Earth and Ocean: The Terrestrial World in Early Byzantine Art (Monographs on the Fine Arts)

177 Pages·1987·67 MB·English

by  Henry Maguire

Earth and Ocean
The Terrestrial World in Early Byzantine Art
BLANK PAGE
HENRY MAGUIRE
Earth and Ocean
The Terrestrial World
in Early Byzantine Art
Published for
THE CoLLEGE ART AssociATION oF AMERICA
by
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS
UNIVERSITY PARK AND LONDON
Monographs on the Fine Arts
sponsored by
THE COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
XLIII
Editor, Carol F. Lewine
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Maguire, Henry, 1943-
Earth and ocean.
(Monographs on the fine arts; 43)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
r. Pavements, Mosaic-Byzantine Empire--Themes,
motives. 2. Mosaics, Byzantine--Themes, motives.
3. Nature (Aesthetics) I. Title. II. Series.
NA3780.M34 1987 729'.7'09495 86-22551
ISBN o-271-00477-0
Copyright © 1987 The College Art Association of America
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
List of Illustrations vu
Acknowledgments xm
Introduction I
I The Language of Symbols 5
II The Literal Sense I 7
III Partial Allegory 3 I
IV The Gathering of the Waters 4I
v
The Creatures of the Fifth Day 57
VI Nature and Humanity 67
VII King and Creator 73
Conclusion 8 I
Notes 85
Bibliography IOI
Index I05
Illustrations I I I
BLANK PAGE
List of Illustrations
r. Butrinto, baptistery, pavement, inserted motifs romischen Mosaiken der kirchlichen Bauten vom IV.
(from Luigi M. Ugolini, "II battistero di Butrinto," XIII.]ahrhundert [Freiburg im Breisgau], I976, plate
Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana, xr [1934], fig. 2) roi)
2. Ancona, Christian tomb, pavement, The Vineyard of 8. Antioch, Bath "E", large hall, pavement (detail),
Isaiah (from Bullettino di Archeologia Cristiana, 3rd Earth (photo: Department of Art and Archaeology,
Princeton University)
series, vol. IV [1879], plate 9)
9. Antioch, Bath "E", large hall, pavement, The Earth
3. Kato Paphos-Chrysopolitissa, basilica, nave pave
and the Water (after Doro Levi, Antioch Mosaic
ment (detail), "I am the True Vine" (photo: Dr. A.
Pavements, I [Princeton, I947], fig. roo)
Papageorghiou, Cyprus Museum, Nicosia)
IO. Nikopolis, Basilica of Dumetios, north transept,
4· Gerasa, funerary chapel, nave pavement (detail),
pavement, Earth and Ocean (photo: Archaeological
Vine with Commemorative Inscription (photo: Yale Society, Athens)
University and Dumbarton Oaks)
I I. Nikopolis, Basilica of Dumetios, north transept,
5. Christ and His Flock, silver reliquary from Henchir pavement (detail), Earth and Ocean (photo: Archaeo
Zirara. Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana logical Society, Athens)
(photo: Biblioteca Vaticana)
12. Nikopolis, Basilica of Dumetios, north transept,
6. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, apse mosaic (reproduced pavement, Ocean, detail, Duck in Lotus Plant (photo:
through the courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton author)
Alexandria Expedition to Mount Sinai)
r 3. Map of the World According to Cosmas Indicopleustes.
7· Rome, SS. Cosmas and Damian, apse mosaic (from Rome, Biblioteca Vaticana, MS. gr. 699, fol. 40v.
Joseph Wilpert, Walter N. Schumacher, Die (photo: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana)
vm LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
14. The Creation of Land Animals. Istanbul, Seraglio the courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria
Library, MS. 8, fol. 32v. Expedition to Mount Sinai)
15. Tegea, Basilica of Thyrsos, nave pavement, Earth 28. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, sixth ceiling
and Ocean (from A. K. Orlandos, "Palaiochristia beam, Beasts of the Land (reproduced through the
nika kai byzantina mnemeia Tegeas-Nykliou," Ar courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Ex
cheion ton Byzantinan Mnemeion tes Hellados, xu pedition to Mount Sinai)
[1973], plate A)
29. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, sixth ceiling
16. Tegea, Basilica ofThyrsos, nave pavement (detail), beam (detail), Boar and Elephant (reproduced
Tigris (photo: G. Hougen) through the courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton
Alexandria Expedition to Mount Sinai)
17. Tegea, Basilica ofThyrsos, nave pavement (detail),
30. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, ninth ceiling
july (photo: G. Hougen)
beam, Birds (reproduced through the courtesy of
the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Expedition to
18. Tegea, Basilica ofThyrsos, nave pavement (detail),
Mount Sinai)
August (photo: G. Hougen)
3 r. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, ninth ceiling
19. Tegea, Basilica ofThyrsos, nave pavement (detail),
beam (detail), Birds (reproduced through the cour
February (photo: G. Hougen)
tesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Expedi
tion to Mount Sinai)
20. Tegea, Basilica ofThyrsos, nave pavement (detail),
May (photo: G. Hougen) 32. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, twelfth ceiling
beam, Nilotic Scenes (reproduced through the cour
21. Tegea, Basilica ofThyrsos, nave pavement (detail), tesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Expedi
Marine Creatures in Border (photo: G. Hougen) tion to Mount Sinai)
22. Antioch, building north of St. Paul's Gate, pave 33. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, twelfth ceiling
ment, "Renewal" and the Seasons (photo: Department beam (detail), Crocodile, Boat, and Ostrich (repro
of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University) duced through the courtesy of the Michigan-Prince
ton-Alexandria Expedition to Mount Sinai)
23. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, ceiling beams
(reproduced through the courtesy of the Michigan 34· Karl1k, basilica, pavement (detail), Animal Paradise
Princeton-Alexandria Expedition to Mount Sinai) of Isaiah (from Michael Gough, "«The Peaceful
Kingdom>>: An Early Christian Mosaic Pavement in
24. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, first ceiling Cilicia Campestris," Melanges Mansel, I [Ankara,
beam, Land Creatures (reproduced through the 1974], fig. 63)
courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Ex
pedition to Mount Sinai) 35. Khalde, basilica, nave pavement, Earth and Ocean
(from Maurice H. Chehab, Mosai"ques du Liban
25. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, first ceiling beam [Bulletin du Musee de Beyrouth, xiv-xv, Beirut,
(detail), Antelope and Plants (reproduced through the 1958-59], plate 66)
courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Ex
pedition to Mount Sinai) 36. Khalde, basilica, nave pavement (detail), "Ship of
Peace" (photo: Erica Dodd)
26. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, third ceiling
beam, Marine Creatures (reproduced through the 37. Khalde, basilica, nave pavement (detail), One Crea
courtesy of the Michigan-Princeton-Alexandria Ex ture Devours Another (photo: Erica Dodd)
pedition to Mount Sinai)
38. Gerasa, SS. Cosmas and Damian, nave pavement,
27. Mount Sinai, St. Catherine, nave, third ceiling Terrestrial Creation (from Carl H. Kraeling, Gerasa:
beam (detail), Marine Creatures (reproduced through City of the Decapolis [New Haven, 1938], plate 73)
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1x
39· Gerasa, SS. Cosmas and Damian, nave pavement John Ward-Perkins, justinianic Mosaic Pavements in
(detail), Vine (photo: author) Cyrenaican Churches [Monografie di Archeologia
Libica, XIV, Rome, I98o], fig. IO)
40. Gerasa, SS. Cosmas and Damian, nave pavement
(detail), Birds, Beasts, and Acanthus Plant (photo: 53· Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
Courtesy of Yale University and Dumbarton Oaks) tail), The "New Town Theodorias" (photo Audio
Visual Center, Benghazi)
41. Gerasa, SS. Cosmas and Damian, nave pavement
(detail), Birds, Beasts, and Water Creatures (photo:
54· Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
Courtesy of Yale University and Dumbarton Oaks)
tail), "Ktisis" (photo: Department of Antiquities of
Cyrenaica)
42. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
ment, Earth and Ocean (from G. Cvetkovic
55. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
Toma5evic, Heraclea, III, Mosaic Pavement in the tail), "Kosmesis" (photo: Department of Antiquities
Narthex of the Large Basilica at Heraclea Lyncestis
of Cyrenaica)
[Bitola, I 967])
56. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
43. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
tail), "Ananeosis" (photo: Department of Antiquities
ment, central composition (photo: author)
of Cyrenaica)
44. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
57· Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
ment (detail), Goat under Cedar Tree (photo: author)
tail), "Phison" (photo: Department of Antiquities of
Cyrenaica)
45. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
ment (detail), Lion and Bull under Apple Tree (photo:
author) 58. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (detail),
Eagle Rending Deer (from Elisabeth Alfoldi-Rosen
baum and John Ward-Perkins justinianic Mosaic
46. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
Pavements in Cyrenaican Churches [Monografie di
ment (detail), Dog under Fig Tree (photo: author)
Archeologia Libica, XIV, Rome, I98o], plate 5)
47. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
59. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (detail),
ment (detail), Leopard and Hind under Pomegranate
Stag and Serpent (from Elisabeth Alfoldi-Rosenbaum
Tree (photo: author)
and John Ward-Perkins, Justinianic Mosaic Pavements
in Cyrenaican Churches [Monografie di Archeologia
48. Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave Libica, XIV, Rome, I98o], plate 6)
ment (detail), Cross of Fish in the Border (photo:
author)
60. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
tail), "Castalia" (photo: Department of Antiquities
49· Heraklea Lynkestis, Large Basilica, narthex pave
of Cyrenaica)
ment (detail), Ducks and Tree in Winter (photo:
author)
6r. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
tail), Facade (photo: Department of Antiquities of
50. Skhira, basilica, sanctuary pavement (detail), Stags
Cyrenaica)
Flanking Vase (from Mohamed Fendri, Basiliques
chretiennes de Ia Skhira [Paris, I96I], plate I4)
62. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (detail),
5 r. Nicaea, painted tomb, Peacocks Flanking Cantharos Musician (photo: Audio-Visual Center, Benghazi)
(photo: Ihor Sevcenko)
63. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement (de
52. Qasr-el-Lebia, East Church, nave pavement, Earth tail), "The Lighthouse" (photo: Department of Anti
and Ocean (from Elisabeth Alfoldi-Rosenbaum and quities of Cyrenaica)