Understanding Early Christian Art (Understanding the Ancient World)

Cover
Half Title
Series
Title
Copyright
Contents
Dedication
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Preface
1 Overview of the Evidence and Methodological Questions
	Preliminary Considerations
		Chronology
		Geographical and Physical Context, Media, and Materials
		Subjects: Characters and Contents
		Artistic Style and Technique
		Workshops and Clients
	The Myth of Early Christian Aniconism
	Pagan Prototypes: Syncretism or Adaptation?
	Text and Image
	Conclusion
2 Early Christian Symbols
	Birds
		Doves
		Peacocks
		The Phoenix
	Anchors and Boats
	Grapevines and Vintaging
	Fish and Fishers
	The Banquet
	Praying Figures
	The Shepherd and His Flock
	Conclusion
3 Biblical Stories in Early Christian Art
	The Prominence of Hebrew Scripture Subjects
		A Jewish Source Hypothesis
		Prayers for the Dead as the Key to the Iconography
		The Social Context as Underlying the Subject Selection
	Visual Exegesis, Part 1: Prophecy and Fulfilment
		The Hospitality of Abraham
		The Three Hebrew Youths
		The Jonah Cycle
	Visual Exegesis, Part 2: Sacramental Symbolism
		Moses Parting the Sea and Striking the Rock
		The Woman at the Well
	Conclusion
4 From Christ the Miracle Worker and Teacher to Christ the King and Lawgiver
	Jesus as Wonderworker, Divine Healer, and Life Restorer
	Jesus the Wonderworker
	Jesus the Magician?
		Jesus’s Staff
	Jesus the Divine Healer
		The Imposition of Hands
		The Diminutive Recipients
	Jesus the Revivifier
	Jesus the Teacher
	The Enthroned God
		The Adoration of the Magi
		Jesus Entering Jerusalem
	Jesus Giving the Law
	Conclusion
5 Depicting the Divine: Jesus and the Holy Trinity
	Prototypes for an Image of Christ
		Orpheus
		Helios/Sol Invictus
		The Bearded God
		Variations on a Theme
	The Christological Implications of Jesus’s Depictions
	The Trinity—God the Father and the Holy Spirit
		The Symbolic Trinity
		The Manus Dei and the Dove
	The Anthropomorphic Trinity
	From Narrative Scenes to Holy Portraits
	The True Image
	Conclusion
6 Jesus’s Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension
	Cross Shapes
		Possible Early Cross Figures
		Papyrus Staurograms
	Earliest Crucifixion Depictions
		The Alexamenos Graffito
		Gems With Crucifixion Scenes
		Fourth-Century Passion Sarcophagi
		Fifth-Century Crucifixion Images
	Examples From the Sixth Century and Later
		Pilgrimage Tokens
		Reliquaries
	Depictions of Jesus’s Resurrection
	Images of the Ascension
	Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of Subjects
Index of Modern Authors (excluding footnotes)
Index of Ancient Authors