Cultural Values Of Early Christianity

Essay# 19
1) What are the cultural values/is the historical context of the Early Christianity (Period of Persecution and Period of Acceptance)?
2) How are the cultural values manifested in Catacomb X Good Shepherd and Good Shepherd, in terms of subject (for 2-D or sculpture) or building-type (for architecture), location, purpose, medium, style and composition?
3) How does Catacomb X Good Shepherd and contrast with Good Shepherd in terms of aesthetic manifestation e.g., subject, location, style and composition?
4) How do similarities/dissimilarities in the cultural values and historical contexts explain the similarities/dissimilarities in the purposes and aesthetic manifestations of these artworks? 1) The Early Christian time period (ca. 2-500
1-325 A.D.) and Period of Acceptance (ca. 325-500 A.D.).
a) Early Christians also believed in mystery cults similar to the Romans. They believed in salvation, personal union with god, and sacrifice. Early Christians were also curious about the meaning of life and afterlife. Christianity initiated as secret because it was illegal. Christianity is based on sacrifice, because god sacrificed his son for all humans. Christians also believed in forgiveness, humility and compassion. Christians wanted to improve the world and they also believed in obligation to strangers. Early Christians treated everyone equally including women and salves. Gender and class did not matter because Christianity was based on the idea of sacrifice. Christians did not agree with animal sacrifices. Their sacrifices consisted of positive behavioral modifications and practicing the virtues. Unlike the Romans, they did not agree with
This mosaic is located in an apse. This mosaic is symmetrical with equal information on both sides and Christ in the center. He is not seen as a shepherd caring for his flock of sheep. He is more like an emperor than a shepherd. During the period of acceptance, Roman Christians who converted to Christianity wanted to Romanize it. He is portrayed sitting on a gold seated stone. He is dressed like an emperor. He is wearing the color purple, which is considered a royal color. There is a halo on his head which symbolizes divine touch. The halo idea comes from the Romans because their emperors had halos. Roman Christians wanted to show Christ making a judgment. There is a sense of hierarchy because there is an emperor now. Equality is not shown as much, because Roman Christians were the majority. This mosaic is based on Greek and Roman image with a Christian story. Unlike the catacomb painting, this mosaic is shown with a cross to portray sacrifice. Christians began to embrace the cross as a symbol of sacrifice. The purpose of this mosaic is to teach and encourage positive behavior, but there is a hierarchy.
3) Christ as the Good Shepherd painting and mosaic are both mimetic. They both have elements of mimesis like contrapposto and symmetry. Both of the artists have portrayed Greek and Roman images in their works. The painting is located underground in Catacombs, while the mosaic is displayed in