Chapter 8: Late Antique

Question 1

Polytheism

Answer 1

belief in multiple gods

Question 2

Monotheism

Answer 2

worship of a single all-powerful god

Question 3

Synagogue

Answer 3

Jewish house of worship

Question 4

Torah

Answer 4

the scroll containing the Pentateuch (first five books of the Hebrew Bible)

Question 5

Baptistery

Answer 5

Place for baptism, initiating newborns and converts into the Christian religion

Question 6

Edict of Milan

Answer 6

Established Christianity as a legal religion with equal or superior standing to the traditional Roman cults

Question 7

Samuel anoints David, painting on main interior wall of the synagogue, Dura-Europos

Answer 7

Figures from the book of Samuel lack volume, stand in frontal rows, and exhibit stylized gestures that are characteristic of Late Antique art.

Question 8

Dura-Europos

Answer 8

Features a central courtyard, a meeting hall, and a baptistery. Contains earliest preserved Jewish and Christian artworks.

Question 9

Dura-Europos baptistery

Answer 9

Jesus as the good Shepard and New Testament miracles and parables.

Question 10

Via Latina Catacomb

Answer 10

Combines mythological and old and New Testament themes. Cubiculum N depicts celebrates the hero Hercules. Hercules is an ancient counterpart to Christ due to his title as conqueror of death and savior of mankind.

Question 11

Old Testament themes

Answer 11

Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, Jonah and the sea monster (Christ’s resurrection), Adam and Eve (Adam as Christ and Eve as his mother), sacrifice of Isaac (prefiguration of sacrifice of Jesus).

Question 12

confraternity

Answer 12

Families pooled funds in a burial association.

Question 13

Loculi

Answer 13

Stacked openings like shelves, to receive the bodies of the dead.

Question 14

Cubicula

Answer 14

Small rooms carved out of the rock serving as mortuary chapels.

Question 15

Martyrs

Answer 15

Men and women who chose to die rather than deny their religious beliefs.

Question 16

The Good Shepard, the story of Jonah, orants, and Seasons frescoed ceiling of a cubiculum in the Catacomb of Saint Peters and Marcellinus

Answer 16

Mixed old and New Testament themes. Jonah was a popular Old Testament theme because he emerged safely from a sea monster after three days, prefiguring Christ’s resurrection.

Question 17

typology

Answer 17

Persons and events of the Old Testament as prefiguration of New Testament persons and events. The New Testament is hidden in the old and the old is clarified by the new.

Question 18

Sarcophagus with philosopher, orant and old and New Testament themes, Santa Maria Antiqua

Answer 18

Depicts the salvation of Jonah, Christ as the good Shepard, and the baptism of Christ. Two figures with unfinished heads were to become portraits of the deceased.

Question 19

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

Answer 19

Episodes from the Old Testament appear beside scenes from the life of Jesus. Jesus is the center of the upper register, flanked by saints Peter and Paul

Question 20

New Testament themes

Answer 20

Annunciation to Mary (God as dove, receive god’s son), Visitation (Elizabeth and Mary rejoice), Nativity (Jesus born, angle announces birth to shepherds), Adoration of the Magi (Star alerts magi that Jesus is born, travel for 12 days), Presentation in the temple (Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah), Massacre of the Innocents (King Herod orders massacre of all infants, angel warns family and they escape), Dispute in the temple (Jesus engages in debate with Jewish scholars)

Question 21

More New Testament themes (public ministry)

Answer 21

Baptism (John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River, dove (God) proclaims Jesus as his son), Apostles and Miracles (12 disciples, fishermen Peter and tax collector Matthew, healing, raise dead, water to wine, walk on water, calm storms, create large quantities of food), Delivery of the keys to Peter (symbolically delivers Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven), Transfiguration (scales high mountain, transforms into radiant light, god spoke from cloud), Cleansing of temple (returns to Jerusalem).

Question 22

Even More New Testaments (passion)

Answer 22

Entry into Jerusalem (on donkey, disciples), Last supper (with disciples, reveals imminent betrayal, arrest and death, bread symbol of body and wine his blood), Agony in the garden (struggles to overcome human fear of death, prays for diving strength), Betrayal and arrest (Judas agrees to betray him in return for 30 silvers, reveals him by kissing him, later hangs himself), Trials of Jesus and denial of peter, Mocking, Carrying the cross (Jesus forced to carry the cross, stabbed in side with spear), body removed from cross, Descent into Limbo (Hell), Resurrection, Ascension (ascends to heaven in a cloud)

Question 23

Family of Jesus

Answer 23

Anne (childless couple, 20 years give birth, golden gate), Elizabeth (Anne’s cousin, gave birth to John, is veiled matron), Joseph (carpenter and foster father and protector of Jesus, flowering staff and carpentry tools), John the Baptist (earliest Christian martyr, bearded hermit baptizing a much younger Jesus, lamb)

Question 24

Apostles

Answer 24

All but John the Evangelist suffered martyred. Peter (keys, crucified upside down), John the Evangelist (fishermen, Jesus loved, did not desert Jesus at crucifixion, eagle), Matthew (tax collector, winged man), James (first to be martyred, scallop shell).

Question 25

Early saints

Answer 25

Paul (holds a scroll and often appears with Peter flanking Christ, may hold the sword of his martyrdom), Mark (dragged with rope around neck, lion), Luke (artists as well as doctors, ox), Mary Magdalene (most devoted followers, long hair), Lawrence (gridiron, roasted on a grill), George (slaying a dragon, military garb, on horseback fighting dragon), Theodore (set fire to a temple), Anthony Abbot (monasticism, monastery, elderly man with long beard and t-shaped staff)

Question 26

Old Saint Peters

Answer 26

Stood over Saint Peters grave. Plans resemble those of basilicas. 300-foot-long nave with flanking aisles and a transept and atrium.

Question 27

Santa Costanza

Answer 27

Mausoleum of Constantine’s daughter later became a church. Central plan with domed interior is preferred form.

Question 28

Santa Costanza mosaic

Answer 28

Depicts Putti harvesting grapes and making wine. Associated with Bacchus and Eucharist and Christ’s blood.

Question 29

Oceanus and Nereids, and drinking contest between Bacchus and Hercules, “Great Dish”

Answer 29

Silver tableware owned by Christians.

Question 30

Codex

Answer 30

Similar to modern book composed of leaves (folios) enclosed within a cover and bound together at one side. Paper made of vellum (calfskin) and parchment (lamb and other animal skins)

Question 31

Old Farmer of Corycus, Vatican Vergil

Answer 31

Earliest surviving painted manuscript. Reminiscent of Roman landscape murals due to its red border.

Question 32

Suicide of Judas and crucifixion of Christ

Answer 32

Ivory box carving is one of the first known representations of Christ’s Crucifixion. Bearded youth who experiences no pain at all. Judas his betrayer hangs himself.

Question 33

Woman sacrificing at an altar, right leaf of the diptych of the Nicomachi and the Symmachi.

Answer 33

Some Roman families still practiced ancient rites, worshiping gods. Classical artistic style. Ivory.

Question 34

Santa Sabina

Answer 34

Christian Basilica church with timber roof and illuminated by clerestory windows. Plain brick exterior.

Question 35

The Parting of Abraham and Lot mosaic

Answer 35

Included unborn Isaac because of his importance as a prefiguration of Christ. Head cluster represents more heads than bodies to give illusions of a crowd.

Question 36

Christ as Good Shepard mosaic

Answer 36

Jesus sits among his flock with a halo and robed in gold and purple. No beard.

Question 37

Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes mosaic

Answer 37

Faces directly towards the viewer, the sky is gold and represents spiritual world.