1. 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.

2. Early Christian Art

3. Conversion of Constantine the Great in 312 CE

4. IN HOC SIGNO VINCES In this sign, conquer.

5. ma Marks the beginning of the Middle Ages.
The Renaissance in the 1400s marks the end of the Middle Ages.

6. Milivan Bridge victory

7. 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 …

8. The western empire became the seat of Roman Catholicism
The eastern empire became the seat of Eastern Orthodox

9. West (Rome) and East

10. 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.

11. Catacomb of Santissimi Pietro e Marcellino

12. 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.

13. Catacomb is an underground burial place
Good Shepherd
Orant
Jonah

14. 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.

15. Old St. Peter’s basilica in Rome
Nave: central aisle.
Trussed wooden roof.
Built over St. Peter’s grave.

16. Sta. Costanza, Rome 350 CE

17. Mausoleum of Constania, Constantine’s daughter

18. Central plan

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

20. Mosaic in apse

21. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, 425-450 CE

22. Interior, Galla Placidia, Ravenna

23. Orthodox baptistery, Ravenna

25. Orthodox Baptistery, Ravenna 400-458 CE

26. Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome 432-440 CE

27. Triumphal Arch Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

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

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

31. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

32. Interior of Hagia Sophia
Dome on pendentive
Anthenius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus

33. Hagia Sophia

34. Hagia Sophia

35. Hagia Sophia

36. Christ the Pantocrator
Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt
Encaustic on panel

38. Jacob Wrestling with and Angel Vienna Genesis, early 6th c. CE

40. Virgin and Child Enthroned between Saints and Angels
Encaustic
Late 6th c. CE
Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt

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

42. The Crucifixion and he Iconoclasts
Khludov (Chludov) Psalter, 843 CE
Tempera on vellum
7 ¾” x 6”

43. David Composing the Psalms
Melody
Mountains of Bethlehem
Echo

44. Harbaville Triptych