The narrative journey of Barabbas traverses significant geographical and spiritual landscapes, culminating in a poignant exploration of light and darkness through varied settings. His story is set against the backdrop of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Rome, each location offering a stage for his evolving character and fate. Through these locales, Barabbas's experiences mirror a journey from life to death, belief to doubt, and ultimately, from darkness to darkness.

Jerusalem: A City of Contrast

Jerusalem, during the time of Pontius Pilate, is pivotal as the city where Jesus of Nazareth is crucified, a fate intended for Barabbas. This ancient city is depicted through stark juxtapositions: light versus darkness, positive versus negative, and moral versus immoral. Jesus’s presence is illustrated in a radiant glow, while Barabbas is enveloped in shadow, symbolizing their divergent paths. The dichotomy extends to the city's topography—with the Mount of Olives and the Valley of Ge-hinnom representing spiritual highs and lows, respectively. The Gate of David contrasts sharply with the Dung Gate, just as the hill of Golgotha stands grimly against the serene Vale of Kedron. These settings parallel the lives of Jesus and Barabbas, with the former embodying divine purpose and the latter turmoil and transgression. Barabbas, estranged from his companions, ultimately leaves Jerusalem, the city of contrasts, seeking purpose elsewhere.

Cyprus: The Depths and a Fleeting Resurrection

Barabbas's journey continues on the island of Cyprus, where he is imprisoned with Sahak, a fellow believer, in the copper mines—a subterranean domain likened to the underworld where prisoners toil until death. This setting of perpetual darkness becomes a crucible for Barabbas, who, despite his skepticism, expresses a desire to embrace the faith of Christ. Miraculously, both he and Sahak are liberated, yet only to serve as farmworkers under the Roman governor of Cyprus. This release symbolizes a metaphorical resurrection from the depths of despair and death. However, the transient nature of this resurrection becomes evident as they face new challenges. Sahak’s unwavering faith leads to his crucifixion, a fate witnessed by Barabbas, whose own beliefs remain conflicted. When the Roman governor departs for Rome, Barabbas, once again rootless, accompanies him, marking an end to his uncertain sojourn in Cyprus.

Rome: The Final Days

In the storied city of Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire and a nascent center of Christianity, Barabbas’s narrative reaches its conclusion. Despite mingling with Christians in the catacombs, Barabbas grapples with his inability to truly believe, dwelling once more in the symbolic darkness of the underworld. A misunderstanding drives him to participate in setting fire to Rome—a misguided act of desperation that seals his fate. Arrested and sentenced to crucifixion, Barabbas faces the end of his journey, caught between the darkness he cannot escape and the Messiah he cannot embrace. As his life ebbs away on the cross, he murmurs a final, uncertain commendation of his spirit, leaving ambiguous whether he addresses the void or the divine.

The geographical journey from Jerusalem to Cyprus to Rome encapsulates Barabbas’s personal odyssey from dawn to dusk, life to death. Each location, with its own inherent symbolism, serves as a backdrop for his struggle with faith and meaning. While Jesus's story moves from crucifixion to resurrection within the light, Barabbas's path is a somber descent into darkness, marked by brief resurgences that ultimately lead back to the shadows. His tale, intertwined with the landscapes he traverses, remains a profound meditation on belief, redemption, and the human condition.