Midterm Med Art

Question 1

syncretism

Answer 1

combo of different forms of beliefs/practices-paganism meshed with monotheistic reinterpretation during late antiquity pd. (2nd-8th centure)

Question 2

catacombs

loculi
cubicula
fossores

Answer 2

Found underneath Rome and outside the city walls. Burial complexes in subterranean series of mazes.

loculi- cubby holed shaped
cubicula- mortuary chapels
fossores- guild of gravediggers who specialize in digging through bedrock, regardless of faith.

Question 3

typology/prefiguration

Answer 3

old testament scenes are represented early on during late antiquity period. they parallel new testament scenes such as the sacrifice of isaac of abraham FORETELLS the sacrifice of christ by god.

Question 4

spolia

Answer 4

taking of objects from one location and moving them to another to communicate take over of power from it’s original context.

-such as taking columns from constantinople and putting them on the church in st. marks

Question 5

basilica:

nave
aisles
apse
transept
crossing
narthex
atrium

Answer 5

early christian form of a gathering place for worship taken from pagan

During late antiquity (2nd-8th cent) - had plain interior with more ornate and decorative interior

Question 6

iconic

Answer 6

refers to something generally idealized and doesn’t take into account naturalistic anatomy.

style that is non-narrative that becomes dominant under Constantine and forms the foundation for medieval art

Question 7

martyrium

Answer 7

structure that is erected where someone was martyred

ex: where christ was crucified

Question 8

catechetical

Answer 8

a new technique for teaching through question and answer as developed in the early christian church

-also becomes driving factor behind narrative art

Question 9

Caesaropapism

Answer 9

• emperor is the head of state/military and chief priest of the state religion, hence he is christian and secular ruler.
• revived under emperor Justinian. from the ealiest of the Roman empire and Augustus.

Question 10

Ex voto

Answer 10

an image given in thanks from the patron to a holy person or deity for something that was done on their behalf (such as allowing them to conquer a country, to become prosperous…)

-popular type of image in Byzantium

Question 11

icon

iconoclast

iconodules/phile

Answer 11

• images of holy persons generally small in scale, usually painted on wood. seen as direct link to divine.
• those that oppose the use of images in worship and wish to break them
• those that love images and believe they should be used in worship because they provide something visual for the illiterate

Question 12

palladium

Answer 12

something that protects a community. it is believed that a single icon can exert its divine influence

Question 13

Virgin Hodegetria

Eleousa

Answer 13

two most popular ways v mary is shown in Byzantine art:

• directing our attention toward christ way to salvation
• madonna of compassion(often presses cheek against christ)

Question 14

proskynesis

Answer 14

practice of kneeling and kissing towards and icon, and show how we should behave in front of them as if the divine presence is actually there

Question 15

scriptoria

Answer 15

writing studios in monasteries where monks copy texts and images of earlier works. copies of classical texts are going to be made.