Before the cross became the symbol of Christ's redemption for mankind, it was the image of the good Shepherd. The image of a shepherd and his love and care for his sheep might have been lost in today's age but the central truths of this picture still apply to our generation. It's pointless to have a shepherd if there are no sheep. It's the faithful Christians who are the sheep of the Lord. The true Christians who seek a just leader who will lead, protect and nurture their souls. This is the Cristians" point of view for the statue.
I personally believe that the Roman leaders also used the "Good Shepherd" statue to represent the Roman Empire and its people, the "sheep". .
The Italians began and remained an agrarian oriented culture. Even in its latest stages, Roman culture would look back at their agriculture beginning to define the Romanian unique character. The Romans" agrarian values were the core set of values in their culture. Among these values are "pietas", or "respect for authority," virtus" , or "manliness", and "officium", or duty one owes to the state. As Rome expanded its boundaries the Romans used religion to find a common purpose that would justify the spread of Roman dominion across the world. This concept of the purpose was the Law of Nations, which derived from the values that the "logos" applied: .
The duty (officium) that one owes to the state is a religious act. Romans found themselves being the followers or else the "sheep" of the state. .
Loyalty to Rome and Caesar as was advised, was God's will. .
The Roman Cristians had to pay their taxes or whatever Caesar would ask of them. Their "duty" was to go to wars and die for the Roman state. The ones who believed in an afterlife would have no fear of death and would fight more bravely in war. The after-life belief also provided comfort to the families of the lost ones. .
"Pietas" or respect for authority is rewarded if not in this life, in the after-life which is paradise.
