Early Christian Post

Wall with Torah niche, House Synagogue
Dura-Europos, Syria, 244- 45 CE

Circa 30 CE – Jesus Crucified
65 CE – Peter and Paul executed
312 – Constantine Converts after the Battle of the Mulvian Bridge
313 –Edict of Milan (a legal religion)
325 – Council of Nicea
381 – The co-emperors Gratian and Theodosius publish their edict that the doctrine of the Trinity is to be the official state religion.
410 – Rome is Sacked
430 - St. Augustine Dies
476 – Last Western Emperor – Romulus Augustus

The dove holding an olive branch symbolizes the soul that reached divine peace.
The lamb represents the role of sacrifice in the death of Christ

The fish. In Greek one says IXTHYS (ichtùs). Placed vertically, the letters of this word form an acrostic: IesùsChristòsTheòuUiòsSotèr = Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. Acrostic is Greek word which means the first letter of every line or paragraph. The fish is a widespread symbol of Christ, a motto and a compendium of the Christian faith.

Early Christian Art
Catacombs, Rome
Four million buried under Rome alone
Galleries are 1 meter wide and 2-3 meters high
Loculi, cubiculum
Burial underground cheaper than surface burials
Christian belief in burial because Christ was buried

The Representation of Christ

The Good Shepherd
Galla Placidia, Ravena
c. 425-26
Good Shepherd from Catacombs, c. late 3rd century

St. Peter – The First Pope

St. Paul -
The Convert who converted Gentiles

The Virgin Mary

Jesus Christ

The New Testament
4 Gospels – The Life and Works of Jesus
The Book of Acts – Histoy of the Early Christian Movement
21 Epistles (13 by Paul?) and including Revelations (by John?)

Early Christian Art in the Age of Constantine
Old Saint Peter’s, Rome
Placed over the site where Saint Peter may have been buried in a pagan cemetery
Roman basilica
Axial plan
Atrium, narthex, nave, transept, apse: each has a function
Longitudinal orientation with entrance at one end leading directly to the apse, unlike Basilica of Constantine
Roman arch over the altar
Wall space has arches, transept, clerestory
Timber Roof
Lavish mosaics decorated interior
Replaced in the 16th Century

Reputed Burial Place of St. Peter
Built on the orders of Constantine c. 326

Early Christian Art in the Age of Constantine
Santa Costanza, Rome
Centrally planned building with Tholos structure
Altar in center
Aisles surround the altar and are barrel vaulted
12 column pairs and 12 clerestory windows symbolize the apostles
Austere interior not original
Mosaic subjects stress salvation
Interlace patterns
Classical subjects incorporated into Christian context
Mosaics adorn ceiling, in Roman period they were used on floors

Santa Costanza, Rome
4rth Century CE
Temple of Portunus, 2nd Century BCE
The church of Santa Costanza in Rome was a mausoleum built for Constantine's daughter, Constantina (died 354):

Exterior of Galla Placidia Mausoleum (c. 425 – 426 Ravenna)
Built in Cruciform, or cross – shaped, with pendentive dome inside

The Good Shepherd
Galla Placidia, Ravena
c. 425-26
Contains shading to indicate depth & light source
Hint of landscape and rocks
Young adult with a halo
Imperial gold and purple
Long golden staff that ends wit a cross

Arch of Constantine, c. 315 CE

From Trajan
From Marcus Aurelius
From Hadrian

Arch of Constantine

Relief freize from Arch of Constantine

Sarcophagi of JuniusBassus, c. 359 CE

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Christ in the center seated as an emperor
Sits on a personification of the sky: Jupiter/Poseidon? with a veil over his head
Christ seated in a heavenly Jerusalem
Scenes not in narrative order
Classical elements in pediments, arches and columns
Figures much larger than animals they are next to
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus in the Vatican, Rome, 359 A.D.

Text: The Codex and the Manuscript

From the Vatican Virgil
4th or early 5th century

Early Greek Codex of the Bible, 4th Century

http://www.amityarthistory.blogspot.com	674
http://amityarthistory.blogspot.com	117

Early Christian Post

by bassmanb on Oct 18, 2009

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

2 Embeds 791

Statistics

Early Christian Post — Presentation Transcript