Religion Religion
One God was favored more opposed One God was favored more opposed to polytheistic beliefsto polytheistic beliefs
Defy 2Defy 2ndnd commandment of making commandment of making false images?false images?
Late Roman Empire styleLate Roman Empire style Diocletian ordered persecutions of Diocletian ordered persecutions of
ChristiansChristians Christians were often the most Christians were often the most
impoverished classes of societyimpoverished classes of society
245 -256 Dura – Europos, 245 -256 Dura – Europos, SyriaSyria
Interior of Dura Europas – Baptismal Rites and ceremonies were held here
Second hand houseSecond hand house Christian communities small at this timeChristian communities small at this time Diocletian persecuted Christians 303-305Diocletian persecuted Christians 303-305 Romans hated the Christians because of Romans hated the Christians because of
their alien beliefstheir alien beliefs Romans afraid of wakening imperial Romans afraid of wakening imperial
authorityauthority Constantine stopped persecutionsConstantine stopped persecutions
Catacombs/ funerary artCatacombs/ funerary art
Art found in catacombs Art found in catacombs Buried MartyrsBuried Martyrs Housed Jews and othersHoused Jews and others Tufa bedrock, like EtruscansTufa bedrock, like Etruscans
The Good Shepherd , the story The Good Shepherd , the story of Jonah and Orants of Jonah and Orants
Christ and his sheep/lunettes, man and womanChrist and his sheep/lunettes, man and woman Connections of sheep to Etruscans, calf bearer Connections of sheep to Etruscans, calf bearer
offered his sheep to Athenaoffered his sheep to Athena Lost sheep symbolizes those who have Lost sheep symbolizes those who have
“strayed” and been “rescued”“strayed” and been “rescued” Old Testament themeOld Testament theme Jonah was an early popular figure in Christian Jonah was an early popular figure in Christian
art, prophetic forerunner of Christ. Jonah rose art, prophetic forerunner of Christ. Jonah rose from death as Jonah had been delivered from from death as Jonah had been delivered from the belly of the Ketos, also three days.the belly of the Ketos, also three days.
SculptureSculpture
Christians reject cremationChristians reject cremation Impressive Sarcophagi importantImpressive Sarcophagi important Story on Sarcophagus Christian themesStory on Sarcophagus Christian themes Story of Jonah- portraits added later Story of Jonah- portraits added later
when the deceased diedwhen the deceased died Good Shepherd and as a child Good Shepherd and as a child
receiving baptism in the Jordan River receiving baptism in the Jordan River ( Christ was baptized at age 30)( Christ was baptized at age 30)
Sarcophagus with Philosopher Sarcophagus with Philosopher – old and new Testament – old and new Testament
Scenes 270 ceScenes 270 ceSanta Maria Antiqua Santa Maria Antiqua
Wealthy Christians continued to favor the sarcophagus for burial but Wealthy Christians continued to favor the sarcophagus for burial but had them carved with Christian themes and biblical subject matter. had them carved with Christian themes and biblical subject matter.
Free-standing Christian statues are rare at this time. Free-standing Christian statues are rare at this time. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus – Rome Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus – Rome
359CE359CE
Christ is central on the tombChrist is central on the tomb Saints Peter and Paul enter Jerusalem Saints Peter and Paul enter Jerusalem
on a donkeyon a donkey Carving very similar to Roman ArtCarving very similar to Roman Art Christ is like an enthroned Roman Christ is like an enthroned Roman
Emperor. Christ’s position is a symbol Emperor. Christ’s position is a symbol of the Christian god dominating the of the Christian god dominating the paganpagan
Ruler of the universeRuler of the universe Stories are not in orderStories are not in order
Marble Christian SculpturesMarble Christian Sculptures
Less than 3 feet tallLess than 3 feet tall The sculptures are like the bearded The sculptures are like the bearded
Roman philosophers of advanced ageRoman philosophers of advanced age Christ wears an tunic and a has a Christ wears an tunic and a has a
scroll in his hand scroll in his hand Real monumental sculpture was done Real monumental sculpture was done
during this timeduring this time
Christ Seated from Civita Latina Christ Seated from Civita Latina Italy 350-375ceItaly 350-375ce
-Idol of Christ-Very similar to a young Apollo sculpture-Greco- Roman
Constantine’s ThinkingConstantine’s Thinking
Constantine convinced himself that the Constantine convinced himself that the Christian god had guided him to achieve Christian god had guided him to achieve victory.victory.
11stst major patron of Christian architecture major patron of Christian architecture Created elaborate basilicas, memorials Created elaborate basilicas, memorials and mausoleums not only in Rome but in and mausoleums not only in Rome but in Constantinople or “New Rome”Constantinople or “New Rome”
Bethlehem, and Jerusalem both important Bethlehem, and Jerusalem both important citiescities
Two Types of Architecture Two Types of Architecture Prevailed Prevailed
Both inspired by Roman Both inspired by Roman archcitecturearchcitecture
-Centrally planned and axially -Centrally planned and axially planned buildingsplanned buildings
Wooden roofsWooden roofs
Constantine and Old St. Constantine and Old St. Peters 320 ADPeters 320 AD
Dual Role as Emperor of Rome and Dual Role as Emperor of Rome and champion of Christian Faith champion of Christian Faith
-Begun in 320ad- Catacombs exist underneath the church-3000-4000 worshippers could fit in the church-Like Trajan’s Forum-Places of worship can not mimic pagan shrines-columns are spoils from Roman buildings-Bare exterior and Rich interior--Jewish Tradition – men and women stood separately – Men stood in the main aisle, the women in the side aisles with partial view
Reproduction Drawing of Reproduction Drawing of Old St. PetersOld St. Peters
Old St Peters Rome – 320 ceOld St Peters Rome – 320 ce
Old St. PetersOld St. Peters--Resembles Trajan’s Forum, do not mimic pagan Resembles Trajan’s Forum, do not mimic pagan
shrines /shrines /Triumphal arch dividing the nave from transeptTriumphal arch dividing the nave from transept
Santa Costanza, Rome 337 Santa Costanza, Rome 337 – 351AD– 351AD
Centrally Planned building, used as a Centrally Planned building, used as a mausoleummausoleum
This building may have been used for This building may have been used for Costantina, Emperor Constantine’s Costantina, Emperor Constantine’s Daughter.Daughter.
Mosaics inside, putti harvesting Mosaics inside, putti harvesting grapes and producing wine. Christian grapes and producing wine. Christian message of turning wine into the message of turning wine into the blood of Christ blood of Christ
Mosaics are located in the Mosaics are located in the interior of Santa Costanzainterior of Santa Costanza
Christ as Sol Invictus or the Christ as Sol Invictus or the Invincible sunInvincible sun
Abraham and Lot – 432CEAbraham and Lot – 432CE
The mosaic is about The mosaic is about Abraham parting with lotAbraham parting with lot
Lot leads his city to Lot leads his city to Sodom, represents evilSodom, represents evil
Abraham leads his Abraham leads his people/family to the city people/family to the city of Sodom ( or the of Sodom ( or the church) Issac stands near church) Issac stands near AbrahamAbraham
HeadclusterHeadcluster Wide eyesWide eyes Shadow castingShadow casting
RavennaRavenna Constantinople, the New Rome in the East were had been Constantinople, the New Rome in the East were had been
settled since 324settled since 324 Constantine dies in 337Constantine dies in 337 Theodosius I secures Christianity as the state religion.Theodosius I secures Christianity as the state religion. Theodosius dies in 395, his two sons take over and split up Theodosius dies in 395, his two sons take over and split up
west and east rulewest and east rule Northwest is threatened by Visigoths, empires start to Northwest is threatened by Visigoths, empires start to
crumble between the brotherscrumble between the brothers Their half sister takes over and marries a Visigoth Chieftain, Their half sister takes over and marries a Visigoth Chieftain,
she moves to Ravenna after he dies.Theodoric King of the she moves to Ravenna after he dies.Theodoric King of the Ostrogoths, establishes Ravenna. The city that belongs with Ostrogoths, establishes Ravenna. The city that belongs with the Byzantine Empirethe Byzantine Empire
Mausoleum of Galla PlacidaMausoleum of Galla Placida
-Built before her death in 450-Historians are unsure of if it is Galla’s Tomb-Chapel to St. Lawrence?-Fusion of central plan and axial plan-Exterior is plain( gross) facade-Minimal windows-Iconographic program stresses a Christian’s path to redemption
Christ as the Good Shepherd,Christ as the Good Shepherd,Entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla
Placidia 425cePlacidia 425ce Regal version of Regal version of
ChristChrist Christ as imperial, Christ as imperial,
golden halo, purple golden halo, purple and gold robes, and gold robes, imperial staffimperial staff
Golden cross shows Golden cross shows Christ’s victory over Christ’s victory over deathdeath
ShadowsShadows Pagan Pagan
interpretationinterpretation Greco – Roman Greco – Roman
Interior– San’t Apollinare – Ravenna Italy, 504Interior– San’t Apollinare – Ravenna Italy, 504
Theodoric ordered San’t Theodoric ordered San’t Apollinare building projectApollinare building project
Rich Mosaic decorationsRich Mosaic decorations Old Testament stories Old Testament stories
between clerestory between clerestory windowswindows
Miracle of the loaves and fishes,( above clerestory Miracle of the loaves and fishes,( above clerestory windows) 504 windows) 504
Very simple, to Very simple, to create meaningcreate meaning
Gold screen, Gold screen, Small amounts of Small amounts of
Roman Illusionism Roman Illusionism still presentstill present
Disciples hand out Disciples hand out fish and bread fish and bread
Surprise Essay - #1Surprise Essay - #1
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