Pagan And Early Christian Funerary Art And Practices In And Around Rome

This course focuses on various aspects of funerary customs as practiced by Pagans and early Christians. What were the perceptions of afterlife held by Pagans and Christians, and how the monuments they built reflect such differences? The memorials, inscriptions and paintings we will be looking at will help us understanding the ideas people had about religion, family, work and their expectations about life in the other world. All material will relate to the city of Rome and its surroundings (for example Via Appia and Ostia antica). 

Begins 12 January 2023

Topics will include:

• Pagan and Christian perception of the afterlife: life is here, life is a journey

• Location of funerary monuments and types of funerary inscriptions

• Types of funerary monuments (tombs at Isola Sacra, tombs for extended families, extraordinary tombs and imperial tombs). Catacombs and mausoleums

• Art and iconography of funerary monuments

The sessions will be delivered face to face. No specific knowledge is required prior to enrolment.