Constantine and Early Christian Art Notes

Catacombs: Vast underground burial chambers.
Loculus: Space in catacombs where bodies are placed.
Cubiculum: Room (funerary chapel) inside catacombs.
Prefiguration: Making a connection to something that already happened to foreshadow a future event (typically from the Old Testament).
Orant: Standing with arms up in prayer.
Lunettes: Half-moon shape over a door or window.
Sarcophagus: (Flesh Eater) Container for a body.
Spolia: Taking apart a structure to rebuild their own; reuse of architectural elements.
Triumphal Arch: Monument in ancient Rome to honor an emperor or general.
Tondo: A round painting or relief sculpture.
Narrative Image: Recounting an event from the bible.
Iconic Image: Tangible expression of an intangible concept.
- Art was often made to remind, not teach.

Tunneled out of bedrock.
Possibly contained 4 million bodies.
Located outside city limits because it was illegal to be Christian, so they had to be buried outside.
Served as a waiting room for Jesus to come back and raise the dead.

Prior to the Edict of Milan, Jesus was depicted as a good shepherd: young, clean-shaven, wearing Roman clothing.
John the Baptist: Ascetic, left civilization to be fully within faith.
Human sacrifice (Jesus) stops all animal sacrifice.
Blank faces on sarcophagi: These were so popular they'd be made before purchased, then facial features would be filled in.
Chi Rho Iota: Greek name for Jesus; Constantine believed he was able to be victorious because of this symbol.
*Coins w/ constantine
*on a horse power

Shield wolf with two babies: emblem of Rome.
Chi Rho Iota on helmet.
Mithras: Some believed their powerful army was because of their god, sometimes mixed with Christianity.
Christianity seen as a threat to Rome's safety, denying prior gods.

People were already conditioned to go inside a basilica.
Altar goes above a grave.
Apse forcing east toward rising sun.
Physical representation of how the inside is most important; outside is plain but inside is ornamental.

Abraham Isaac: Isaac is golden child, prefiguration
Constantine the Great:
1. Jesus before sacrifice
2. Job: When things are hard, don't curse God.
3. Adam & Eve: Humans are naturally sinful.
4. Daniel in the lions den
5. Entry into Jerusalem
6. Feet on head of pagen god
Ended the religious persecution of Christians in Rome.
Made Byzantine the new capital of Roman Empire, renamed "Constantinople."
Arch of Constantine: Reused triumph insignia iconography from earlier monuments to Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius.
Tetrarchic: Mix of older references and new styles of relief; returned to images of authority/power rather than individuals.

Christianity was the official empire religion by late 300s.
Continued use of Pagan themes, even for Christians.
- Not all Romans converted to Christianity.

Central Plan: Architectural focal point.
Pendentive: Inverted triangular supports for a dome.
Martyrium: Buildings built on top of the tomb of a martyr.
Icon: Religious image (typically Jesus); was believed to have a small fragment of the figure (holy).
Iconophile: (Image-loving) Believed the icons were ok.
Koimesis ("Falling Asleep" of the Virgin): Death scene of Mary.
Pantokrator (“Ruler of All”): Jesus as the judge at the end of the world.
Anastasis (“Harrowing of Hell”): Jesus descending into hell when in the tomb to defeat Satan.
Mandorla: Full-body halo.

Polyptych
Man on horse = power (Justinian is ruler).
- Roman armor was featured, clean-shaven.
Images of Nike and Graia (personified every pagan)
Foreigners bringing foreign gifts showing domination.
Nike and/or angels holding up a mandoria behind Jesus.

Apse depicts Jesus in purple (color of the emperor) seated on the universe with his advisors (angels).
- Transition to theocracy in Byzantine (unification of the state & religion) needed a more authoritative picture of Jesus.

Virgin Mary on her death bed, Jesus holding Mary's soul to give to the angels.
The argument in favor of icons was that because Jesus was born of a human mother, then it was ok to make icons.