Unit 04
The Early Years Of Jesus
Chapter 05
The Great Escape And Return
04.05.00A. JOSEPH, MARY, AND JESUS RETURN FROM EGYPT. Artwork by William Hole of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art, 1876. While the artist’s rendering shows the Holy Family walking alone, this was certainly not the case. People normally traveled in regularly scheduled caravans whenever possible for protection since traveling alone was always an invitation to be robbed and possibly killed. Often artists illustrate the woman riding on a donkey. This would have been the case only in the event of her pregnancy, sickness, or injury. This artistic depiction is historically accurate in that Mary would have walked and carried a small child on her hip or shoulder.