Explore the Christian catacombs of Rome, the wall paintings at Dura Europos, and then explore other  "Sacred Sites" world wide. 

PAGAN, SYNOGOGUE, CATACOMB, SYNCRETISM, RELIC, MOSAIC, TESSERAE, ICONOGRAPHY, MANUSCRIPTS, VELLUM, PARCHMENT, DIPTYCH.

a. Why are the murals at Dura Europos important both in terms of their pictorial devices and their content?  See pages 289-291.
b. Discuss the presence of Jewish subjects in Christian art.  See inset on page 293.
c. Read over "The Life of Jesus in Art" on pages 296-297 to understand the iconography of Early Christian art.
d. Describe the Greco-Roman illusionistic devices present in the Good Shepherd mosaic on page 302. 

e. Explore the material and technique of mosaics and their importance to the art in this time period.  See the inset on page 303.

f. Discuss how and why the art of the early Christian era is different from the classical art of Greece and Rome.  See page 304.
g. What are the early forms and artistic styles of the earliest illuminated manuscripts?  See pages 3304-306 and the inset on page 305..

a. Interior of the synagogue at Dura-Europos, Syria, Page 290.
b. Christ seated, Page 295.
c. The Parting of Lot and Abraham, mosaic at Santa Maria Maggiore, Page 301.
d. Christ as the Good Shepherd, mosaic at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Page 302.
e. Miracle of the loaves and fishes, mosaic at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Page 304. 
f. Rebecca and Eliezer at the well, from the Vienna Genesis, Page 305. 

a. Early Christian Art at the Vatican

b. Explore the "Catacombs of St. Callixtus."

c. Museo Pio Cristiano II

d.  Explore "Mosaic Floors in Ancient Synogogues," by Professor Rachel Hachlili in the Jewish Heritage On-line Magazine.

e.  Take the "Curator's Tour" through the Gallery of Early Christian and Byzantine Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

g.  At this site, scroll down to "Gallic Art" of the 4th, 5th, and 6th centuries.

Write comments and/or questions related to issues/images in #3 or #4 above.