Constantine, Divine Emperor of the Christian Golden Age

by Jonathan Bardill

Overview

Constantine, Divine Emperor of the Christian Golden Age offers a radical reassessment of Constantine as an emperor, a pagan, and a Christian. The book examines in detail a wide variety of evidence, including literature, secular and religious architectural monuments, coins, sculpture, and other works of art. Setting the emperor in the context of the kings and emperors who preceded him, Jonathan Bardill shows how Constantine's propagandists exploited the traditional themes and imagery of rulership to portray him as having been elected by the supreme solar God to save his people and inaugurate a brilliant golden age. The author argues that the cultivation of this image made it possible for Constantine to reconcile the long-standing tradition of imperial divinity with his monotheistic faith by assimilating himself to Christ.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107538986
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/25/2015
Pages:	465
Product dimensions:	8.46(w) x 10.98(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Jonathan Bardill has held fellowships at the University of Oxford, Dumbarton Oaks, Newcastle University and Koç University's Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations, Istanbul. He has contributed articles to numerous archaeological and historical journals, including the American Journal of Archaeology, the Journal of Roman Archaeology and Dumbarton Oaks Papers, as well as several edited volumes, including Social and Political Life in Late Antiquity and The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies. He is the author of the reference work Brickstamps of Constantinople.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. A change of image; 2. Emperors and divine protectors; 3. The saving ruler and the Logos-Nomos; 4. The hippodrome procession; 5. The symbol from the sun, the standard, and the sarcophagus; 6. The Roman Colossus; 7. Constantine and Christianity; 8. Sol and Christianity; 9. Constantine as Christ; Epilogue.

Editorial Reviews

"Bardill's monograph is a major contribution to Constantine studies. His over-arching argument, that the emperor's monuments offered an open-ended set of associations that may have resonated differently for different viewers, but which cohered into a consistent vision of divinely sanctioned solar monotheism, is a welcome response to more one-dimensional interpretations of the reign. The volume is well written, thoroughly researched and handsomely produced. Its abundant illustrations include illuminating reconstructions of several key monuments in their ancient environments."
Elizabeth Marlowe, Journal of Roman Studies

"This lavishly designed volume … furnished with numerous black and white illustrations, undoubtedly belongs among the most important books published in 2012, a year overabundant with publications on Constantine … It deserves great recognition, both because of its synthetic achievement and because of the formulation of arguments that are perfectly more plausible or at least worthy of discussion."
Bruno Bleckmann, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"This book portrays a provocative and fresh insight into a period of Christianity’s development that is widely considered second only to the conversion of St Paul on the road to Damascus. We are left with an analysis that is extremely well crafted, providing valuable possibilities, but limited certainties. Everyone interested in the history of Christianity will find this work a valuable resource. The combination of archaeological detail and textual reference provides a rich and rewarding reading experience."
Reviews in Religion and Theology

"This excellent book represents a successful attempt to integrate historically and visually what is known about Constantine … This book is clearly written, and the images are on the whole excellent. Because of the book's interdisciplinary focus, it will appeal to a wide audience of scholars and students, as well as an educated general readership. Summing up: highly recommended."
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