Early Jewish & Christian Arts Summary

Jewish Art

  • Jerusalem: Founding place of major monotheistic religions.
  • Menorah: Sacred Jewish Temple piece, emblem of Israel.
    • Catacomb: Underground burial room, secret due to Roman cremation practices.
    • Menorah: Candelabrum with a main branch and six others.
    • Ark of the Covenant: Gold-covered wooden chest holding the Ten Commandments.
  • Menorah Symbolism:
    • Burning bush in Sinai.
    • Creation of the universe in six days.
    • Seven days of the week.
  • Catacomb Menorah signifies Jewish burial or relation to Jewish culture.
  • Ark of the Covenant:
    • Safeguarded Ten Commandments on stone panels.
    • Housed in a sarcophagus-like box.
    • Symbol of David's kingship when resurfaced.
  • Synagogue: Jewish Temple.
  • Torah Niche: Wall paintings in house-synagogues depicting Torah stories due to restricted religious freedom.
  • Finding of Baby Moses:
    • Wall painting depicting Moses found in the Nile.
    • Pharaoh's decree to kill newborns led to Moses being set afloat.
  • Leningrad Codex Cover Page:
    • Six-point star inside an eight-point star.
    • Geometric shape on Hebrew bible manuscript.
    • Symbolism includes David's shield or unity of Jewish tribes.

Christian Art

  • Ichthys: First Christian symbol, Greek for fish, secret identification.
    • I~σου~ςΙ\tilde{} σο\tilde{υ}ς (Iēsous): Jesus.
    • XριστoˋςΧριστ\grave{o}ς (Christos): The anointed.
    • Θεου~Θεο\tilde{υ} (Theou): God's.
    • YἱoˋςYἱ\grave{o}ς (yios): Son.
    • ΣωτηˋρΣωτ\grave{\eta}ρ (sōtēr): Savior.
  • Four Disciples:
    • Matthew: Angel.
    • Mark: Winged lion.
    • Luke: Winged bull.
    • John: Eagle.
  • Christian Symbols Include:
    • Latin and Greek crosses.
    • Alpha and Omega (beginning and end).
    • Chi and Rho ($\Chi$ and $\Rho$) intersect.
  • Saint Mark in Venice:
    • Relics claimed by Venice.
    • Winged lion emblem of Venice.
  • Christian Catacomb:
    • Halo around Jesus.
    • Alpha and Omega symbols.
  • Churches:
    • Basilica-plan church utilized as courthouses, adapted into churches.
    • Apse faces east towards Jerusalem.
    • Altar inside the apse.
    • Central-plan church with a dome created by the Byzantines.
  • Old Saint Peter’s Basilica:
    • Cruciform shape symbolizes a cross.
  • Hagia Sophia:
    • Byzantine church converted into a mosque by Ottomans.
    • Pendentives transition zones from circular to square.
  • Church of Costanza:
    • Circular church started as mausoleums; ambulation practiced.
    • Mausoleum of Galla Placidia symbolized world (outside) and afterlife (inside).
  • Virgin and Child:
    • Halos denote sacred figures.