A converted Empire. The Role of Material, visual and ritual Cultures in the Christian West

FOLETTI, Ivan. A converted Empire. The Role of Material, visual and ritual Cultures in the Christian West. In Bildmedien der Taufe - im Spannungsfeld von Ort, Ritual und Gemeinschaft. 2020.

Basic information

Original name

A converted Empire. The Role of Material, visual and ritual Cultures in the Christian West

Authors

FOLETTI, Ivan

Edition

Bildmedien der Taufe - im Spannungsfeld von Ort, Ritual und Gemeinschaft. 2020

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Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Vyžádané přednášky

Field of Study

60400 6.4 Arts

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

Christian Initiation; Objects; Material Culture; Sacred Space; Images

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Abstract

V originále

The Christianization of the Roman Empire corresponds to a unique phase in the history of Europe. This paper will thus focus on the role of material, visual, and ritual cultures in this process. I wish to demonstrate that adult initiation – including pre- and post-baptismal preaching, baptism, and the associated spaces – was the key-moment in the life-changing process of conversion. Indeed, the dramatic staging and setting within initiatory rituals enacted the real moment of inclusion into the Christian community. Luxurious buildings, lighting and images, were constitutive for these experiences. As can be perceived from ancient texts and monuments, it was in this multisensory environment that individual and collective Christianization was achieved. Such rituals also had an external impact: movements, architectures, sounds, smells, glittering images were projected on the cityscape. The public and communitarian dimension of the rituals had remarkable proselyte potential on the rest of society.