The Art of Late AntiquityReading:Stokstad, 217-233

Range:c. 200 CE-476 CELate Antique

Key Terms/Concepts:syncretism, catacomb, narrative image, iconic image, orant, torah niche, baptistery, chi-rho, basilica, centrally planned, spolia, Christianity, Judaism, Mithraism, proselytizing,

Key Monuments: Jewish Catacomb, Villa Torlonia,

Rome, 3rd century CE Good Shepherd, Orants, and

the Story of Jonah, Catacomb of SS. Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Late 3rd-Early 4th century

The Parting of the Red Sea, Torah Niche, House Synagogue, Dura Europos, 244-45 CE.

Parting of Abraham and Lot, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, c. 422-432 CE.

Rome

100 CE of 60 million people fewer than 10,000 were Christians.

200 CE of 60 million people about 200,000 were Christians.

312 CE of 60 million people no more than 5.5 million people were Christians.

Menorah

Trumpets

Spoils Relief, Arch of Titus, Rome, 81 CE

Menorah MenorahArk of the Covenant

Jewish Catacomb, Villa Torlonia, Rome, 3rd century CE

Jona

h

Jonah

Jonah

PeterMarcelinus

Good Shepherd, Orants, and the Story of Jonah, Catacomb of SS. Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Late 3rd-Early 4th century

Narrative Image

Figures from the Story of Jonah, Turkey (?), Late Third Century CE

Jonah given to the whale Jonah being cast up Jonah resting under the arbor

Sarcophagus with Endymion, early 3rd Century CE

Sarcophagus with Jonah, c. 270 BCE

Syncretism is the conscious or unconscious adaptation of images from one tradition to another, giving the image a new meaning.

Good Shepherd

PeterMarcelinus

Good Shepherd, Orants, and the Story of Jonah, Catacomb of SS. Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Late 3rd-Early 4th century

Iconic Image“The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort […] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me […] thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

The Good Shepherd, Turkey (?), Late Third Century CE

Hermes Kriophoros, Crete, 620 BCE

Syncretism is the conscious or unconscious adaptation of images from one tradition to another, giving the image a new meaning.

Orant Orant

Orant

PeterMarcelinus

Good Shepherd, Orants, and the Story of Jonah, Catacomb of SS. Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Late 3rd-Early 4th century

Iconic Image

Orant Figure (Jonah), Turkey (?), Late Third Century CE.

Man with raised arms, Arlon, Belgium, c. 3rd century CE

Orant Figures

Dura Europos, Syria

Dura Europos, Syria, Aerial View.

House Church

House Synagogue

Mithraeum

Dura Europos

Built c. 300 BCE Inhabited until 256 CE.

House Church

House Synagogue

Mithraeum

Dura Europos

Built c. 300 BCE. Inhabited until 256 CE.

House Synagogue (Exterior), Dura Europos, Syria, 244-245.

House Synagogue (Plan), Dura Europos, Syria, 244-245.

Assembly Room

Torah Niche, House Synagogue, Dura Europos,244-45.

Torah Niche

Torah Reading, Congregation Beth Israel.

Torah Niche, Dura Europos, c. 244-245 CE

Torah Niche, House Synagogue, Dura Europos,244-45.

Torah Niche Adoption of Moses

Samuel anointing

David

Aaron at his Temple

Elijah reviving a Child

Temple of Dagon

Mordechai being led to Achashverosh

The Miraculous

WellClosed Temple

Prophets

The Parting of the Red Sea, Torah Niche, House Synagogue, Dura Europos, 244-45 CE

Moses

Moses

Egyptian Soldiers

Hands of God

Egyptian Soldiers

*Continuous Narrative

House Church

House Synagogue

Mithraeum

Dura Europos

Built c. 300 BCE. Inhabited until 256 CE.

Christian House Church, Dura Europos, Syria, c. 244-245 CE

Mee

ting

Hall

Cour

tyar

d

Bapti

ster

y

Baptistery, House Church, Dura Europos, 244-245 CE

Reconstruction of the Baptistery, House Church, Dura Europos, 244-245 CE

Good Shepherd Leading His Flock, Baptistery, House Church, Dura Europos, 244-245 CE

Christ Healing the Paralyzed, Baptistery, House Church, Dura Europos, 244-245 CE

Reconstruction Drawing

House Church

House Synagogue

Mithraeum

Dura Europos

Built c. 300 BCE. Inhabited until 256 CE.

Reconstruction of the Mithraeum, Dura Europos, 168-210 CE

Shrine to Mithras, Mithraeum, Dura Europos, 168-210 CE

Reconstruction of the Shrine, Mithraeum, Dura Europos, 168-210 CE

Slaying the Mithran Bull, Mithraeum, Dura Europos, 210 CE

Constantine and Christianity

“Under this sign, conquer.”

*Constantine legalizes Christianity by signing the Edict of Milan in 313 CE

Constantine and Christianity

*This is seen as a land conflict but also a defense of the Christians by Constantine.

Licinius also stopped honoring the Edict of Milan, persecuting Christians in his lands.

Constantine and Christianity

*Throughout his reign Constantine financially supported both pagan and Christian building projects.

Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed in 337.

Basilicas

Basilica of Trajan, Rome, 112 Aula Palatina, Trier, 300-325

Aula Palatina, Trier, 4th century CE

Basilica Ulpia, Forum of Trajan, Rome, 112-117, dedicated 117 CE.

Centrally Planned Churches

Church of Santa Costanza Plan, Rome, c. 350 CE

Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome, c. 14 CE

Church of Santa Costanza, Rome, c. 350 CE

Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome, c. 14 CE

Church of Santa Costanza Plan, Rome, c. 350 CE

Wine Making, Church of Santa Costanza, Rome, c. 350 CE

Dionysus Seated Among Vines, House of the Masks, Delos Late 2nd Century BCE

John 15:1-17 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser…”

Christianity under Theodosius

395 CETheodosius divides the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western regions.

*Theodosius I asserted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 and ordered the dismantlement of all pagan temples and monuments in 391. Theodosius I (379-395)

Christianity after Theodosius

395 CETheodosius divides the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western regions.

*The successors of Theodosius I continued to strengthen Christianity as a powerful force in both the East and the West.

Honorius I (395-423)

Byzantine Empire

Church of Santa Sabina, Rome, c. 422-432.

Church of Santa Sabina, Rome, c. 422-432.

Spolia

Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, c. 432-440.

Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, c. 432-440.

Parting of Abraham and Lot, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, c. 422-432.

The Sack of Jericho, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, c. 422-432.

The Virgin Crowned as Queen of Heaven, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, Apsidal Mosaic redone in 1294 by Jacopo Torriti.

The Fall of the Western Empire

395 CETheodosius divides the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western regions.

*By 476, all of Italy was under the control of the Ostrogoths.

Byzantine Empire

410

418

402

476

The Conquest of the West

Byzantine Empire

“An able Goth wants to be like a Roman; only a poor Roman would want to be like a Goth.” –Theodoric, King of the Visigoths

Critical Thinking Questions

1. What role did Constantine and Theodosius play in the art and religion of the late Roman Empire?

2. What is syncretism? How is it used in early Christian and Jewish art?

3. What is spolia? How does it manifest in Late Antiquity?

4. How does the basilica change in Late Antiquity?