The Clash Of Gods

"This book presents an up-to-date and original survey of Early Christian art and its origins, and attacks the current idea of continuity between the Roman emperor cult and the art of the early church. Conservative readers may well be shocked by this lucid but utterly unconventional presentation of an often treated subject. I find Thomas Mathews's work convincing and impressive."--Hugo Buchthal
"Not only does Mathews present bold arguments that I find persuasive, but his book is exciting to read. He removes the images of Christ from the iconography of the emperor and puts them into the far more plausible context of late antique teachers and wonder-workers."--G. W. Bowersock

List of contents

	Acknowledgments
Ch. 1	The Mistake of the Emperor Mystique	3
Ch. 2	The Chariot and the Donkey	23
Ch. 3	The Magician	54
Ch. 4	Larger-than-Life	92
Ch. 5	Christ Chameleon	115
Ch. 6	Convergence	142
Ch. 7	The Intimate Icon	177
	List of Abbreviations	181
	Notes	183
	List of Figures	205
	Index	213

About the author

Thomas F. Mathews

Summary

Between the third and sixth centuries, the ancient gods, goddesses, and heroes who had populated the imagination of humankind for a millennium were replaced by a new imagery of Christ and his saints. This title explores the many different, often surprising, artistic images and religious interpretations of Christ during this period.

Additional text

"Mathews's argument is convincing. In his determination to challenge and overturn a long-held theory, he does not allow his chameleon Christ, who is both man and woman, magician and god, any role as Christ the king. The pendulum may swing back, but not on the same course again. This book has cleared the way for new understandings of the iconography of Christ. It should stimulate a reconsideration of stereotyped readings of other images and in other periods."---Ann Moffatt, Parergon

Product details

• Authors: Thomas Mathews, Thomas F Mathews, Thomas F. Mathews, Mathews Thomas F.
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.05.1999
• EAN: 9780691009391
• ISBN: 978-0-691-00939-1
• No. of pages: 256
• Dimensions: 190 mm x 254 mm x 19 mm
• Series: Princeton Paperbacks; Princeton Paperbacks
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Humanities, art, music > Art > Art history; ART / Subjects & Themes / Religious, History of Art, History of art: Byzantine & Medieval art c 500 CE to c 1400, Medieval style, Religious subjects depicted in art, Religious and ceremonial art, ART / History / European / Medieval