Early Christian, Jewish, and Byzantine Art

Zeus took the form of a swan and raped Leda. One of the children of that rape was Helen—also known as Helen of Troy. Helen’s abduction by Paris caused the Trojan War. She is considered the most beautiful mortal in the world.

Danae was imprisoned by her father, King of Argos,  in a bronze chamber open to the sky in the courtyard of his palace. Zeus came to her in the form of a shower of gold, and impregnated her. Soon after, their child was born:  Perseus—the first of the Greek heroes.

Zeus had sex with the mortal Semele. Dionysus (the god of wine) was the result.

Do any of the Greek (Roman) gods ever impregnate female mortals?
Yes. Zeus does—often. 

What do you notice?

What do these stories remind you of?
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, is there a story where God impregnates a young woman? 

Big Ideas: 

1.	When did the Roman Empire become Christian?

Judaism    Christianity   Islam
2.	How are these three religions different? (see pages 290-291)

3.	What is syncretism?

4.	What are icons? Why are they significant? Why are they problematic?

Read “The Object Speaks” 
The Archangel Michael” (334-335) 
Take notes on how icons “work” and what angels “mean.”

5.	What is iconoclasm? Why does iconoclasm matter in terms of art?

6.	What is typological exegesis? 

Study the Iconography of the Life of Jesus: pages 306-307
Reflection:
Who is Christ exactly? 
How can a person represent Jesus Christ? He is at once a man and God and the Holy Spirit. He is understood as the divine incarnation of Logos—the word. 
John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
How do we represent a man who is the Word—Logos.
What should Christ look like?

Early Christian, Jewish, and Byzantine Art

Architecture
1.	How is the Roman basilica transformed? What Roman architectural elements do you recognize?

2.	Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey
532-537

3.	Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy
526-547

4.	Cathedral of St. Mark, Venice, Italy
present building begun in 1063