(I know this question makes zero sense from a theological standpoint but hear me out, I swear it’s interesting)
In the times of Jesus, there were many Jewish prophets wandering the land. They managed to accumulate a following by performing miracles and preaching. These movements were based on the charisma of the leader, and so, when the leader died, the movement usually dissolved on its own.
A few years after starting his predication, Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem and crucified: it was the humiliating death of a criminal accused of rebellion. This would have been interpreted by many as a definite proof that Jesus was not, in fact, sent by God.
At this point, belief in Christ would have been very likely to disappear. But it didn’t. In the contrary, faith in Jesus grew (to about 7500 followers at the end of the 1st century).
So,why didn’t belief in Jesus disappear after Jesus’ death ?
- Jesus had recruted a group of close disciples, heavily motivated to spread his message, who were extremely intelligent and competent. Even after his death, they kept on preaching and recruted more believers.
- His death didn’t necessarily render his message obsolete. Many Jewish prophets preached the victory of a certain rebellion for example. When the rebellion was crushed by the Roman army, their message was evidently obsolete. Jesus didn’t preach political rebellion, but forgiveness and the imminent end of times. After his death, his followers could argue that his death was necessary (as prophesied in Jewish scriptures) and that his message of forgiveness remained valid until the end of times.
-A progressive opening firstly towards Hellenic Jews (Jews of the Diaspora, who didn’t live in Israel but in other countries around the Mediterranean world, and spoke Greek as their primary language)
-An even more radical opening towards Gentiles - non-Jews - who were thought by some (but not all) to be included in Jesus’ message
- The very tense alliance of two very distinct groups inside early Christianity: people who believed that only those following the Law of Moses could benefit from the forgiveness that Jesus promised, and those who believed that his message was also directed towards the Gentiles, who should not be asked to follow the Law upon conversion
This alliance was to be fundamental to Christianity’s success: thanks to this alliance, early Christianity didn’t cut ties with Judaism (and therefore benefitted from the legitimating influence of Jewish scriptures) while making itself incredibly more attractive to Gentiles (who didn’t have to follow the Law - and therefore didn’t have to completely abandon their previous social relationships due to Judaism’s heavy standards on purity).
- They managed to surmount the disappointment of the end of times not arriving. Complex phenomenon, but basically, the imminence of the Kingdom of God - a very important theme in the teaching of Jesus and the early Apostles - was progressively “spiritualised”, turned into metaphor of earthly spiritual life. The Kingdom of God wasn’t coming, so each and everyone had to enter the Kingdom of God on Earth, by converting and participating in the Church.
-The progressive marginalisation of heterodox groups challenging the authority of the proto-orthodoxy. Marcionites, Gnostics, and Montanists eventually saw their influence decline and eventually disappeared, not really because they lost on the theological side, but because their theological positions often inevitably lead them to marginalisation. For example, some Gnostics refused to have children, so no more of the divine being would be trapped in physical matter. Marcionites actively condemned Jewish scriptures, the Law of Moses and many texts which were very respected at the time, including many of the texts which would later be part of the official canon.
-The progressive rise of mono-bishops. Churches originally controlled by assemblies of important men of the community tended more and more to be controlled by only one bishop. This man had the authority to impose orthodoxy and turn belief in Jesus away from charismatic preaching into institutions that were made to last.
-The constitution of a canon of recognized texts, which became the New Testament. This wasn’t a simple process. Many different texts, and therefore many different “memories” of Jesus were excluded by this canon. Therefore, the image given of Jesus in the New Testament is far from being simple and univocal: for example, Matthew’s Jesus strongly advocates for strict adherence to the Law, while Paul’s Jesus considered that strict adherence to the Law was useless, and that it never granted anybody salvation. Still, early Church theologians, most notably Irénée de Lyon, worked to reconcile these texts, and managed to create a somewhat coherent picture of Jesus and his message - therefore setting down the basis for Christianity.
Source: Enrico Norelli, La nascità del cristianesimo, Bologna, 2014
The earliest depiction of the Crucifixion, a 2nd century graffiti meant as an insult towards Christians.The Greek text reads “Alexamenos worships God”.
Hey I just wanted to let you know the person you reblogged that cat video from has said in the past they believed Adam and Eve were right to eat the apple - it’s pretty clear that they’re a Gn*stic or at least heavily involved with studying Gn*sticism…
It would be great if you could not reblog anything from them again. Thanks, stay safe !
Egyptian statue at the Metropolitan Museum of Art April 4, 2022 #themet #metropolitanmuseumofart #newyork #nyc #newyorkcity #statue #egyptian #egyptianstatue #museum #artmuseum #antiquity (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQhLCLJ1M0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
What an honor to have my humble voidboi on the cover of the upcoming Art Of Darkness, written and curated by @ghoulnextdoor and published by Quarto Books. I happen to know for a fact that this is brimming with incredible work, including a lot of personal favorites of mine. Don’t miss this one! . . . . . . #antiquity #darkart #darkartwork #artofdarkness #surrealcollage #darkcollage #illustration #darksurrealism https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca8TaG1uZqi/?utm_medium=tumblr
This wine cup is the earliest dated jade artefact that can be linked without doubt to any Mughal emperor. It has three bands of calligraphy – the central band, carved in monumental sols script, has a royal dedication announcing that the cup was made for Jahangir; the upper border, in nasta’liq script, confirms that it was the personal cup of the emperor and was made in the second year of his reign, therefore between April 1607 and March 1608.
Persian verses ornament the cup, including some contemporary 17th-century poetry, and it is suggested that the poet responsible was the maker of the cup itself. The superintendent of the royal goldsmiths at the time was also rewarded by Jahangir for his skills as a poet.
Large Sichuan ceramics of mother and feeding child, Modeled in two sections, Han Dynasty, Sichuan (206 BC – 220 AD), 26 ½. Billings collection Post link
Bronze Taotie Mask with Ring Handle, Northern Wei dynasty 4th-5th century, Height: 27.4 cm. (10 ¾ in.) Width: 17.0 cm. (6 5/8 in.) Courtesy of Kaikodo LLC
Called the Eid Mar, the coin was minted by Caesar’s betrayer, Marcus Junius Brutus, to commemorate the assassination immortalized by Shakespeare. It was carried out on March 15, 44 BC —the Ides of March—by a group of Roman senators and co-conspirators led by Brutus and is the only one of its type.
One side of the coin shows an inscription that reads “EID MAR” short for Eidibus Martiis, the Ides of March, along with two daggers and a liberty cap symbolizing the fight for freedom.
The other side of the coin features a portrait of Brutus with the inscription “BRVT IMP” or Brutus, Imperator.
The coin has a tiny hole in it just above the head of Brutus. It is believed that it could have been worn by a high-ranking supporter and perhaps even one of the conspirators of Caesar’s murder.
Roman gold ring With nicolo intaglio set in gold bezel, Circa 100-300 AD, Glass stone engraved with scene of two roosters pulling a mouse in a chariot. Size: D: 16.92mm / US: 6 ½ / UK: N; 20.94g Courtesy: Apollo Galleries & Auctions Post link
Archaeologists working at a dig in the Dutch city of Nijmegen uncovered a well-preserved, 2,000-year-old blue glass bowl late last year. The palm-sized dish had survived centuries buried underground, remaining perfectly intact with little to no wear.
The item is distinguished by its pattern of vertical stripes. “Such dishes were made by allowing molten glass to cool and harden over a mold,” lead archaeologist Pepijn van de Geer tells de Gelderlander, per an ARTNews translation. “The pattern was drawn in when the glass mixture was still liquid. Metal oxide causes the blue color.”
Nijmegen is among the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Ancient Romans first established a military camp near the location of present-day Nijmegen in the first century C.E., around the time of the glass bowl’s creation. The settlement expanded and became the first Roman city in the present-day Netherlands, a designation that gave town residents Roman citizenship.
Nijmegen’s modern Dutch name derives from the Latin Noviomagus, meaning “new market.” Its location overlooking the Waal river afforded Roman forces a strategic military advantage and access to trade routes, per the university.
Archaeologists suggest that the blue glass bowl might have been made by Roman artisans or carried by traders, given Nijmegen’s unique status as a hub of ancient Roman activity. The bowl may have been created in glass workshops in Germany or Italy, making it a valuable commodity for trade.
Researchers at Winkelsteeg have also unearthed tombs, dishware and jewelry.
Rare and important Neo-Assyrian vessel, circa 800-600 BC, Cut and hollowed out from a single large piece of solid rock crystal, 110mm x 90mm; weight 815g. Apollo Galleries Post link
Ancient Roman patera with the head of Medusa surrounded by a wreath of leaves and birds. Such cups were very special vessels that were mostly used in religious ceremonies, as offerings to the gods were put in them. The history of the cups didn’t start in Rome, though, as the images of them date back to the Etruscan times. Read more
This was the main living center for the Illyrian Delmaeti tribe and in the Greeks used it for trading over many centuries in BC. The Romans continued that trading commerce that covered much of the inland regions. The creation of Christianity got a foothold here in 200-300AD, and many churches were erected without much disturbance by the Romans for the most part, even though they had to keep the profile low key. However, by 300-500 AD there were some enormous churchs built here. German Ostrogoths destroyed much of the town in the 4th century, and by that time the population was over 60,000 and covered at least 1 square mile. The Slavs and Avars ravaged the town in 641, and completely destroyed it for what reason? That forced Solin residents to take refuge in the nearly abandoned Diocletian palace in Split, so they had some protection with the walls as defense.
The main areas are called Manastrine that was the little church outside the main town that was first built in 300’s. After that over 300 years there were 3 main additions to the church to what the outline is today. The amphitheater held 18,000 people and is from 2nd century. The old town center in the middle was in a valley and the layout today to imagine it is fantastic. There are outlines of two churches, and many huge buildings of old. Excavation of the ruins started in about 1840’s and the main digs was by F. Bulic, archaeological specialist in 1929-1940’s. He studied much of the ruins and a great deal is located in Split museums today.
