Universität Wien
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090118 PS Miracles and Wonders in Early Christian Art (2021S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 11.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 18.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 25.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 15.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 22.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 29.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 06.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 20.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 27.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 10.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 17.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG
  • Thursday 24.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Digital
    Hybride Lehre
    Seminarraum d. Inst. f. Klassische Archäologie Franz-Klein-Gasse 1.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The aim of the course is to focus the attention on the visual representations of the miracles and wonders as narrative function and tool in promoting Christianity over other religions. Shortly after the beginning of Christian art, Christ as a healer and miracle worker became a primary theme. These early images appeared in wall paintings (Domus Ecclesiae of Dura Europos), in sepulchral settings such as in the catacombs, sculpture, mosaics, golden glass, ivory, amulets, and illuminated manuscripts etc. Among the most prominent themes healing the sick, and rising the dead appeared as the most favored themes as they were reminders of the ultimate resurrection and benevolence of God. To this the nature miracles as the Cana miracle and multiplication of loaves must be added. Thus, these images had great reception among the Christian community and became codified according to specific visual characteristics. The course will address the historical context, the development of visual language of early Christians by analytically addressing the main iconographic themes, related to miracle representation, and the way they appear on different mediums (wall paintings, mosaics, sculpture, minor arts etc.). Students will be explore the theme through specific guided readings, discussion and will choose a subject for their presentations.

Assessment and permitted materials

20% regular participation and active participation of the students (max. Two absence are allowed; if absent three times, an additional work must be provided) 40% oral presentation (approx. 30 min.) 40% written paper (at least 10 pages of text, including footnotes, without images and literature).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

For a successful evaluation, all partial performances must be positive

Examination topics

As above

Reading list

J.G. Deckers, H.R. Seeliger, G. Mietke, Die Katakombe "Santi Marcellino e Pietro". Repertorium Der Malerein, Città del Vaticano- Munster 1987.
J.G. Deckers, G. Mietke, A. Weiland, Die Katakombe "Anonima di Via Anapo". Repertorium Der Malerein, Città del Vaticano- Munster 1992.
J.G. Deckers, G. Mietke, A. Weiland, Die Katakombe "Comodilla". Repertorium Der Malerein, Città del Vaticano- Munster 1994.
F.W. Deichmann, G. Bovini, H. Brandenburg, Repertorium der christlich-antiken Sarkophage, Band 1 Rom und Ostia. (Wiesbaden 1967).
V. Fiocchi Nicolai, F. Bisconti, D. Mazzoleni, Roms christliche Katakomben: Geschichte, Bilderwelt, Inschriften, Regensburg 2000.
L.M. Jefferson, Christ the Miracle Worker in Early Christian Art, Minneapolis 2015.
L.M. Jefferson, Miracles and Art, in R.M. Jensen, M.D. Ellison, The Routledge Handbook of Early Christian Art, London 2018, pp. 308-325.
J. Spier, Kessler H. L. (eds.), Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art, New Haven 2007.

Further guided reading will be given on Moodle platform.

Association in the course directory

Anrechenbar: im Fachbereich Spätantike und Frühchristliche Archäologie + Bilder:
im BA: M6, M10, M13;
im BA alt: WM früh, kl. Vertiefung;
im EC 596;
im EC 597;

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:14