CHAPTER 8—LATE ANTIQUITY
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In the Dura painting, Samuel Anointing David, David is depicted with an Imperial attribute indicating
his royalty. Which of the following is that attribute?
a.
purple toga
b.
laurel-leaf crown
c.
cuirass of Augustus
d.
armor of Hadrian
2. Why is the Christian community house in Dura-Europas only a small house?
a.
No churches were constructed in Dura-Europas
b.
No large dwellings were constructed in Dura-Europas
c.
Christians did not enjoy the patronage of the Roman state
d.
No shrines or holy structures were allowed in Dura-Europas
3. The Roman State persecuted the Christians. Which of the following would account for this
persecution?
a.
Christians refused to pay homage to the State’s gods
b.
Christians fomented revolt against the Roman state
c.
Romans knew the Christians would be their downfall
d.
Romans didn’t approve of anything originating in Judea
4. What is the earliest datable period for Christian art?
a.
5th century CE
b.
1st century CE
c.
3rd century CE
d.
6th century CE
5. After Christianity received acceptance within the Roman Empire, churches were constructed above the
catacombs. Which of the following provides the most explanation for such churches to be constructed
at these sites?
a.
The pious worshiped openly at the graves of the earliest Christian martyrs
b.
These were the only sites available for church construction
c.
All churches had to be constructed outside the city’s walls
d.
The catacombs were the holiest sites
6. A man, a woman, and at least one child can be seen in the praying position found in the lunette of the
Catacomb of Sts. Peter and Marcellinus. Which of the following presents the best explanation for the
placement of these people in the lunette?
a.
They represent the Christian family seeking their heavenly reward.
b.
They represent the ideal Christian family.
c.
They represent the Christian family who own that section of the catacomb.
d.
They represent nothing specific, just figures to fill the space.
7. How did one recognize a Christian sarcophagus?
a.
The name of the owner was always carved on the center panel
b.
Only Christians were buried in sarcophagi
c.
It was decorated with significant Christian subject matter
d.
The Crucifixion was always included as part of the subject matter
8. In the sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, a pagan who converted to Christianity, the sculptors illustrated
scenes from the life of Christ. Which of the following represents the allusion to the Crucifixion?
a.
Entry into Jerusalem
b.
Christ before Pilate
c.
Christ between Sts. Peter and Paul
d.
Christ enthroned
9. The Diptych of the Nicomachi and the Symmachi is significant to the art tradition of fourth century
Rome. Which of the following supports that statement?
a.
It adapted classical tradition for a Christian wedding gift
b.
It initiated the tradition of ivory carving
c.
The diptych becomes a document acknowledging the marriage of the daughter to Junius
Bassus
d.
It deliberately continued the classical tradition
10. The Christ as Good Shepherd from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia at Ravenna is said to be deeply
rooted in the classical tradition. Which of the following would support that belief?
a.
It is a mosaic rather than a fresco
b.
It is full of Greco-Roman illusionistic devices
c.
It is a fresco rather than a mosaic
d.
It has a landscape included in the depiction
11. The illustrated book had a long history in the ancient world. When did the tradition of placing pictures
in manuscripts first begin?
a.
Republican Rome
b.
Etruscan period
c.
Classical Greece
d.
Pharaonic Egypt
12. Which of the following attributes was used to depict Christ after Christianity was officially recognized
by Roman authorities?
a.
laurel leaf crown
b.
Imperial purple
c.
chariot
d.
Imperial armor
13. Which of the following is represented on the sarcophagus of Santa Maria Antiqua?
a.
Daniel
b.
Jonah
c.
Matthew
d.
Twelve Apostles
14. What was the entrance porch of Old St. Peter’s in Rome called?
a.
atrium
b.
narthex
c.
nave
d.
bema
15. Which of the following would be considered the predecessor for the Mausoleum of Costanza?
a.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
b.
Tomb of the Julii
c.
S. Apollinare Nuovo
d.
Pantheon
16. Christ as the Good Shepherd appears in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and uses many iconographic
devices. Which of the following is one of those devices?
a.
goats representing sinners
b.
sheep representing the Faithful
c.
a basin of water
d.
a chalice
17. Which of the following is a basilica?
a.
Santa Costanza
b.
Old St. Peter’s
c.
Sts. Peter and Marcellinus
d.
St. Callixtus
18. Which of the following themes represents the interior decorative program of Santa Costanza?
a.
the lives of the saints
b.
the Passion
c.
grape harvest and wine production
d.
history of Rome
19. Which of the following is an architectural element found in Santa Sabina?
a.
domed interior
b.
timbered ceiling
c.
groin vault
d.
double apse interior
20. The Rossano Gospels is the earliest illuminated manuscript that contains illustrations of which of the
following?
a.
lives of the martyrs
b.
coronation of Peter as Pope
c.
New Testament
d.
martyrdom of Paul
21. The representation of Nahor seen in the scene of Rebecca and Eliezer at the well from the Vienna
Genesis uses which of the following conventions?
a.
Early Christian pictorial convention
b.
Roman pictorial convention
c.
Egyptian pictorial convention
d.
Hebrew pictorial convention
22. ____ was the Ostrogothic king and patron of the church of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna.
a.
Theodoric
b.
Justinian
c.
Alaric
d.
Trajan Decius
SLIDE IDENTIFICATION
Select the response that identifies or corresponds best to the image on the screen.
23. (Figure 8-13)
a.
S. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna
b.
St. Peter’s, Rome
c.
Santa Costanza, Rome
d.
Santa Sabina
24. (Figure 8-8A)
a.
Christ seated
b.
the Crucifixion
c.
Good Shepherd
d.
Sol Invictus
25. (Figure 8-5)
a.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna
b.
Santa Sabina, Rome
c.
Community House, Dura Europos
d.
Synagogue, Dura Europos
26. (Figure 8-10)
a.
timbered ceiling
b.
domed ceiling
c.
squinch
d.
vault
27. (Figure 8-9)
a.
Old St. Peter’s
b.
Santa Sabina
c.
Santa Costanza
d.
Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo
28. (Figure 8-1)
a.
Santa Maria Antiqua sarcophagus
b.
Ludovisi sarcophagus
c.
Orestes sarcophagus
d.
Junius Bassus sarcophagus
29. (Figure 8-16)
a.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
b.
Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo
c.
Old St. Peter’s
d.
Santa Sabina
30. (Figure 8-2)
a.
Community House
b.
Santa Sabina
c.
Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo
d.
Synagogue
31. (Figure 8-10)
a.
Corinthian columns
b.
Ionic columns
c.
Doric columns
d.
Tuscan columns
32. (Figure 8-19)
a.
Christ enthroned
b.
Parting of Abraham and Lot
c.
Last Judgment
d.
Miracle of Loaves and Fishes
33. (Figure 8-22)
a.
Rossano Gospels
b.
Vienna Genesis
c.
Vatican Vergil
d.
Pentateuch
34. (Figure 8-6A)
a.
Catacomb of Commodila
b.
Catacomb EN
c.
Via Dino Compagnei Catacomb
d.
Cubiculum Leonis
35. (Figure 8-10A)
a.
bronze
b.
cypress wood
c.
painted ivory
d.
weathered brass
36. (Figure 8-13A)
a.
mosaic
b.
speckled gold flakes
c.
fresco secco
d.
mural
37. (Figure 8-17A)
a.
Ravenna
b.
Rome
c.
Venice
d.
Vienna
38. (Figure 8-20A)
a.
Venice Genesis
b.
Vienna Genesis
c.
Versache Genesis
d.
Ravenna Genesis
SHORT ANSWER
1. How does the painting from Dura Europos reflect Late Antique art?
2. How does the Christian community house located in Dura-Europas reflect the state of Christianity
within the Roman Empire?
3. What is the significance of Old St. Peter’s?
4. Explain Old St. Peter’s relationship and place in Christendom.
5. How does Sta. Costanza mirror Imperial Roman architecture?
6. What is the significance of Dura Europos?
7. Why are catacombs significant?
8. What provoked Roman persecution of the Christians?
9. How does the theme of the “Good Shepherd” reflect the heritage of the pre-Christian world?
10. Why is the diptych of the Nicomachi and Symmachi significant?
11. Although the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes from Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo resemble Late Antique
abstraction, what is different?
12. Why are there very few depictions of the crucifixion in Early Christian art?
13. How did the Early Christian style change art?
ESSAY
1. Explain the roles played by the Classical style of Greece and Rome in the development of Early
Christian art. Use examples to support your essay.
2. Examine the contributions of Constantine. How did he impact the art of fourth century in the Early
Christian world?
3. What features did Early Christian architects take from Roman builders, and what new techniques did
they develop? Discuss specific features from at least three buildings.
4. Discuss the role of statuary in Early Christian art and worship.
5. Compare the mosaics of Santa Costanza with the mosaics of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. How
are they similar, how are they different, and how do they reflect their respective periods?
6. How did the Roman Imperial motifs merge with Christian themes on the Sarcophagus of Junius
Bassus?
7. To what extent do manuscript illuminations conform to contemporary art?
8. Compare and contrast the images of Christ as the Good Shepherd from the Mausoleum of Galla
Placidia and Miracle of Loaves and Fishes from Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo. How does each reflect the
synthesis of Classical values?
OTHER
SLIDE QUESTIONS
1. What type of storytelling is employed here?
2. What motifs are depicted and how are they susceptible to a Christian reading?
3. What does the rare depiction of a freestanding sculpture such as this reveals about the patrons?
4. Contrast these images. What features reflect the influence of the classical style?
5. Describe the features of these mosaics that make them examples of the Early Christian style.
6. Compare the treatment of space and form in these two sculptures and discuss the factors that may
account for the differences in style.
7. What does this image say about changing views of Christ? Note the iconographic features of the image
and describe the stylistic features that add to the emotional effect.
8. Compare these two images. How have their interior spaces changed in function?
9. How does this ivory plaque reflect Early Christian themes?