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RLG 460F Christian Origins I/Peter Richardson
RLG 2035F Religion and Architecture: Eastern Mediterranean
Thursdays 10.10 - 12.00, University College 057
Office hours: Tuesdays 10.00 to noon; Wednesdays 2.00 to 4.00
Office: UC H-013; Phone 978-7149; e-mail <prchrdsn@chass.utoronto.ca>
Against the background of late Hellenism, a study of the importance of religious buildings in selected cities of the eastern Mediterranean (some possible cities: Caesarea Maritima, Dor, Gadara, Gerasa, Palmyra, Beth Shean, Antioch, Damascus, Caesarea Philippi, Petra, Jerusalem, Sebaste) during the period first century BCE to third century CE. The juxtaposition of literary and archaeological evidence will be emphasized. The main point of the course is to broaden students’ appreciation of the wide range of material resources for understanding religion and society in the ancient period. The course will draw in, as may be possible, Christian materials, but the majority of the course will inevitably have to do with the religion and architecture of Judaism, Greece and Rome.
Please note: in 1999 the course will in fact focus on early Christian materials, including the early Byzantine period.
Please note: the course does not require previous familiarity with either architecture or archaeology, but it does presuppose some interest in learning about the value of knowing about archaeological sites and understanding how buildings reflect the social and religious values of the culture being studied.
Open to advanced undergraduate students and qualified graduate students with permission of instructor.
Textbooks
None assigned; students should purchase a couple of books in areas of interest to them, such as the following:
John Ward-Perkins, Roman Architecture
James C. Anderson, Roman Architecture and Society
L. Michael White, The Social Origins of Christian Architecture
Evaluation
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Seminar presentations |
20% |
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Preliminary essay |
20% |
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Major essay |
60% |
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Syllabus
Note: I will be responsible for the first several seminars, and parts of others; students will make their seminar presentations the other days.
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16 September |
no class |
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23 September |
Religion, architecture, society; focus of course on early Christian churches and monasteries and the range of evidence available[historical introduction] |
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30 September |
Early Christianity and Byzantine building activities; historical backgground Dura, St. Simeon, Tiberias |
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8 October |
Cities of the Eastern Mediterranean as a context for early Christianity and thedevelopment of churches in the region: Palmyra, Damascus, Gerasa, Pella, Petra, Jerusalem, Caesarea Maritima, Beth Shean [Hellenism] |
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14 October |
Representative examples of churches |
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21 October |
Student presentations |
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28 October |
Student presentations. Preliminary Essay due |
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4 November |
The contexts for ascetic life and development of monasticism: Syria, Jordan, Galilee, Judean wilderness, Negev, Sinai |
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11 November |
Representative examples of monasteries |
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18 November |
Student presentations |
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25 November |
Student presentations |
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2 December |
Discussion of papers in progress |
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9 December |
Summary and overview |
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16 December |
Major Essay due for undergraduates |
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21 December |
Major Essay due for graduate students |
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Museums and Galleries
On a Friday afternoon, probably October 15, a visit will be arranged to the Royal Ontario Museum to see the Egyptian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Jewish, Christian, and related galleries. The objective is to examine some of the realia (tangible things) associated with the world of the Bible and the cultures in which it was set.
It may also be possible to visit the Malcove Collection in the University of Toronto Art Centre, which has a fine collection of Byzantine and early Christian objects.
Seminar Presentations
My collection of slides is available to students for use in the presentations; it may also be possible to make use of the collection in the Department of Fine Art. Students will be responsible for a presentation approximately 30 to 40 minutes, and for the preparation of whatever hand-outs might be necessary. I am available for consultation
For the first presentation, students will be given choice from a list of topics presented at the second class. If there are other appropriate topics students wish to propose, those will be considered.. The second presentation will typically focus on the student’s research project, and be a kind of "research-in-progress" type of report, with a strong visual component.
Research Project
The course involves the successful completion of a research project, for which the written work comprises a preliminary essay and a major essay. Both relate to the same project, and one of the two seminar presentations may also focus on the same project.The project is to be concerned with some aspect of the intersection of religion and art, architecture, urban design, pottery or the like. It could, for example, involve a study of a particular religious theme on small lamps, the interpretation of a wall painting with a religious motif, the analysis of a religious structure in its setting, the consideration of the juxtaposition of buildings for religious purposes in an urban conglomeration. Each project will be negotiated with the student early in the term.
See notes for a list of sites and a bibliography of books currently available
The preliminary essay has two parts: (1) a coherent statement of the problem that is at the heart of the research project, together with a brief description of the data available, the analytical task that confronts you, and the type of interpretive challenges you will have to face (about 2-3 pages); (2) an annotated bibliography of the resources available, including publications of the primary data (e.g., excavation and find reports, plans, drawings, photos), secondary analyses, comparative materials where relevant, and so on; you might have a separate section for material on the Internet, if appropriate.
There is a lot of information available on the internet. Though much of it is quite unreliable, in the general area of archaeology and architecture it tends to be more reliable and therefore more worthwhile to consult. In a few cases (Cana, Caesarea Maritima, for example) the internet has become one of the primary ways in which archaeologists have disseminated the results of the dig in a timely and an attractive fashion. Thus, you should not ignore the possibility that there will be useful information for you in this way. For some purposes, consult my links.
The major essay should be a mature piece of work, correct in style and form, that makes a persuasive argument about the topic selected. It might follow the pattern description, analysis, and interpretation, though it need not. The essay should be accompanied by sufficient drawings, photos, plans, comparative materials that the reader can follow the argument (these can, of course, be Xeroxes or reproductions of existing materials, and need not be drawn by you).
Electronic Communication
Additional material may from time to time be posted on my site on the internet; this fact will be noted in class. It is assumed that students will have access to this form of communication. Students may contact the instructor by e-mail with questions and discussion. If possible, a small discussion group will be set up.
Study-Tours and Archaeological Excavations
I may lead a study-tour (available for credit) to some of Paul's areas of activity in the early summer of 2000, possibly to Turkey and/or Syria and Lebanon. The emphasis will be on understanding the religious and cultural complexity of the region in the period 300 BCE to 300 CE; see the relevant page in this website [guide].
There are always a lot of archaeological digs available for credit. I have been associated with one at Cana in Galilee [see Khirbet Cana at http://www.nexfind.com/ and Cana of the Galilee at http://www.ups.edu/religion/cana/canahome.htm], which I would encourage you to consider joining, but it is easy to get information on lots of others. For infomration, see the Cana website or other links in this website [links].
Special Lectures
There are lots of additional lectures sponsored by various parts of the university and other organizations. See the relevant page at occasional_lectures.