What you might not know about the Last Supper -

The Last Supper is detailed in the Bible as the last meal Jesus and his apostles shared. It has been depicted by numerous artists, with the most famous example being the painting by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci.

But how much do we know about the Last Supper, really? What was it, how was it, and what can we learn from the accounts in the Bible? Click on to find out.

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It was likely a Passover Seder -

The Last Supper was likely a Seder. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a seder is "a religious meal served in Jewish homes on the 15th and 16th of the month of Nisan to commence the festival of Passover (Pesaḥ)." Nisan usually falls in March–April.

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It was likely a Passover Seder -

Jesus and his followers came to Jerusalem to celebrate the date, a likely conclusion given that on modern calendars Passover, Good Friday, and Easter fall within a few days of each other.

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It was likely a Passover Seder -

Unlike the feast we have today, the celebration was a much less complex affair, essentially involving eating a meal that included a sacrificed lamb.

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There might not have been a table -

The Last Supper is usually depicted with Jesus and his disciples sitting around a large table. Though it is likely that there wasn’t even a table in the first place.

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There might not have been a table -

It’s more likely that Jesus and his disciples would have been seated on the floor. Cushions or a carpet would have been used instead of benches or chairs.

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There might not have been a table -

This is how people traditionally ate in the area, as well as throughout much of the Roman Empire. At most a low table would have been used, but certainly not a large piece of furniture with a tablecloth as it’s usually depicted in paintings.

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Da Vinci’s painting is not really a true fresco -

It turns out that for a painting to be considered a buon fresco (a "true fresco"), the paints must be applied to wet plaster. This was not the case with da Vinci’s famous image.

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Da Vinci’s painting is not really a true fresco -

Instead, the Renaissance master opted for a different technique, called secco fresco. This process involves painting with tempera paints onto dry plaster.

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Da Vinci’s painting is not really a true fresco -

Why did da Vinci use this method? Probably because it was more flexible and he could take his time to finish the painting, not having to worry about the drying plaster.

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Da Vinci’s painting is not really a true fresco -

This gave da Vinci enough time to meticulously apply a number of techniques, which made the painting a masterpiece. These included methods such as chiaroscuro and sfumato to enhance the color and contrast.

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Mary Magdalene wasn't present…or was she? -

Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' depicts Jesus and his 12 apostles, but there is one in particular that has been subject to much speculation.

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Mary Magdalene wasn't present…or was she? -

Some people believe that the apostle sitting at the right hand of Jesus is not Apostle John, but a woman. And that woman is suggested to be Mary Magdalene.

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Mary Magdalene wasn't present…or was she? -

The fact that the apostle was depicted without a beard and with feminine facial features has led to speculation. There is, however, no evidence otherwise to support this claim.

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The painting you see today is not (all) by da Vinci -

The famous da Vinci mural can be found on the refectory wall of the former convent of Santa Maria della Grazie. Except this is not the original work in its original state.

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The painting you see today is not (all) by da Vinci -

The painting was completed in 1498, but in less than two decades it started to flake away. This has led to many restoration efforts over the years.

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The painting you see today is not (all) by da Vinci -

Currently, the original strokes of Leonardo da Vinci’s brush lay underneath layers of paint applied by other people.

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Where is the Last Supper first mentioned in the Bible? -

Given that the Gospels are the first books of the New Testament, one would assume the Last Supper was first mentioned in one of them. But this is actually not the case. The first mention of the Last Supper can be found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

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Where is the Last Supper first mentioned in the Bible? -

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 reads: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

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Where is the Last Supper first mentioned in the Bible? -

Curiously, the first Gospel (Mark’s) was written around 70 CE, but the first letter to the Corinthians was written about 20 years earlier, around 53 or 54 CE.

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The Gospels and the Last Supper -

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, known as the Synoptic Gospels (for having identical stories, sequences, and language), have a similar account of the Last Supper. Though things are a bit different when it comes to the Gospel of John.

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The Gospels and the Last Supper -

So, what’s different about the Last Supper in the Gospel of John? The date. John says that the Last Supper took place before the start of Passover (which goes against the seder theory previously pointed out).

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The Gospels and the Last Supper -

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, however, place the Last Supper during Passover.

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The Last Supper wasn’t quite a sacred assembly -

The Last Supper was not quite a reverent occasion. Instead, it was quite a relaxed affair. At one point the apostles even discussed who was the greatest! The Gospel of Luke reveals a bit of how the conversation between them went.

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The Last Supper wasn’t quite a sacred assembly -

Luke 22:24-27 reads: “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.'"

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The Last Supper wasn’t quite a sacred assembly -

Then Jesus went out into a garden, and despite having asked his disciples to stay vigilant, when he returned he found them napping. “When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow,” (Luke 22:45).

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Eucharist -

Jesus introduced the practice that became known as Eucharist or Holy Communion, and according to 1 Corinthians 11:24 said “do this in remembrance of me”. The bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of Christ.

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Eucharist -

Though it has been argued that Jesus’ goal was to introduce this ritual as a way to present oneself to God, and not necessarily as a way to remember him specifically.

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Da Vinci’s is not the only depiction of the Last Supper -

The iconic image painted in the late 1490s might be the most popular depiction of the Last Supper ever, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Indeed, there have been many depictions of the Last Supper over the years.

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Da Vinci’s is not the only depiction of the Last Supper -

Italian painter Giotto, for instance, painted the iconic scene nearly 200 years before da Vinci did, in 1304 or 1305.

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Da Vinci’s is not the only depiction of the Last Supper -

Fast forward 650 years later, and Salvador Dalí brought us his famous painting 'The Sacrament of the Last Supper.'

Sources: (Grunge)

See also: What we know about the Holy Grail

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