Constantine and Christianity: Imperial Support of the Christian Church - Essay Example

Constantine and Christianity: Imperial Support of the Christian Church Elizabeth Marlowe, “Framing the sun: The arch of Constantine and the Roman City scape”, on page 223 says that Constantine’s arch built between 313 to 315 was to celebrate the victory of Maxentius usurper which was Rome based. The arch’s iconography was striking as Marlowe on page 58, says that Constantine’s arch was not a building which comes to anyone’s mind as a likely propagon of a propitious virtue. This was because of the fact that Parthenon in Athens assembled columns from its previous incarnation.

The Arch had a series of relationships which were striking both for their simplicity and their column height1.According to Krautheimer on page 59, Constantine’s arch symbolized a holy place where worship was supposed to be carried out. While Marlowe considered it to symbolize a success, such that no other emperor will ever conquer them. Finally, Elizabeth Marlowe on page 223 says it symbolized victory2.Constantine building was built to rival those of the public buildings because he was dedicating them to God.

Therefore, he wanted to show the public that God was good and that they should turn away from worshipping idols.Constantine did build very big churches because he considered himself the thirteenth apostle and according to Davis Weyer on page 11, he says that Constantine gave very expensive gifts to the church such as silver and very pure gold3.It was very controversial for Constantine to consider himself the thirteenth apostle, because the apostle Jesus had been chosen by Jesus, they did not choose themselves.

At that time no one could see the act to be controversial because they had won several battles, therefore they couldn’t think of anything else. According to the architects of the building the main focus of the building was for worshipping.BibliographyDavis-Weyer Caecilia early medieval art 300-1150; Sources and Documents, University of Torronto press.Marlowe., E., (2006), Framing the Sun: The Arch of Constantine and the Roman Cityscape, The Art Bulletin, Vol. 88, No. 2 (Jun., 2006), pp. 223-242, College Art Association.

Krautheimer. “Constantine Church building.” in his handbook of the fourth century.