worn pagan motifs.

The various 'biographies' (gospels) were never fully harmonized; it took over three centuries of violence to more or less agree the underpinning 'theology' but then – WHAT A SUCCESS STORY!

JC takes over from Apollo as the Sun God in his fiery chariot

3rd century, tomb mosaic, Rome

Apollo as Sun God - 2nd century AD

JC, with augur's wand and legislator's scroll, raises Lazarus

3rd century sarcophagus

JC takes over from Apollo as the "Good Shepherd"

4th century, catacombs, Rome

Good Shepherd Christ

4th century AD Rome

Good Shepherd Apollo

6th century BC Athens

JC dons his philosopher's toga

4th century, Rome

Socrates – 5th century BC Athens

JC takes over as teacher

4th century – Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus (Rome, 359 AD)

Greek philosopher as teacher – Socrates – 5th century BC Athens

Baptism of boyish 6th century Christ (Ivory, Egypt or Syria – British Museum).

Note: The River Jordan is personified (lower right).

4th century Antinous, with Cross in one hand – and the grapes of Dionysus in the other!

(Stele from Antinoopolis, Egypt. Staatliche Museen, Berlin)

JC takes inspiration from a human sacrifice (Antinous)

6th/7th century Coptic Christ, Egypt
– note the grapes of Dionysus!

Clothed – but is that a family resemblance to Antinous ?!

JC, as Good Shepherd, wields his cross as a shepherd's crook

5th century mosaic, tomb of Galla Placidia, Ravenna

JC, clean shaven young man, as Greek philosopher, moving in polite society, sporting Apollo's sun 'nimbus'

6th century mosaic

JC as soldier – this time carrying his cross like a lance, strutting about as a Roman conqueror

6th century mosaic, Archiepiscopal Chapel, Ravenna

JC changes philosopher's toga for monk's habit, grows a rabbi's beard, gets older.

6th century, Mt Sinai Monastery

JC, older and weary but not yet hung on a cross.

6th-7th century, Egypt (Coptic, Louvre)

In the West

JC, beardless but now with distorted proportions, gets nailed to his cross.

7th century, Athlone, Ireland

JC becomes a Frankish warrior, complete with Woden's headdress, weapons and long penis!

7th century, France

In the East

JC loses his humanity, becomes solemn, stylised icon.

7th-8th century, catacombs, Rome

JC, hung up to die (but keeps his clothes on)

9th century, Chludoff Psalter

JC, bearded yet still young, is the Christus Triumphans – on his cross but alive and without suffering.

10th century, Ireland (Monastery of Monasterboice)

JC – older, uglier – just like the Church

11th century, Sinai Monastery ("Pantocrator") Daphni, Greece

JC – mean, sinister – just like the Church

12th century, Russia (fresco)

JC naked and limp on his cross

15th century manuscript (Aberdeen)

Jesus becomes a Borgia!

1520 Altobello Melone paints Jesus on The Walk to Emmaus.

1520 Altobello Melone paints Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI and thoroughly nasty piece of work.

The familiar image of Jesus Christ – modelled on the notorious Renaissance prince, in turns archbishop, cardinal, warlord and murderer. Dead at 31. At one point Cesare hired the services of Leonardo da Vinci (see Shroud).

JC in agony –  Just like Christian Europe

16th woodcut (Durer)

JC emaciated, dead

16th century, Netherlands (David Gerard)

JC – On his knees, beaten, suffering – looks promising ...

17th century, Spain

That's better – a tortured man for a tortured society ...

Christianity triumphs