ARTHIST 101D Lecture 21: Lecture 21 The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity
10 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Lecture 21 The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity (the Early Christian Period aka Late
Antique/Late Roman Period)
313 CE: End of tetrarchy (administration of the Roman Empire formed by Diocletian), which split the
Empire into 4 administrative districts
Constantine’s Edict of Milan legalizing Christianity in the Empire
Split between Eastern and Western Roman empire
Eastern empire outlasts Western Roman empire by a millennium and eventually becomes the
Byzantine Empire
330: Constantine makes Constantinople capital of the Roman Empire
Rome is still capital of the Western Roman Empire
380: Theodosius I makes Christianity official Roman State religion, at the persecution of the polytheistic
religions
404: Honorius makes Ravenna capital of the Western Roman Empire (moved from Rome)
Christianity emerges first in the East (near Turkey)
Synagogue of Dura-Europos, Syria
245-256
Tempera on plaster
Wall paintings organized in narrative scenes + Torah niche
Wall painting: Samuel anoints David
o Purple was the imperial color of the Romans – obsession of porphyry
o Porphyry: deep purple marble that comes from Egypt
o Hieratic scale (because Samuel is a religious figure – priest)
Early Christian community house in Dura-Europos, Syria
240-256
Former courtyard of private house, meeting hall, baptistery
o Baptistery room is separated because you cannot go into a prayer hall unless you’re
baptized
Ark of the Catacombs and two menorahs, painted wall in a Jewish catacomb
Villa Torlonia, Rome, Italy
Third century
Catacombs: underground tunnels for burial and rituals– were shared by people
Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah, and orants, painted ceiling of a cubiculum in the Catacomb of Saints
Peter and Marcellinus
Rome, Italy
Early 4th century
Old Testament serves as riddles – each story has a hidden New Testament meaning
Catacomb of Commodilla
Via Ostiense, Rome, Italy
370-385
Sarcophagus with philosopher, orant, and Old/New Testament scenes
270
Marble
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Lecture 21 the mediterranean world in late antiquity (the early christian period aka late. 313 ce: end of tetrarchy (administration of the roman empire formed by diocletian), which split the. Split between eastern and western roman empire. Eastern empire outlasts western roman empire by a millennium and eventually becomes the. Constantine"s edict of milan (cid:523)legalizing christianity in the empire(cid:524) Rome is still capital of the (cid:498)western(cid:499) roman empire. 330: constantine makes constantinople capital of the roman empire. 380: theodosius i makes christianity official roman state religion, at the persecution of the polytheistic religions. 404: honorius makes ravenna capital of the western roman empire (moved from rome) Christianity emerges first in the east (near turkey) Wall paintings organized in narrative scenes + torah niche. Wall painting: samuel anoints david: porphyry: deep purple marble that comes from egypt. Former courtyard of private house, meeting hall, baptistery. Ark of the catacombs and two menorahs, painted wall in a jewish catacomb baptized.
