Late Antique & Early Christian Art

loculi

"little places" for the burial of lower ranking people but able to have community

Cubicula

Larger burial rooms, often covered in Frescoes

Central medallion

Good Shepard

Surrounding figures

Orans figures, praying

Lunettes

Half circle shapes/ half medallions

Putti

another name for cherubs/cupid like figures

Atrium

holding area/ courtyard, unbaptized could go here during communion, then could return

Catacheumans

unbaptized not allowed to watch transfiguration

Narthex

Lobby type area

Nave

area between side aisles

Transept

buffer between nave and apse, placed at R angles

Mausoleum

Round buildings for tombs

Basilica Plan

Longitudinal

centralized plan

round church plan like tholos, dome roof, bright decoration

Ambulatory

aisle w/o beginning or end

mosaics of Costanza

covering entire vault, more abstracted, fractured glass

Nimbus

floating halo

4 flying symbols

Matthew (monkey), Mark (lion), Luke (bull), John (eagle)

Diptych

cover for writing panel

D. of Symmachi

showing joining of the two families, wedding gift, ivory, heavily classicized style, pagan priest performing sacrifice/ritual

Gallery, Catacombs of St. Callixtus, 4th Cent.

has loculi for the burial of lower ranking people but able to have community

Good Shepard, Catacombs of St. Callixtus

symbolic of Christ as a Shepard

Cubiculum, Catacomb of SS. Peter and Marcellinus, early 4th Cent.

possibly referring to story of Jonah

Good Shepherd Sarcophagus, Cata. of Praetextus, late 4th Cent.

Putti harvesting grapes for wine

Good Shepherd Statuette, Rome, ca 300

more Classical, but Christian theming

Sarcoph. of L. Junius Bassus, Rome, ca 359

Christ enthroned by apostles sitting over Caelus (god of the sky) for localization

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

Cruciform plan, Interior highly decorated

Santa Costanza, Rome, ca. 350

centralized plan: round church plan like tholos, dome roof, bright decoration

Christ Enthroned, Santa Pudenziana, Rome, ca.410-17

4 flying symbols: Matthew (monkey), Mark (lion), Luke (bull), John (eagle)

Nave, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, ca. 430-440

Parting of Lot and Abraham, S. Maria Mag.

brothers and their congregations parting ways