Compare and contrast Christ as Good Shepard, mosaic Mausoleum of Galla , Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca 425: Saint Apollinare amid Sheep, apse mosaic, Ravenna Italy, ca.533-549: Christ as Pantokrator, dome mosaic, Church of the Dormition, Daphni, Greece, ca. 1090-1100
After the death of Jesus, early christians had difficulty spreading there teachings to the Hebrews of Israel. Frustrated by the lack of growth the Apostle Paul decided to expand Christianity beyond the borders of Israel. Paul decided to focus his attention to spreading christianity to the Roman empire. This fateful decision was arguably one of the most influential choice’s ever made.
Before the legalization of christianity by Constantine, the early christians were often viewed …show more content…
Jesus is centred within a half circled, framed mosaic, and is kneeling upon one knee. He is wearing a gold and purple robe that signify wealth and royalty. he is surrounded by six sheep all of which are perfectly white which hints at purity and innocence. The sheep represent his followers, they are portrayed as pure, honest and noble. Jesus is holding a tall cross in his left hand and has his right hand underneath the chin of one of his sheep. The open palm of christ is symbolic of the early churches openness in welcoming membership to every person within the empire.
The mosaic is structured in a layout and style that seems to have been influenced from the traditional works of Gnosis. The piece looks as though it has inherited many elements from classical greek mosaic artists. Artists that undoubtedly influenced the artists of the roman empire. The striking contrast of the white sheep coupled with the control of perspective, the artist draws our attention towards the focal point of Jesus’s …show more content…
Jesus is portrayed throughout the bible as unconcerned with money and worldly power. However, the artistic works and the opulence that surrounded them, were in direct contradiction to the basic teachings of Jesus. The early leaders of the church understood the workings of power and persuasion, they crafted the image of Jesus to assert control and influence over the congregation. This is in direct correlation to the accepted religious symbolism witnessed throughout history. The usage of gold upon the image of the peasant king is evidence of the calculated intentional minds behind the mosaic. Conscious and lucid minds, well aware of the power of suggestion and the need to control the narrative.
Saint Apollinare amid Sheep, shows signs of the evolving message of the early Christian church. Gone are the days of hiding and practicing their faith within small privately owned temples. After Constantine’s legalization of christianity in the year 337 we witnessed the rapid acceptance of christianity throughout the empire. In the year 379 emperor Theodosius I proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of the
After the death of Jesus, early christians had difficulty spreading there teachings to the Hebrews of Israel. Frustrated by the lack of growth the Apostle Paul decided to expand Christianity beyond the borders of Israel. Paul decided to focus his attention to spreading christianity to the Roman empire. This fateful decision was arguably one of the most influential choice’s ever made.
Before the legalization of christianity by Constantine, the early christians were often viewed …show more content…
Jesus is centred within a half circled, framed mosaic, and is kneeling upon one knee. He is wearing a gold and purple robe that signify wealth and royalty. he is surrounded by six sheep all of which are perfectly white which hints at purity and innocence. The sheep represent his followers, they are portrayed as pure, honest and noble. Jesus is holding a tall cross in his left hand and has his right hand underneath the chin of one of his sheep. The open palm of christ is symbolic of the early churches openness in welcoming membership to every person within the empire.
The mosaic is structured in a layout and style that seems to have been influenced from the traditional works of Gnosis. The piece looks as though it has inherited many elements from classical greek mosaic artists. Artists that undoubtedly influenced the artists of the roman empire. The striking contrast of the white sheep coupled with the control of perspective, the artist draws our attention towards the focal point of Jesus’s …show more content…
Jesus is portrayed throughout the bible as unconcerned with money and worldly power. However, the artistic works and the opulence that surrounded them, were in direct contradiction to the basic teachings of Jesus. The early leaders of the church understood the workings of power and persuasion, they crafted the image of Jesus to assert control and influence over the congregation. This is in direct correlation to the accepted religious symbolism witnessed throughout history. The usage of gold upon the image of the peasant king is evidence of the calculated intentional minds behind the mosaic. Conscious and lucid minds, well aware of the power of suggestion and the need to control the narrative.
Saint Apollinare amid Sheep, shows signs of the evolving message of the early Christian church. Gone are the days of hiding and practicing their faith within small privately owned temples. After Constantine’s legalization of christianity in the year 337 we witnessed the rapid acceptance of christianity throughout the empire. In the year 379 emperor Theodosius I proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of the