Chapter 7: Jewish & Early Christian art

Questions

Which term describes the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that believe that only one god created and rules the universe?

Monotheistic religions

From which period do most of the earliest surviving examples of Jewish art date?

Ancient Israelite period

The first synagogue at Dura Europos was located in a what?

Roman military garrison

What is the significance of the contrast between the plain exterior of the Oratory of Galla Placidia (Figs. 7-19, 7-20, and 7-21) and its highly decorated interior?

The contrast highlights the transition from exterior simplicity to interior opulence, reflecting the spiritual journey from the mundane to the divine. This design choice emphasizes the importance of the interior space as a sacred area for worship.

What was considered suspect because Jewish law prohibited the worship of idols?

Jewish art and imagery

Most examples of Early Christian sculpture created before the fourth century are what?

highly symbolic and abstract.

The small rooms in catacombs that were frequently plastered and painted were called what?

cubicula

Any large room where Torah scrolls are kept and read publicly can function as a what?

synagogue

What is a menorah?

A seven-branched candelabrum used in ancient Jewish worship, symbolizing light and divine inspiration.

Which scene from the life of Jesus shows the archangel Gabriel informing the Virgin Mary that God has chosen her to bear his Son?

The Annunciation

What innovative feature of St. Peter’s provided space for the clergy and pilgrims?

The central nave, allowing for large gatherings.

Who is St Lawrence?

A Christian martyr and deacon, known for his service to the poor and for being executed by burning.

What did Jews and Christians use for burials and funerary ceremonies, not as places of worship?

Catacombs and burial sites.

What is the sarcophagus of Junius Bassus?

A richly decorated early Christian tomb that features intricate relief sculptures depicting biblical scenes, highlighting the transition from paganism to Christianity.

The wall between the nave arcade and the clerestory in Early Christian churches was typically decorated with

mosaics or frescoes depicting biblical narratives.

The Eucharist is an elaborate ceremony in Christian worship involving the ritual consumption of bread and wine, which are identified as Christ’s what?

body and blood.

What is the Edict of Milan?

A proclamation that granted religious tolerance for Christianity in the Roman Empire, issued in 313 AD by Emperor Constantine.

The Good Shepherd, a Christian symbol that was based on pagan images of Apollo, Hermes, and Orpheus, is considered an example of what?

Christian iconography.

What does the term “Vulgate” mean?

The Latin version of the Bible translated by St. Jerome in the late 4th century, which became the standard text for the Roman Catholic Church.