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