the 'cuth' was thrown down

8/9/2019 The 'Cuth' Was Thrown Down

1/7

Pool 1

Daniel J. Pool

World Thought and Culture II

Paper I

July 11, 2010

The Cuths Are Off: Comparative Analysis of the Late Antiquity and Early Medieval

Periods

When studying cultures of past centuries it is instrumental to explore the works of the

period being examined. Much like a mirror reflects an individual object so works of a

civilization reflect the society that it was created within. Thusly to illuminate the peoples of the

Late Antiquity and Early Medieval periods one must compare and contrast works of prose such

as; BedesLife and Miracles of Saint Cuthbertand TacitusAgricola; as well as works of art

such as; Augustus of Prima Porta and Christ of the Pentecost of their respected periods. To

better understand these works and their place in history the context, culture, and lasting meaning

of such should be examined in detail.

The environment that createsAgricola and Augustus of Prima Porta is around that of

the Late Roman Period, or roughly one-hundred CE. Though the empire will continue to

expand for another three-hundred years, the time of Tacitus seems grim. Only recently, at the

time of his writing, had the last of the truly malignant emperors1 passed by the wayside, leaving

in their stead a series of fairly evened successors2, rushed Northern expansion has thinned the

ranks of the Roman Legion, and invading bands of barbarian hordes as well as the Roman army

itself pillage and loot the countryside.

1 The fun ones.

2 The mostly sane ones.


2/7

Pool 2

With advent of cosmopolitan centers and the widespread amount of knowledge, ancient

Rome seemed on the verge of never ending prosperity. Its citizens had food, work, and most of

all a common language shared over its vast empire. Tacitus however felt that a much deeper

depravity moved through his country.

Bedes work, theLife and Miracles of Saint Cuthbertwas writtenduring the Early

Medieval, around seven-hundred CE (Bede 1); a time of limited intellectuals, nearly no

cosmopolitan centers, and no formal empire. Constant civil war and invasions made the

acquisition and protection of knowledge near impossible. Only the church held the last shreds

of civilization in the west. At the same time the Arab nations of the east evolve into a

renaissance-like period, pushing farther into the chaotic lands of Europe.

Tacitus writes the biography of Agricola, his father-in-law, postmortem in reverence of

his morality within a corrupt system. Though his own mother is murdered by another general,

Ortho, he obeys the needs of his empire and does not use his power as charismatic war-lord to

extract revenge (Tacitus 2). In fact he misses her funeral in order to ensure the safety of the

empire. InAgricola we see that man must put country before himself to be righteous.

Bede writes from a very different stand point. In his writing, Bishop Cuthbert is praised

by not aiding his people (Bede 4) and thusly being righteous. The focus of morality is no longer

a matter of the state and the man, but the church and man. Cuthbert is also beyond that of a

normal man; being able to shame crows (Bede 5), heal the sick (Bede 6), and even has dominion

over the sea. He resembles a Roman god more than a simple monk.

Agricola is a man. Nothing is abnormal about him but for his character (Tacitus 4). He

thinks of his enemies like one would think of friends (Tacitus 5), commending their strength and

heart. On the other hand Bedes Cuthbert hates his enemies and regularly cast them out such as

the demons, crows, and civilization (4, 5).


3/7

Pool 3

Works of art also reveal reflections of truth from cultures. In Augustus of Prima Porta

fine detail is given to dimension and geometric proportion as seen in the size of the figure versus

the size of the figures head. Exact mathematical analysis of the figure was taken into

consideration when creating the work. This would mean that the civilization it comes from was;

firstly able to support an artisan class, secondly the people had the time to put the fine detail into

the statue, meaning that art and design were heavily valued at this time, and third the figures

symbolic features (the baby at the heels of the armored well-groomed warrior king) suggests that

Augustus was a fighting politician who protected the weak, represent a society concerned about

its appearance. Making politicians and soldiers heroes is a reachable, logical goal within a

society. This also would mean that enough people gather or pass it to understand its message,

revisiting the idea that this was a cosmopolitan society.

Christ of the Pentecost on the other hand shows a mixed message of religious rite and

superstition. The immediate sight of the misshapen Christ shows that certain features were

praised higher than others. The eyes are gigantic as well as the hands showing the importance

of the soul and over the body. Whereas Augustus stands in no particular order, Christ stares into

the west representing the passage from darkness (where the sun sets). Also adoring the outside

of the holy portcullis are the glyphs of the astronomical calendar; this shows a far more

superstitious people than in Augustus plainly decorated breastplate.

Also the artistry of the Christ is much lower than that of Augustus. The Christ relief

shows that much of the knowledge for creating free standing figures was lost, or actively

forgotten. Artists were also not respected as well as less likely to make a good living. The

artist was to praise God, not be rich.

Other key differences are the individuality of the different times. The figure of Augustus

is highly detailed, making him look as though he could be alive; whereas the sculpture of Christ


4/7

Pool 4

and his disciples are faceless blobs. During the late Roman period being and displaying your

individualism was praised highly. However for the Early Medieval citizens individualism could

mean idolatry. Thusly a series of campaigns were made to strip the personality from all works

of art.

The iconoclasts of the Early Medieval Period feared that if images in the churches were

too life-like than the people might began worshiping them instead of God. To protect the souls

of their congregations they intentionally degraded the level of personalization in the religious

works. Thus all of the disciples and Christ himself are made to look about the same.

By examining these works one can discern the political climate of the time. InAgricola

the war tactics of Bretonnians is described in detail and with a touch of admiration (Tacitus 5).

InLife of Cuthbertthe only enemy is the elements and demons (Bede 3, 4). When contrasted

we can see that Tacitus comes from an ordered warlike society that honors bravery and service.

Bede however writes of a society more concerned with the elements, a society built on the cusp

of civilization.

Tacitus wrote to remind humanity of the good that could be accomplished. So to

Augustus likeness was constructed to remind his nation of the power of honor and service.

Bede writes to show man the righteousness that a man can accomplish. The Christ statue is a

reminder of the wickedness that can be rooted out by obedience.

The works are similar, though so different. The simple loyal intelligent man is favored.

A knowledgeable leader is important than any commoner, or a pseudo-chaste system develops in

both societies. Obviously both societies look to exemplary heroes to hold their standards to.

Both societies respected loyalty above all (Tacitus 16); whether that is to God, morality, or

country. Tacitus said;


5/7

Pool 5

Let it be known to those whose habit is to admire the disregard of authority, that there

may be great men even under bad emperors, and that obedience and submission, when

joined to activity and vigor, may attain a glory which most men reach only by perilous

career, utterly useless to the to the state, and closed by an ostentatious death.

Venerable Bede writes of a group of monks who come to visit Cuthbert (7). When they

disobey him, and thus Gods will, nature turns against them. Violent storms force him to stay

on the hermits island. That is however until they do as Cuthbert says and the monks are

allowed to leave.

Another trait that both groups venerate is the lone hero. Whether surrounded by

thousands of troops or twelve apostles, both Christ and Agricola are portrayed as lone dominant

beings. Christ is almost twice the size of any other figure displaying his cosmic power.

Agricola is surrounded by troops, and yet is the only recognized part of the army. He is the

figure head of power, a force within the world whose command comes from a higher power.

Another example is that of Cuthberts hermit lifestyle and the lonely Augustus. Both

have occasional visitors, monks or youth, but both are separated by an aura of supremacy. They

are what humanity wants to be; put literally on a pedestal. 3

Cuthbertbleeds Bedes Medieval upbringing though his work. Everything revolves

around the church. Every action is extravagate and over the top. Cuthbert does not plant a

garden; he plants a garden, replants a garden, and shames a murder of crows that eat his garden

(Bede 5). Every action is exciting and more for the story than rather the content or the message.

By looking at these works one can draw several conclusions. Looking deeply into

anyone of them opens the cultural and theological mirror of the soul one can see that man is a

being of constant change in his beliefs. However this being is simultaneously a creature of

3 Also Christ and Augustus (probably Cuthbert) were all shoeless.


6/7

Pool 6

ritual, repeating his themes over and over again. Man is what his times make him; he is the

stone from which life carves culture and thought.


7/7

Pool 7

Works Cited

Bede,Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert, in a volume entitledEcclesiastical History of the

English Nation,. trans. J. A. Giles, Everymans Library 479, (London: J. M. Dent;

New York: E. P. Dutton, 1910), 286-349

Breerwood, John. "Assistant Professor of Fine Art. " for pictures. , Christ of the Pentecost,

Augustus of Prima Porta. The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Web. 11

July 2010. .

Breerwood, Steve, Sanders Huguenin, and John Bruce. "World Thought and Culture II. "

Summer Semester. The Univsity of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha. June

2010. Lecture.

Tacitus. "Aricola. " Trans. Alfred J. Church and William J. Brodribb. Internet

Ancient History Soucebook(1999). Print.

the 'cuth' was thrown down

Documents