Constantine, Divine Emperor of the Christian Golden Age

Constantine, Divine Emperor of the Christian Golden Age offers a radical reassessment of Constantine as an emperor, a pagan and a Christian.

Jonathan Bardill (Author)

9780521764230, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 31 October 2011

470 pages, 227 b/w illus. 2 maps
28.5 x 22.7 x 2.5 cm, 1.6 kg

'This excellent book represents a successful attempt to integrate historically and visually what is known about Constantine … This book is clearly written, and the images are on the whole excellent. Because of the book's interdisciplinary focus, it will appeal to a wide audience of scholars and students, as well as an educated general readership. Summing up: highly recommended.' Choice

Constantine, Divine Emperor of the Christian Golden Age offers a radical reassessment of Constantine as an emperor, a pagan and a Christian. The book examines in detail a wide variety of evidence, including literature, secular and religious architectural monuments, coins, sculpture and other works of art. Setting the emperor in the context of the kings and emperors who preceded him, Jonathan Bardill shows how Constantine's propagandists exploited the traditional themes and imagery of rulership to portray him as having been elected by the supreme solar God to save his people and inaugurate a brilliant golden age. The author argues that the cultivation of this image made it possible for Constantine to reconcile the long-standing tradition of imperial divinity with his monotheistic faith by assimilating himself to Christ.

Introduction
1. A change of image
2. Emperors and divine protectors
3. The saving ruler and the Logos-Nomos
4. The hippodrome procession
5. The symbol from the sun, the standard, and the sarcophagus
6. The Roman Colossus
7. Constantine and Christianity
8. Sol and Christianity
9. Constantine as Christ
Epilogue.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], History of architecture [AMX], History of art: ancient & classical art,BCE to c 500 CE [ACG]