“HE IS THE IMAGE AND GLORY OF GOD”: POLEMICAL IMAGES OF CHRIST FROM THE TIME OF CONSTANTINE By MARY WRIGHT A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2016 © 2016 Mary Wright To my husband, Matthew, whose faith in me never faltered ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my parents, first and foremost, for instilling in me the interest of Christianity and its origins. I also wish to thank my husband who stood by me when life grew difficult, yet still he believed in me and pushed me to complete this work. Last, but not least, I wish to thank Dr. Ashley Jones and Dr. Mary Ann Eaverly, my mentors, for their patience and guidance. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 6 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................ 10 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 10 Overview ................................................................................................................. 18 2 ROLES THAT WERE ADAPTED BY CHRIST ........................................................ 23 Sun Gods ................................................................................................................ 24 Salvation Gods ....................................................................................................... 26 The Shepherd ......................................................................................................... 28 Heroic and Anti-Heroic Figures ............................................................................... 30 Ritual Roles ............................................................................................................ 32 Understanding these Roles ..................................................................................... 33 3 THE IMAGE OF CHRIST ........................................................................................ 49 Costumes ................................................................................................................ 52 Roles of Christ ........................................................................................................ 55 Attributes ................................................................................................................. 61 Scrolls ........................................................................................................ 62 Thrones ...................................................................................................... 63 Crowns ....................................................................................................... 64 Staffs .......................................................................................................... 65 Sheep ........................................................................................................ 66 Placement ............................................................................................................... 67 4 THE ADAPATIONS................................................................................................. 80 David....................................................................................................................... 87 Noblemen ............................................................................................................... 89 5 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................... 107 LIST OF REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 112 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .......................................................................................... 116 5 LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 1-1 Reconstruction showing Constantine/Sol/Christ ........................................................21 1-2 Wall Painting detail of Chi-Rho Symbol .......................................................................21 1-3 Arch of Constantine, south front ...................................................................................22 1-4 Christ as Orpheus ...........................................................................................................22 2-1 Christ as Sol Salutis ........................................................................................................42 2-2 Sol as Sunday ..................................................................................................................42 2-3 Santa Costanza: Bacchic Scene ..................................................................................43 2-4 Sarcophagus of Constantia ...........................................................................................43 2-5 Orpheus and the Animals ..............................................................................................44 2-6 Good Shepherd, Orants and the Story of Jonah ........................................................44 2-7 Good Shepherd ...............................................................................................................45 2-8 Europa on the Bull ...........................................................................................................45 2-9 Sestertius Showing the Marriage of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the younger (with Head of Marcus Aurelius (obverse)) ...................................................46 2-10 Wedding Soildus Showing Christ .................................................................................46 2-11 Decorative Details on the Synagogue of Capernaum ...............................................47 2-12 Lintel Block with a Wagon ..............................................................................................47 2-13 Catacomb of Priscilla-Tombstone with Fish and Anchor ..........................................48 2-14 Augustus of Prima Porta ................................................................................................48 3-1 Healing of the Paralytic ..................................................................................................70 3-2 Posthumous Issue of the Divine Constantine I. .........................................................70 3-3 Christ with the Apostles ..................................................................................................71 3-4 Christ Enthroned, Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus ....................................................71 6 3-5 Transfiguration of Christ .................................................................................................72 3-6 The Good Shepherd. ......................................................................................................72 3-7 Statuette of the Good Shepherd ...................................................................................73 3-8 Christ Enthroned Delivering the Scroll of the Law to St. Paul ..................................73 3-9 Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus .....................................................................................74 3-10 Adventus of Hadrian and Sabina into Alexandria ......................................................74 3-11 Detail of the Virgin with Peter and Paul with Christ overhead surrounded by the Evangelistic Symbols ...............................................................................................75 3-12 Christ Healing the Woman with an Issue of Blood .....................................................75 3-13 Christ’s Miracles on the Andrews Diptych from Milan ...............................................76 3-14 Icon of Christ ....................................................................................................................76 3-15 Lamp with Christ Trampling the Beasts .......................................................................77 3-16 Floor Mosaic: Christ ........................................................................................................77 3-17 Casket ...............................................................................................................................78 3-18 Plaque from Loculus Tomb of a Child ..........................................................................78 3-19 Vault Interior, The Starry Sky with Cross and Four Evangelist ................................79 4-1 Christ Militant ...................................................................................................................97 4-2 Coin struck by Constantine I to commemorate Constantinople ...............................97 4-3 Coin of Constantine showing a depiction of his Labarum spearing a Serpent ......98 4-4 Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine ........................................................................98 4-5 (Old) St. Peter’s Basilica ................................................................................................99 4-6 Christ in Apse ...................................................................................................................99 4-7 Comparisons