The Magdeburg Ivories Early Medieval Art Slide and Questions

Otto I Presenting Magdeburg Cathedral to Christ How does this image authorize Otto I’s power? Magdeburg Ivories 962-968 For the decoration of the Magdeburg Cathedral, Otto the Great had a group of ivory plaques made in Milan. They were all once part of the same object - either an antependium, a bishop's throne, or a pulpit - that Otto donated for the newly built cathedral. It is likely that the occasion of the donation was the raising of Magdeburg to an archbishopric in 968. They are wonderful to look at, because they are intended to instruct, report, and remind the viewer of key events or lessons from the New Testament. These ivories are also used by Otto the Great as a way to authorize his power as Christ’s secular representative.

Peter Find the Tribute Money in a Fish Why would Otto I decide to include this scene in the series of plaque he commissioned for the Magdeburg Cathedral? Peter Find the Tribute Money in a Fish Magdeburg Ivories 962-968 Matthew 17:24-27 The Temple Tax 24After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25“Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” 26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Raising of Lazarus from Magdeburg Ivories What aspect of Christ’s power does this image emphasize? Raising of Lazarus from Magdeburg Ivories 962-968 For the decoration of the Magdeburg Cathedral, Otto the Great had a group of ivory plaques made in Milan. They were all once part of the same object - either an antependium, a bishop's throne, or a pulpit - that Otto donated for the newly built cathedral. It is likely that the occasion of the donation was the raising of Magdeburg to an archbishopric in 968. They are wonderful to look at, because they are intended to instruct, report, and remind the viewer of key events or lessons from the New Testament. These ivories are also used by Otto the Great as a way to authorize his power as Christ’s secular representative.

Healing of the Man Possessed by Demons Can you explain how this plaque demonstrates the medieval use of hierarchical proportion? hierarchical proportion: the relative size of an object/person indicates its importance Magdeburg Ivories 962-968 For the decoration of the Magdeburg Cathedral, Otto the Great had a group of ivory plaques made in Milan. They were all once part of the same object - either an antependium, a bishop's throne, or a pulpit - that Otto donated for the newly built cathedral. It is likely that the occasion of the donation was the raising of Magdeburg to an archbishopric in 968. They are wonderful to look at, because they are intended to instruct, report, and remind the viewer of key events or lessons from the New Testament. These ivories are also used by Otto the Great as a way to authorize his power as Christ’s secular representative.

Who are the four evangelists? Matthew – symbol: winged man or angel Mark– symbol: winged lion Luke– symbol: winged ox or bull John– symbol: eagle According to tradition these four men recorded the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament.