Mitraism

• Mitras is slaying the sacred bull who represents spring, releasing life-giving forces to the snake (earth), scorpion (autumn) is sapping the bull’s strength.

• Sun god (Helios) vs. moon godess (Luna).

• Religious emphasis: struggle of good vs. evil. Triumph of life over death.

Early Christian Art

Conversion of Constantine the Great in 312 CE

IN HOC SIGNO VINCESIn this sign, conquer.

ma

• Marks the beginning of the Middle Ages.

• The Renaissance in the 1400s marks the end of the Middle Ages.

• Milivan Bridge victory

Young Constantine

• With the Edict of Milan, he declared religious tolerance in 313 BC

• 325 BC Christianity became the official religion of the empire.

• By 380 Theodosius I declared it to be the sole religion and …

• The western empire became the seat of Roman Catholicism

• The eastern empire became the seat of Eastern Orthodox

West (Rome) and East

What is Christianity?

• It is based on the life and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth

• The Roman authorities saw him as subversive, had him arrested, tried and crucified (executed) on a cross.

Catacomb of Santissimi Pietro e Marcellino

Prefiguration

• Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the whale and was released unharmed.

• Christ spend 3 days in the tomb before his resurrection.

Catacomb is an underground burial place

• Good Shepherd• Orant• Jonah

Basilica plan

• First, the basilica was a civic space for the senate to meet. Then, the plan design “stuck” and became the plan for all of the churches after Christianity was legalized.

Old St. Peter’s basilica in Rome

• Nave: central aisle.

• Trussed wooden roof.

• Built over St. Peter’s grave.

Sta. Costanza, Rome 350 CE

Mausoleum of Constania, Constantine’s daughter

Central plan

Ring-shaped “aisle”, domed cylindrical core, large niches, built over a catacomb.

Mosaic in apse

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, 425-450 CE

Interior, Galla Placidia, Ravenna

Orthodox baptistery, Ravenna

Orthodox Baptistery, Ravenna400-458 CE

Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome432-440 CE

Triumphal Arch Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

The Parting of Lot and Abraham, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, 359 CE, marble (3’10” x 8’)

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

• Interior of Hagia Sophia

• Dome on pendentive

• Anthenius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

• Christ the Pantocrator

• Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt

• Encaustic on panel

Jacob Wrestling with and AngelVienna Genesis, early 6th c. CE

Virgin and Child Enthroned between Saints and Angels

• Encaustic• Late 6th c. CE• Monastery of St.

Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt

Joshua and the Emissaries from Gibeon, Joshua Roll, 950 CE, tempera on vellum, (12”)

The Crucifixion and he Iconoclasts

• Khludov (Chludov) Psalter, 843 CE

• Tempera on vellum

• 7 ¾” x 6”

David Composing the

Psalms

• Melody• Mountains

of Bethlehem

• Echo

Harbaville Triptych