AGE OF SPIRITUALITY
AGEOF
SPIRITUALITY
Late Antique and
Early Christian Art,
Third to Seventh Century
Catalogue of the exhibition at
The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
November 19, 1977,
through February 12, 1978
Edited by KURT WEITZMANN
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
OF ART, NEW YORK
Published in association with PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
The exhibition was made possible by a grant from the
National Endowment for the Humanities, matched
by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Further assistance was received from the
Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust.
Under the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act,
indemnity was granted by the
Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
ON THE JACKET: Diptych of Christ and the Virgin, no. 474
Typography by Peter Oldenburg
Map by Cal Sacks
Composition by Asco Trade Typesetting Limited, Hong Kong
Black and white printing by Murray Printing Company, Westford, Massachusetts
Color printing by Eastern Press, New Haven, Connecticut
Copyright© 1979 by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Main entry under title:
Age of spirituality:
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Art, Ancient-Exhibitions. 2. Art, Early Christian-
Exhibitions. 3. Christian art and symbolism-Medieval, 500-
1500-Exhibitions. 4. Jewish art and symbolism-Exhibitions.
I. Weitzmann, Kurt, 1904- II. New York (City).
Metropolitan Museum of Art.
N5340.A35 709'.01'507401471 78-23512
ISBN 0-87099-179-5
CONTENTS
Foreword THOMAS P. F. HOVING ix
Preface PHILIPPE DE MONTEBELLO xi
Acknowledgments KURT WEITZMANN xiii
Honorary Committee XV
Lenders to the Exhibition xvi
Introduction KURT WEITZMANN xix
Introduction to the Architecture ALFRED FRAZER xxvii
Color Plates xxxii
I. THE IMPERIAL REALM
Portraiture JAMES D. BRECKENRIDGE 2
Imperial portraits 8
Imperial medallions 36
Consuls 46
Other officials 54
Scenic Representations RICHARD BRILLIANT 60
Ceremonies and processions 66
Warfare 79
The hunt 83
The arena and the circus 92
Architecture ALFRED FRAZER 109
II. THE CLASSICAL REALM
Mythology RICHARD BRILLIANT 126
Greek gods 132
Popular heroes 158
M ythological themes 168
Personifications 173
Gods of the mystery cults 1_82
II. THE CLASSICAL REALM (continued)
Science and Poetry KURT WEITZMANN 199
Sciences 205
Didactic treatises 214
Epos 216
Drama 240
Romances 245
Bucolics 247
Poet and muses 255
Architecture ALFRED FRAZER 263
III. THE SECULAR REALM
Representations of Daily Life KURT WEITZMANN 270
Portraiture JAMES D. BRECKENRIDGE 286
Objects from Daily Life MARVIN C. ROSS 297
Jewelry 302
Other objects of daily use 329
Ar chi tec ture ALFRED FRAZER 350
IV. THE JEWISH REALM
Representational Art BEZALEL NARKISS 366
Architecture BEZALEL NARKISS 390
V. THE CHRISTIAN REALM
Abbreviated Representations ERICH DINKLER 396
Early monuments 404
Old Testament 420
Old and New Testament 427
New Testament 436
Narrative Representations HERBERT L. KESSLER 449
Old Testament 457
Old and New Testament 486
New Testament and apocrypha 490
v. THE CHRISTIAN REALM (continued)
lconic Representations MARGARET E. FRAZER 513
Apse Themes MARGARET E. FRAZER 556
Holy Sites Representations MARGARET E. FRAZER 564
Altar Implements and Liturgical Objects VICTOR H. ELBERN 592
The Hamah treasure 599
Altar implements 606
Other cult objects 620
Reliquaries 630
Church furniture 637
Architecture ALFRED FRAZER 640
Contributors to the Catalogue 670
Appendix: Chronology of Emperors and Events 672
Glossary 674
Bibliography 682
Index 724
