Spaces in Late Antiquity : Cultural, Theological and Archaeological Perspectives

Places and spaces are key factors in how individuals and groups construct their identities. Identity theories have emphasised that the construction of an identity does not follow abstract and universal processes but is also deeply rooted in specific historical, cultural, social and material environments. The essays in this volume explore how various groups in Late Antiquity rooted their identity in special places that were imbued with meanings derived from history and tradition. In Part I, essays explore the tension between the Classical heritage in public, especially urban spaces, in the form of ancient artwork and civic celebrations and the Church's appropriation of that space through doctrinal disputes and rival public performances. Parts II and III investigate how particular locations expressed, and formed, the theological and social identities of Christian and Jewish groups by bringing together fresh insights from the archaeological and textual evidence. Together the essays here demonstrate how the use and interpretation of shared spaces contributed to the self-identity of specific groups in Late Antiquity and in so doing issued challenges, and caused conflict, with other social and religious groups. Spaces in Late Antiquity- Front Cover 1 Spaces in Late Antiquity 3 Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Contents 7 List of Illustrations 9 Figures 9 Table 10 Notes on Contributors 11 Acknowledgements 14 List of Abbreviations 15 Introduction: Spaces in Late Antiquity – Cultural, Theological and Archaeological Perspectives 19 PART I: Cultural Perspectives 27 Chapter 1: Meddling in the Middle? Urban Celebrations, Ecclesiastical Leaders and the Roman Emperor in Late Antiquity 29 Introduction 29 Petrus Chrysologus on New Year Celebrations 33 Augustine of Hippo on Urban Celebrations 37 The Emperor and the Needs of the People 42 The Emperor and the Middle Ground? 45 Conclusion 48 Chapter 2: Classical Culture, Domestic Space and Imperial Vision in the Cycle of Agathias 50 Introduction: an Inscription from a House in Constantinople 50 The Cycle of Agathias and Domestic Space 53 AP 9.653 and the Classical Tradition 57 AP 9.653 and the Christian Tradition 60 Conclusion: Distant Horizons 63 Chapter 3: Monastic Space: The Ascetic Between Sacred and Civil Spheres in Theodoret of Cyrrhus 66 Introduction 66 The Monks of Syria 69 The Mountains 71 The Rise to Heaven 74 The Rise of a Monastic Society 77 The Rise of a Stylite 81 Conclusion 82 PART II: Theological Perspectives 85 Chapter 4: Seeing Christ at the Holy Places 87 Seeing the Holy Places 89 Seeing in Late Antiquity 95 What Did Late Antique Pilgrims See? 100 Conclusion 106 Chapter 5: Sacred Space, Virginal Consecration and Symbolic PowerA Liturgical Innovation and Its Implications in Late Ancient Christianity 107 Introduction 107 Sacred Space and the Ritual of Virginal Consecration 109 Virginal Consecration and Symbolic Power 114 Conclusion 122 Chapter 6: The City of God and the Place of Demons: City Life and Demonology in Early Christianity 124 Demonological Origins 125 Demons and Public Space 127 Public Becomes Private: Desert as an Inner City 129 Augustine on Public Space and the Place of Demons 132 Conclusions 135 Chapter 7: Preaching, Feasting and Making Space for a Meaning 136 Introduction 136 On Eleazar and the Seven Boys: the Text, its Provenance and Context 137 The Homily as a Literary Composition 140 ‘So Ask the Jew’: Working Out a Debate 141 ‘. . . Who Gave the New Covenant?’: Reading the Present into the Past 142 ‘We Shall Correct the Weaker’: Striving for a Meaning amidst the Feasting 144 ‘While the Facts Are on His Side . . . ’: What the Two Conflicts Have in Common 146 Spectacles and Rivalry 147 ‘So That We May See . . . ’: Instructions on the Imitation of Virtue 150 A Harmonious Space and the Making of a Thoroughly Christian World 152 Conquering the Space by Perception: ‘. . . the Meaning Is Ours’ 155 PART III: Archaeological Perspectives 157 Chapter 8: Galilean Jews and Christiansin Context: Spaces Shared and Contested in the Eastern Galilee in Late Antiquity 159 Introduction 159 Jews and Christians in Context 160 Galilean Synagogues in Late Antiquity 173 Christians in Galilee in Late Antiquity 179 Conclusion 183 Chapter 9: Performing the Sacred in a Community Building: Observations from the 2010–2015 Kinneret Regional Project Excavations in the Byzantine Synagogue of Horvat Kur (Galilee) 184 Making the Sacred Concrete 184 The Synagogue 188 Conclusions and Outlook 206 Chapter 10: Thrown into Limekilns: The Reuse of Statuary and Architecture in Galilee from Late Antiquity 208 Introduction 208 Limekilns and the Production of Lime 212 The Lime Industry in Galilee 216 Feeding Marble to the Kilns 222 ‘All Reduced to Powder’: Limekilns and the Destruction of Paganism 225 Conclusions 228 Acknowledgements 229 Bibliography 230 Index 257 Places And Spaces Are Key Factors In How Individuals And Groups Construct Their Identities. Identity Theories Have Emphasised That The Construction Of An Identity Follows Abstract And Universal Processes But Is Also Deeply Rooted In Specific Historical, Cultural, Social And Material Environments. The Essays In This Volume Explore How Various Groups In Late Antiquity Rooted Their Identity In Special Places That Were Imbued With Meanings Derived From History And Tradition. In Part I, Essays Explore The Tension Between The Classical Heritage In Public, Especially Urban Spaces, In The Form Of Ancient Artwork And Civic Celebrations And The Church's Appropriation Of That Space Through Doctrinal Disputes And Rival Public Performances. Parts Ii And Iii Investigate How Particular Locations Expressed, And Formed, The Theological And Social Identities Of Christian And Jewish Groups By Bringing Together Fresh Insights From The Archaeological And Textual Evidence. Together The Essays Here Demonstrate How The Use And Interpretation Of Shared Spaces Contributed To The Self-identity Of Specific Groups In Late Antiquity And In So Doing Issued Challenges, And Caused Conflict, With Other Social And Religious Groups--publisher's Website. Introduction: Spaces In Late Antiquity: Cultural, Theological And Archaeological Perspectives / Juliette Day, Raimo Hakola, Maijastina Kahlos And Ulla Tervahauta -- Part I. Cultural Perspectives. Meddling In The Middle? : Urban Celebrations, Ecclesiastical Leaders And The Roman Emperor In Late Antiquity / Maijastina Kahlos ; Classical Culture, Domestic Space And Imperial Vision In The Cycle Of Agathias / Steven D. Smith ; Monastic Space : The Ascetic Between Sacred And Civil Spheres In Theodoret Of Cyrrhus / Andreas Westergren -- Part Ii. Theological Perspectives. Seeing Christ At The Holy Places / Juliette Day ; Sacred Space, Virginal Consecration And Symbolic Power : A Liturgical Innovation And Its Implications In Late Ancient Christianity / David G. Hunter -- The City Of God And The Place Of Demons : City Life And Demonology In Early Christianity / Joona Salminen -- Preaching, Feasting And Making Space For A Meaning / Anna-liisa Tolonen -- Part Iii. Archaeological Perspectives. Galilean Jews And Christians In Context : Spaces Shared And Contested In The Eastern Galilee In Late Antiquity / Raimo Hakola ; Performing The Sacred In A Community Building : Observations From The 2010-2015 Kinneret Regional Project Excavations In The Byzantine Synagogue Of Horvat Kur (galilee) / Jürgen K. Zangenberg ; Thrown Into Limekilns : The Reuse Of Statuary And Architecture In Galilee From Late Antiquity Onwards / Rick Bonnie. Edited By Juliette Day, Raimo Hakola, Maijastina Kahlos And Ulla Tervahauta. The Core Of This Volume Is Based On Papers Presented At The Xxii Finnish Symposium On Late Antiquity In 2013 On The Theme 'spaces Past And Present '. A Number Of Papers From The Xxi Fsla On The Theme Of 'popular And Elite' Have Been Added To The Volume.--page Xii, Acknowledgements. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 212-237) And Index. List of Illustrations vii Notes on Contributors ix Acknowledgements xii List of Abbreviations xiii Introduction: Spaces in Late Antiquity – Cultural, Theological and Archaeological Perspectives / JULIETTE DAY, RAIMO HAKOLA, MAIJASTINA KAHLOS AND ULLA TERVAHAUTA 1 PART I. Cultural Perspectives 9 1. Meddling in the Middle? Urban Celebrations, Ecclesiastical Leaders and the Roman Emperor in Late Antiquity / MAIJASTINA KAHLOS 11 2. Classical Culture, Domestic Space and Imperial Vision in the 'Cycle' of Agathias / STEVEN D. SMITH 32 3. Monastic Space: The Ascetic Between Sacred and Civil Spheres in Theodoret of Cyrrhus / ANDREAS WESTERGREN 48 PART II. Theological Perspectives 67 4. Seeing Christ at the Holy Places / JULIETTE DAY 69 5. Sacred Space, Virginal Consecration and Symbolic Power: A Liturgical Innovation and Its Implications in Late Ancient Christianity / DAVID G. HUNTER 89 6. The City of God and the Place of Demons: City Life and Demonology in Early Christianity / JOONA SALMINEN 106 7. Preaching, Feasting and Making Space for a Meaning / ANNA-LIISA TOLONEN 118 PART III. Archaeological Perspectives 139 8. Galilean Jews and Christians in Context: Spaces Shared and Contested in the Eastern Galilee in Late Antiquity / RAIMO HAKOLA 141 9. Performing the Sacred in a Community Building: Observations from the 2010–2015 Kinneret Regional Project Excavations in the Byzantine Synagogue of Horvat Kur (Galilee) / JÜRGEN K. ZANGENBERG 166 10. Thrown into Limekilns: The Reuse of Statuary and Architecture in Galilee from Late Antiquity onwards / RICK BONNIE 190 Bibliography 212 Index 239 Scope and content: "Places and spaces are key factors in how individuals and groups construct their identities. Identity theories have emphasised that the construction of an identity follows abstract and universal processes but is also deeply rooted in specific historical, cultural, social and material environments. The essays in this volume explore how various groups in Late Antiquity rooted their identity in special places that were imbued with meanings derived from history and tradition. In Part I, essays explore the tension between the Classical heritage in public, especially urban spaces, in the form of ancient artwork and civic celebrations and the Church's appropriation of that space through doctrinal disputes and rival public performances. Parts II and III investigate how particular locations expressed, and formed, the theological and social identities of Christian and Jewish groups by bringing together fresh insights from the archaeological and textual evidence. Together the essays here demonstrate how the use and interpretation of shared spaces contributed to the self-identity of specific groups in Late Antiquity and in so doing issued challenges, and caused conflict, with other social and religious groups"--Publisher's website Identity theories have emphasised that the construction of an identity follows abstract and universal processes but is also deeply grounded in specific cultural and material environments. This volume explores how groups in Late Antiquity rooted their identity in places that were imbued with meanings derived from history and tradition. Part I exp