After the Fall

1. After the Fall • 476 AD Goths (German) overtake Rome and the Western Roman Empire • Dominant religion becomes Christianity in the Western world (appears in 1st c. AD but doesn’t begin to take hold until 4th c.) • An Eastern Roman Empire still exists, however (Byzantine)

2. How Rome Became the Center of Christianity • Before the fall, Rome was led by Emperors and worshipped pagan gods (Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Neptune, etc.) • A new religion, with only one God at its center, began to rise--Christianity • Early on Christianity was only a small sect in Rome • Most Christians refused to pay homage to the emperor and were persecuted

3. Christianity in Rome • 303—Emperor Diocletian issues an edict officially banning Christianity. Many Christians executed and churches burned. • 313—Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan which recognizes Christianity as one of the official state religions. Christians able to worship openly. Flourishing of Christian art.

4. Council of Nicaea • 325—Council of Nicaea convened by Constantine. • Basic ideas of Christianity were debated • Tried to decide if Jesus was divine because he was the Son of God or if her was part divine and part human.

5. Nicene Creed • 381—The Nicene Creed declared that Jesus was “of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made” thus making him divine. • Also establishes the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

6. The Roman Empire Splits • 323—Constantine moves court to Byzantium, in east (one of Rome’s provinces). East was Christianized region. Second capital later renamed Constantinople. Created Eastern and Western Roman Empires. Constantinople is today Istanbul in Turkey. • 395 AD—Roman world formally divided into an Eastern and Western Empires Eastern empire survives until capture of Constantinople by Turks in 1453 AD. • The split of the empire also causes a religious rift, creating the Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox Church in the East.

7. Ravenna, Italy • 402—Emperor Honorius flees to Ravenna while Rome under siege • Cultural center in the west transfers from Rome to Ravenna, Italy

8. The Fall of the Western Roman Empire • In 410 AD Alaric and his barbarian Goths sack Rome. • 476 AD—Fall of the Western Roman Empire. The last of the Caesars, Romulus Augustulus, dethroned in Ravenna. Roman Empire comes under German rule. • Byzantium remains intact until conquered by the Turks in 1453

9. Early Christian Art • Transition of classical Greco-Roman style to the medieval world. Some of the ancient grandeur remained but there was a new emphasis on symbolism instead of realism or naturalism. • Looking at the spiritual world and inner reality. • Reinterpret Greek and Roman forms in the service of religion. • Art becomes more two dimensional to represent the symbolic world.

10. Catacomb of St. Callixtus, early 3rd c. AD, Rome Catacomb Via Latina, 4th c. AD, Rome Catacombs • Pagan Romans cremated dead • Christians believed in resurrection so buried their dead in secret tombs called catacombs • Earliest examples of Christian art • Met here to worship in secret • Kept saints relics here also

11. The Good Shepherd, c. 4th c. AD. Catacomb of Saints Pietro and Marcellino, Rome. The Good Shepherd, c. 4th c. AD. Catacomb of Saints Pietro and Marcellino, Rome. Catacomb Paintings

12. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, c. 359. Marble, Rome. Sculpture • Different from Greek/Roman art? • How is this similar to Greek/Roman art?

13. Ravenna in the 5th Century • Remember: Ravenna became the cultural center around 400 AD when the emperor fled Rome. • Rome and Ravenna would fall to Odaocer in 476 AD when conquered by the Goths. • His successor, Theodoric, ruled west until 540 • 540--armies of the Eastern Roman Empire under Emperor Justinian, conquered the West and reunited the two empires for a short time

14. Early Christian Churches Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, c. 493-526

15. Layout of Early Christian Churches • Narthex • Nave • Apse • Aisles • Clerestory • Arcade • Transept (later addition)

16. clerestory arcade apse aisle nave altar Interior, Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo

17. Byzantine Early Christian Mosaics “What Scripture is to the educated, images are to the ignorant, who see through them what they must accept. They read in images what they cannot read in books.” Pope Gregory the Great, sixth century.

18. Sant’ Apollinare NuovoEarly Christian Mosaics Good Shepherd Separating the Sheep from the Goats, c. 520 Last Supper, c. 520

19. Borrowing from Pagan Rome • Early Christian art forms borrow for pagan Roman structures • Secular basilica becomes church basilica • Roman floor mosaics become wall mosaics • Use Roman architectural achievements: arch, dome, vaults • Round building structures of Roman baths become Christian baptisteries

20. Mariana Baptistery, Corsica, 4th c. Baptistery Orthodox Baptistery, Rome, 450-460 Orthodox Baptistery, Rome, 450-460

21. Christians Borrow from Pagan Rites and Customs • Pagan winter festival becomes Christmas • Pagan spring festival becomes Easter • Pagan shepherd representing pastoral way of life becomes Christ as good shepherd leading his flock • Pagan drinking songs become church hymns