Clement (88-97) or Melchias (311-314), and which was considered authentic until the fifteenth century. Many other legends, myths, and tales were also later developed about the lives of many of these popes. The Liber Pontificalis, which relates the history of the bishops of Rome since St. Peter, compiled in the 5th or 6th century, is also extremely inaccurate about the early papacy and took in many inauthentic documents in its content. Representation in art and iconography Since all early popes were considered saints by the Church, they are often depicted with their iconography, such as Saint Clement represented by having an anchor by his side, since according to legend, he was martyred by drowning with an anchor tied around his neck; or Saint Cornelius, represented by the horn (reference to the origin of his Latin name meaning "horn" or "horn"). It is common for these characters to be anachronistically depicted wearing papal robes, including the pallium, and often the papal tiara or mitre, ornaments that came into use long after early papacy. Popes of the period Although the characteristics of the early papacy developed over time, the period from 30 to 313 is a rough approximation used by scholars as a likely date to characterize this period. There were 32 popes at this time and most pontificates were short, since, due to occasional Roman persecutions, many popes were martyred shortly after being elected. See also History of the papacy Papal titles Notes References Popes Christianity History of Christianity