The thinking is that the ivory box was originally given to Galla Placidia (the last Roman empress) and her son, both of whom are also pictured on the box. It likely contained relics (perhaps of Peter and Paul). I haven't seen any info on how it got to Croatia, but that region was part of the Roman empire, called Dalmatia. You can read more about Galla Placidia here. She was pretty amazing: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/misunderstood-roman-empress-willed-way-to-top-180981294/
I love this! Women were leaders in the early church. It makes me curious--what happened to that egalitarian system? Why was it replaced, eventually, with sidelining women, or giving them only certain "roles"? Can't wait to read your next installment and hear more about the trip,
The current thinking is that after Constantine the Great became a Christian, and Christianity became the state religion of the Roman empire, money and power began to flow to the churches and church leadership. It wasn't long before women were slowly pushed out of these leadership roles and this regression was clearly represented in the art we saw in churches of different periods. The very early Christian art often has gender parity (women represented as often as men and they are of equal height) along with women in clerical clothing, and women also shown at church altars in liturgical roles. A couple of centuries later, most of the women melted away except for Mary or the occasional idealized female martyr. Then bishops and popes began to show up in art, sometimes at the sides but often above Mary, Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. For example, a huge painting of Jesus and Mary might have a pope up at the very top, or a pope's hat (called a mitre). If you're looking, it becomes so obvious. You can't unsee it. I'm going to write a post on this and will include photos to show the progression. In Venice at a cathedral we saw the most eye-popping ornate, golden papal throne you can possibly imagine. At the top of the throne are some cute cherubs, two big golden keys, and a large mitre (papal hat) that looked like a royal crown above it all.
Welcome back! I would so love to know who took it to Croatia, when, and why. This is so fascinating.
The thinking is that the ivory box was originally given to Galla Placidia (the last Roman empress) and her son, both of whom are also pictured on the box. It likely contained relics (perhaps of Peter and Paul). I haven't seen any info on how it got to Croatia, but that region was part of the Roman empire, called Dalmatia. You can read more about Galla Placidia here. She was pretty amazing: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/misunderstood-roman-empress-willed-way-to-top-180981294/
Susy...so interesting! What a journey and so eye opening! i've enjoyed seeing your photos of that trip.
Thanks Linda! More coming soon. We went to 30+ churches or chapels. I’m concentrating on themes in sharing what we saw.
What a special journey you are on! Not just this trip but the last few years!
I love this! Women were leaders in the early church. It makes me curious--what happened to that egalitarian system? Why was it replaced, eventually, with sidelining women, or giving them only certain "roles"? Can't wait to read your next installment and hear more about the trip,
The current thinking is that after Constantine the Great became a Christian, and Christianity became the state religion of the Roman empire, money and power began to flow to the churches and church leadership. It wasn't long before women were slowly pushed out of these leadership roles and this regression was clearly represented in the art we saw in churches of different periods. The very early Christian art often has gender parity (women represented as often as men and they are of equal height) along with women in clerical clothing, and women also shown at church altars in liturgical roles. A couple of centuries later, most of the women melted away except for Mary or the occasional idealized female martyr. Then bishops and popes began to show up in art, sometimes at the sides but often above Mary, Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. For example, a huge painting of Jesus and Mary might have a pope up at the very top, or a pope's hat (called a mitre). If you're looking, it becomes so obvious. You can't unsee it. I'm going to write a post on this and will include photos to show the progression. In Venice at a cathedral we saw the most eye-popping ornate, golden papal throne you can possibly imagine. At the top of the throne are some cute cherubs, two big golden keys, and a large mitre (papal hat) that looked like a royal crown above it all.