Simon of Cyrene Carried Jesus's Cross

Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry Jesus's cross to Golgotha (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26), was from Cyrene, an ancient Greek colony in modern-day Libya, North Africa. Cyrene had a significant Jewish community, and Simon was likely a Black African Jew. His sons, Alexander and Rufus, became known in the early Christian church (Mark 15:21, Romans 16:13). Despite his crucial role in the Passion narrative, Simon is rarely depicted as African in Western religious art.