Urban Christianity
Fifth to sixth century mosaics around the cupola of the Rotunda, Thessaloniki. The Rotunda was built in 306 AD as a Roman mausoleum or a temple. It is the oldest (still standing) building in Thessaloniki. After "paganism" was outlawed at the end of the fourth century, the building was consecrated as a church and the mosaics fitted within the next one hundred years. The surviving fragments are impressive enough and one of only three comparable examples of early Byzantine mosaic art (the two others being Constantinople, the Agia Sofia in particular, and Ravenna). What fascinates me are the images of Hellenistic and Roman buildings on the wall. One of them has been identified as the Library of Ephesus. Martyr's or donors do stand in front of these buildings, but the image overall is urbane. Christianity is clearly seen as the religion of city dwellers. Interestingly, the original meaning of the Latin term "paganus" is a person from the countryside. The English language got quite close to this when applying the word "heathen" to non-Christians. Leica M8, Voigtlaender 35/1.4.
Urban Christianity
Fifth to sixth century mosaics around the cupola of the Rotunda, Thessaloniki. The Rotunda was built in 306 AD as a Roman mausoleum or a temple. It is the oldest (still standing) building in Thessaloniki. After "paganism" was outlawed at the end of the fourth century, the building was consecrated as a church and the mosaics fitted within the next one hundred years. The surviving fragments are impressive enough and one of only three comparable examples of early Byzantine mosaic art (the two others being Constantinople, the Agia Sofia in particular, and Ravenna). What fascinates me are the images of Hellenistic and Roman buildings on the wall. One of them has been identified as the Library of Ephesus. Martyr's or donors do stand in front of these buildings, but the image overall is urbane. Christianity is clearly seen as the religion of city dwellers. Interestingly, the original meaning of the Latin term "paganus" is a person from the countryside. The English language got quite close to this when applying the word "heathen" to non-Christians. Leica M8, Voigtlaender 35/1.4.