Catacombs
In this artwork previously shown was in one of the ancient underground catacombs of Rome. The image of Jesus himself is the oldest by far, dating from around the year of 375A.D.
The Early Christians had also came to a development of their own iconography, such as symbol of the fish 'IKHTHUS'.
During this time of the Catacombs, from the middle of the third century is where growing numbers of the Christian burial societies were run by the church's.
Early Christian art was found in catacombs which originated in Rome, Italy between the end of the second and the beginning of the third century A.D. They were popular during the 2nd century AD to mid fifth century AD. As Christians were persecuted and attacked for their christian beliefs, they could not express their faith in public. Because of this, many Christians had to resort to catacombs, where Romans would rarely be seen in.
From the end of the second century, an extremely simple art developed in the catacombs which is in part narrative and in part symbolic. The paintings and mosaics art recall stories from the old and new testament. The art is also symbolic in a sense that concepts are difficult to express.
During this time the catacombs were under the papacy of pope zephyrin (199-217), who entrusted to the deacon Callixtus, who would later become pope, had the task of supervising the cemetery of the Appian way. The custom of burying the dead in underground area was already known, but with christianity much more complex burial hypogea originated in order to welcome the whole community. Christians burial was meant that it was just a temporary moment while they wait for the final resurrection. In antiquity, catacomb, extended to all the christian cemeteries
They represented Jesus as the lamb of God and the good shepherd. In the new testament paintings they represented Jesus as a miracle worker, among the art works of the catacombs, there are many representations of Jesus' miracles. There are depictions of Jesus' baptism, with the holy spirit descending in the form of a dove. Also, the healing of the paralytic man, resurrection of lazarus, as well as the feeding of the five thousand with loaves and fish.
Jesus seems to be an ordinary person, therefore a new God, who actually comes out and touches the ordinary people. And many of these people that Jesus is healing, by their dress, you can tell are the people in the lower class. This is a new healing God, and that's what's on these peoples minds. I think this is one of the most greatest things that helps spread. Jesus is not shown as a transcendental being, he's down in human history, with his hands on peoples heads and shoulders, and they're not the least bit inhibited of showing him with a wand in his hands in front of the tomb of Lazarus.
Jesus is dressed here in the robes of a philosopher. In Roman times, he was often painted in this way, because many early Christian writers taught that Jesus had out-philosophised even the greatest of the ancient philosophers. His way of wisdom fulfilled the best that thinkers such as Plato and Socrates had hoped for. To follow Jesus lets us discover the true meaning of life.
The Early Christians had also came to a development of their own iconography, such as symbol of the fish 'IKHTHUS'.
During this time of the Catacombs, from the middle of the third century is where growing numbers of the Christian burial societies were run by the church's.
Early Christian art was found in catacombs which originated in Rome, Italy between the end of the second and the beginning of the third century A.D. They were popular during the 2nd century AD to mid fifth century AD. As Christians were persecuted and attacked for their christian beliefs, they could not express their faith in public. Because of this, many Christians had to resort to catacombs, where Romans would rarely be seen in.
From the end of the second century, an extremely simple art developed in the catacombs which is in part narrative and in part symbolic. The paintings and mosaics art recall stories from the old and new testament. The art is also symbolic in a sense that concepts are difficult to express.
During this time the catacombs were under the papacy of pope zephyrin (199-217), who entrusted to the deacon Callixtus, who would later become pope, had the task of supervising the cemetery of the Appian way. The custom of burying the dead in underground area was already known, but with christianity much more complex burial hypogea originated in order to welcome the whole community. Christians burial was meant that it was just a temporary moment while they wait for the final resurrection. In antiquity, catacomb, extended to all the christian cemeteries
They represented Jesus as the lamb of God and the good shepherd. In the new testament paintings they represented Jesus as a miracle worker, among the art works of the catacombs, there are many representations of Jesus' miracles. There are depictions of Jesus' baptism, with the holy spirit descending in the form of a dove. Also, the healing of the paralytic man, resurrection of lazarus, as well as the feeding of the five thousand with loaves and fish.
Jesus seems to be an ordinary person, therefore a new God, who actually comes out and touches the ordinary people. And many of these people that Jesus is healing, by their dress, you can tell are the people in the lower class. This is a new healing God, and that's what's on these peoples minds. I think this is one of the most greatest things that helps spread. Jesus is not shown as a transcendental being, he's down in human history, with his hands on peoples heads and shoulders, and they're not the least bit inhibited of showing him with a wand in his hands in front of the tomb of Lazarus.
Jesus is dressed here in the robes of a philosopher. In Roman times, he was often painted in this way, because many early Christian writers taught that Jesus had out-philosophised even the greatest of the ancient philosophers. His way of wisdom fulfilled the best that thinkers such as Plato and Socrates had hoped for. To follow Jesus lets us discover the true meaning of life.