Byzantine Art

The capital of the Roman Empire moves South East because of invaders from the North West. The new capital is in Constantinople (now

Istanbul) named for the Emperor Constantine in what is today Turkey. The Empire shifts East spanning from South Eastern Europe to Central

Asia. Byzantium is the first Christian kingdom.

Early Jewish Art

The Finding of Baby Moses, wall painting from a house-synagogue, Dura-Europas, Syria. 244 CE

Jewish people trace their origin to the land of Canaan known from 2 CE -1948 CE by its Roman name Palestine now Israel. Jewish settlement of this area probably began around 2,000 BCE. In the Torah, the first five books of Hebrew scriptures, God promised this land to Abraham. In the exodus from Egypt the prophet Moses led them to this promised land and was given the 10 commandments that were put in a box called the Ark of the Covenant.

Mosaic synagogue floor, Moan 520 CE. The menorah candelabra may come from the Tree of Life symbolizing the body, the end of exile, and paradise to come.

Christian Symbols

The Christian Tau Cross, named for the Greek letter it looks like, one of the oldest letters known, was a symbol of the Roman God Mithras, the Greek God Attis, and before them Tammuz, the Sumerian solar God, the consort of the Goddess Ishtar. Tammuz, like Christ, was associated with fishing and shepherding. Like the sun, the death and resurrection of Tammuz was celebrated every spring like Jesus’ at Easter. Marking the forehead with a cross of ashes dates back to these rituals. Also called St. Anthony's Cross, the Old Testament Cross, Egyptian Cross, and the Advent Cross. St. Anthony and St. Matthew are said to have died on a Tau cross, and is sometimes used to identify these martyrs. It is possible that Christ died on a Tau cross.

Latin

Shorter arms

CROSSES

Greek

4 equal arms

Papal St. Peter

Crucified upside down

Ethiopian Berber

Moroccan

Maltese

Crusaders

The Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Russian

St. Andrews

Byzantine Images

Archangel Michael, icon, 10th century AD, silver gilt (gold covered) with enamel (heated paint 19 x14” in Venice Italy

The Transfiguration of Christ with Saint Apollinaris, mosaic in the apse of the Church of Saint Apollinare in Classe, Italy, 550 AD./6th Century

Byzantine Architecture

Church of Saint Apollinare in, Italy, 550 A.D.

Cathedral/Church Plan

Church of Hagia Sofia, 6th Century A.D., built in Constantinople, modern day Istanbul, Turkey, became a mosque, now is a museum. luxury = holiness

1. Draw the basic shape of a traditional Byzantine

church and label it with at least 5 terms (overhead

view from notes).

2. List 4 types of crosses and draw an example of each.

3. List 4 symbols for the 4 evangelists.

4. Tell me 2 things about the Tao cross.

Byzantine Quiz

6 pts.

8 pts.

4 pts.

2 pts.

+_____

20 pts.