The Clash of Gods
The Clash of Gods
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Summary
Explores the revolution in the visual arts that took place between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD, during which time the ancient gods, goddesses and heroes who had populated the imagination of humankind for hundreds of years were replaced by a new imagery of Christ and His saints.
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The Clash of Gods by Thomas F Mathews
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. Thomas Mathews explores the many different, often surprising, artistic images and religious interpretations of Christ during this period. He challenges the accepted theory of the "Emperor Mystique," which, interpreting Christ as king, derives the vocabulary of Christian art from the propagandistic imagery of the Roman emperor. This revised edition contains a new preface by the author and a new chapter on the origin and development of icons in private domestic cult.
"This is a sumptuously illustrated book, in which the pictures are well married to the textIt makes an illuminating way into patristic theology and the religions of the first six centuries."---Leslie Holden, Theology
"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
"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
Thomas F. Mathews is John Langeloth Loeb Professor of the History of Art at the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. Among his most recent books is Byzantium from Antiquity to the Renaissance (1998).
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780691001593 |
| ISBN 10 | 0691001596 |
| Title | The Clash of Gods |
| Author | Thomas F Mathews |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Princeton University Press |
| Year published | 1995-01-09 |
| Number of pages | 240 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |