Bild und Kontext

Catherine Hezser shows that late antique Jewish and Christian art was in constant dialogue with each other's artistic expressions and theological views. In late antiquity, new artistic expressions developed that disregarded the biblical injunction against figural representation and even adopted and integrated mythological motifs. This new iconographic language is analysed comparatively here in the context of late Roman and early Byzantine history and culture. Separate chapters are devoted to exegetical, mythological, and identity-building motifs. The comparison reveals interesting connections and differences in artistic expression, symbolism, and theology. In both Judaism and Christianity, art served to build and maintain group identity on the basis of the shared biblical heritage and in the context of Graeco-Roman culture.