Chapter Seven:
Early Christianity: Ravenna and
Byzantium
———
Culture and Values, 8th Ed.
Cunningham and Reich and FichnerRathus
The Decline of Rome
• Constantinople : “new” Rome
• Geographic advantages
• Council of Nicaea
• Arian Controversy
Literature, Philosophy, and Religion
Augustine of Hippo
• Bishop of Hippo (390)
• Augustinian Premise
• Absolute majesty of God
• Immutability of God’s will
• Flawed state of the human condition
• The City of God
• Linear history
• Confessions
• Autobiography, self-reflection
Literature, Philosophy, and Religion
Boethius
• Classical paganism + Christianity
• The Consolation of Philosophy
• Issues of human freedom
• Praevidentia vs. Providence
• Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine
Reading Samples
In your written response, consider
the following:
Writing style,
Their philosophical heritage, or who
they sound like/write like,
Issues dealt with,
And Statements of belief: theology.
Byzantium
•
•
•
•
•
Constantinople
Justinian and Theodora
Restoration of the Empire
Western Silk Industry
Revised / Codified Roman Law
• Tribonian
• Code, Pandects, Institutes
• Christian fanaticism
• 25+ churches and convents
Church of Hagia Sophia
• Unified basilica and dome
• Pendatives
• Ethereal light
• Divine Liturgy of St. Chrysostom
• Converted to mosque (post 1453)
7.3 Hagia Sophia, 532-537. Constantinople (Istanbul),
Turkey
7.4 Interior of
Hagia Sophia
Ravenna:
Art and Architecture
• Roman+Gothic+Byzantine
• Mosaics of Galla Placidia
• Lunettes, apse, dome
• Trompe l’oeil
• Neonian Baptistery
• Octagonal
• Mosaics as “theology in color”
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia,
early 5th century. Ravenna,
Italy.
7.6 Christ as the Good Shepherd, 5th century, Lunette
mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placida, Ravenna, Italy
7.7
Baptisteries of
the Orthodox
and Arians.
Ravenna, Italy
Ravenna:
Art and Architecture
• Arian Baptistery
• Severely decorated
• Passion/Resurrection of Christ
• Church of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo
• Theodoric’s palace church
• Basilica style
• Rich mosaics (Roman and Byzantine)
7.8 Church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, ca. 493-526.
Ravenna, Italy
7.9 Miracle of the loaves and fishes. Mosaic from the uppermost
register of the nave wall, above the clerestory windows, Church
of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy
Church of San Vitale
• Octagons, dome, squinches
• Program of mosaics
• Christ Enthroned
• Justinian as Christ on earth (paten)
• Theodora with chalice
7.10 Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy
7.11 Christ enthroned, with Saint Vitalis and Bishop
Ecclesius, ca. 530. Ceiling mosaic, Church of San Vitale,
Ravenna, Italy
7.12 Emperor Justinian and courtiers, ca. 547. Mosaic, south wall of the apse, Church
of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy
7.13 Empress Theodora and retinue, ca. 547. Mosaic, south wall of the apse, Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy
Saint Catherine’s Monastery
at Mount Sinai
• Built by Justinian
• Repository of art and culture
• Codex Sinaiticus
• Vast collection of religious icons
7.15 Aerial
view of the
fortress of
Saint
Catherine’s
Monastery,
6th century.
Sinai
Desert,
Egypt
7.16 Christ
Pantocrator, ca.
500-530.
Encaustic on
wood panel,
32” x 27” (84 x
46 cm). Saint
Catherine’s
Monastery,
Sinai Desert,
Egypt
The Legacy of
Byzantine Culture
• Influence on Russian Culture
• Italo-Byzantine Style
• Theological conservatism,
aesthetic stability (iconography)
• Reinfusion of Greek culture
• Greek refugee scholars
• Classical learning in the Renaissance
Chapter Seven: Discussion Questions
• Explain the difference in worldview between
Augustine and Boethius. What issues were
principal to their philosophies? Where did their
ideologies overlap? Diverge?
• What role did the iconoclastic controversy play in
the arts of Constantinople and Ravenna? In light of
this controversy, what is the significance of the
findings at Saint Catherine’s monastery?
• Reflect on the reciprocal relationships between the
Byzantine culture (art, religion, politics) and other
cultures. What did the various cultures “share” with
one another? What is the legacy of this
relationship?