CHURCH, SOCIETY, AND THE SACRED IN EARLY CHRISTIAN GREECE DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By William R. Caraher, M.A. * * * * * The Ohio State University 2003 Dissertation Committee: Approved By Professor Timothy E. Gregory, Adviser Professor James Morganstern Professor Barbara Hanawalt _____________________ Adviser Professor Nathan Rosenstein Department of History ABSTRACT This dissertation proposes a social analysis of the Early Christian basilicas (4th-6th century) of Southern and Central Greece, predominantly those in the Late Roman province of Achaia. After an introduction which places the dissertation in the broader context of the study of Late Antique Greece, the second chapter argues that church construction played an important role in the process of religions change in Late Antiquity. The third chapter examines Christian ritual, architecture, and cosmology to show that churches in Greece depended upon and reacted to existing phenomena that served to promote hierarchy and shape power structures in Late Roman society. Chapter four emphasizes social messages communicated through the motifs present in the numerous mosaic pavements which commonly adorned Early Christian buildings in Greece. The final chapter demonstrates that the epigraphy likewise presented massages that communicated social expectations drawn from both an elite and Christian discourse. Moreover they provide valuable information for the individuals who participated in the processes of church construction. After a brief conclusion, two catalogues present bibliographic citations for the inscriptions and architecture referred to in the text. The primary goal of this dissertation is to integrate the study of ritual, architecture, and social history and to demonstrate how Early Christian architecture played an important role in affecting social change during Late Antiquity. ii To My Parents iii AKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost I want to thank my family for their generous emotional, intellectual, and financial support. My parents and two brothers have stood behind my academic endeavors from their first wobbly steps. My uncle Joseph Reynolds has read various drafts of conference papers and contributed comments. My late Grandfather, Peter G. Reynolds, provided me with the inspiration for pursuing history as my main line of research, and it saddens me that he could not share in my progress. My Grandmother Elizabeth Y. Reynolds has always encouraged my study in every way. Special thanks go to all my friends who have seen me through crucial phases of my rather lengthy journey. In particular I must thank Mike Fronda and Jen Brecht for their always hospitable, if not always relaxing, table, kitchen, and barbeque. Mike, David Pettegrew, Dan Sarefield, and Jack Wells also played an important part in my intellectual development as they were subjected to various drafts of chapters, proposals, and papers. Kristin Di Bernardo, Adelia Gregory, and Grace Cheow also edited and read drafts at various stages. In Athens, James Wells, Jennifer Palinkas, Angela Volan, Christine Smith, Mike Lippman, Sarah Lepinski, Sulo Asirvatham, Craig Hardimann, Rangar Cline, Bronwen Wickkiser, and Hilda Westerveld entertained and encouraged me iv intellectually and socially. Catherine Hammer has perhaps suffered the most graciously as this project staggered toward its end and assisted in assembling and preparing the images. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not give a “shout out” to all the ‘ballers at J.O. North and to all my friends from Wilmington, “a place to be somebody”, indeed. For professional help of various kinds (pun intended), I must thank Richard Rothaus for providing me with an early draft of a chapter from his book on Late Roman Korinth, Guy Sanders for discussing various matters of Late Antiquity, Yannis Varalis, for allowing me to see part of his comprehensive catalogue of the churches of Illyricum Orientalis, and Rebecca Sweetman for sharing her on-going work at the basilica at Sparta and on Late Roman mosaics. Judith Binder both made and fielded numerous inquiries regarding the churches of Athens. Mike Dixon provided me with a copy E. Sironen’s 1997 dissertation on the Late Roman and Early Byzantine inscriptions of Attica when it was very difficult to acquire in the U.S. Walter Stevenson, who read and commented on various drafts, and Stuart Wheeler have always encouraged my academic pursuits. Joseph Rife has always lent a sympathetic and critical ear to my various ideas. Pierre MacKay, Linda Hall, and Molly Richardson also provided criticism, bibliography, and encouragement. The members of the Eastern Korinthia Archaeological Survey and the Australian Palaiochora Kythera Archaeological Survey have more or less patiently endured my marginally coherent ranting about architecture, space and other frontiers. At The Ohio State University I received generous funding from the Department of History, the Graduate School, and the Office of International Education. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens provided me with two fellowships as an Associate Member and a distraction free place to smooth out the accumulated wrinkles in my thought and v text. The Blegen Library staff, especially Phyllis Graham and Camilla MacKay, always welcomed me to the fringes of their collection, while the staff of the Gennadius Library exceeded their reputation for efficiency and good cheer. Jack Balcer introduced me to Greece and graduate school in his seminars and lectures on the Bronze Age, Classical, and Hellenistic Eastern Mediterranean. Nathan Rosenstein taught me how to be resilient and critical in his brutal Roman History seminars. James Morganstern guided me to the proper study of Byzantine architecture. This dissertation would not have been possible, however, without the unfailing support and encouragement of my advisor Timothy Gregory who provided me at various times with funding, housing, food, and transportation, as well as advice and criticism. Above all he was patient with my antics and schedule. In a world driven by a rather pointless and paradoxical brand of hyper-professionalism he showed me that humanity and academia were not mutually exclusive. Needless to say, the problems in this current work reflect entirely my reluctance to consider fully these individuals’ careful counsel. vi VITA April 28, 1972………………………………………Born 1994………………………………………….……...B.A., University of Richmond, Richmond College, Richmond, VA 1996…………………………………………………M.A., The Ohio State University 2001-2003…………………………………………..American School of Classical Studies at Athens 1994-2003…………………………………………..Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant, The Ohio State University Major Field: History vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication.......................................................................................................................... iii Aknowledgments ............................................................................................................... iv Vita.................................................................................................................................... vii List of Plans .........................................................................................................................x Abbreviations.....................................................................................................................xv Chapter 1: Introduction........................................................................................................1 1.1. Context of History........................................................................................................ 5 1.1.1. Sources...................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.2. Religion................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.3. Politics and Economics, Church and State ............................................................. 12 1.1.4. Invasions and the End of Antiquity ........................................................................ 15 1.2. The Architecture ........................................................................................................ 16 1.2.1. Basic shape and plan............................................................................................... 16 1.2.2. Size.......................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.3. Chronology ............................................................................................................. 18 1.2.4. Function .................................................................................................................. 25 1.2.5. Regional Styles ....................................................................................................... 31 1.2.6. Conclusions............................................................................................................. 33 1.3. Outline of the Dissertation......................................................................................... 35 A Note about Citation ......................................................................................................