Preaching Christology in the Roman Near East: A Study of Jacob of Serugh. By Philip Michael Forness

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 376-378
Author(s):  
Sebastian Brock
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Roman Near East

The Aphrodite of Emesa: miniature marble sculpture and religious life in Roman Syria

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 193-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas J. M. Kropp
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Religious Life ◽  
Art Market ◽  
Julius Caesar ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
The Temple ◽  
Comprehensive Study ◽  
Roman Syria ◽  
Roman Near East

The sculpture of Roman Syria is a mighty tree with roots so deep and branches so far-flung that they have defied all attempts at systematic and comprehensive study. This article deals with one of these branches of artistic traditions, a series of unusual marble Aphrodite statuettes found in Roman Syria, and in particular at Emesa . In what little attention these statuettes have received, scholars have listed up to 10 extant specimens, but a closer look has uncovered dozens, many of which have surfaced on the art market in recent years. In all likelihood, they reproduce a cult statue of Aphrodite at Emesa. They merit attention on a number of levels. Unlike much of the marble statuary of the Roman Near East, they do not reproduce an opus nobile from the Graeco-Roman canon; the Emesa Aphrodites, although based on Graeco-Roman divine iconography, draw on a Roman Venus type, while their style has much in common with local sculpture made of basalt, sandstone and limestone. This study examines, first, the character, origins and development of this statuary type and its links to well-established Graeco-Roman Aphrodite types. Many years ago, M. Bieber identified these statuettes as miniature versions of the statue of Venus Genetrix created by Arkesilaos for the Temple of Venus in the Forum of Julius Caesar. As there is still no consensus on the exact appearance of that famous statue, I will also comment on this question. Second, I look at the statuettes in context. Through their unusual style, format and iconography, they portray an Aphrodite of a distinct and unique character that raises questions about the significance of marble sculpture in the religious life of Roman Syria.

Epilogue Connecting to Muhammad?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fergus Millar
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Social History ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Near East ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Roman Provinces ◽  
History Of ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Roman Near East

This epilogue examines various strands of social history, religious affiliation and language in the Roman Near East in relation to the beginning of Muhammad's preaching in about 610. Muhammad was born, probably in about 570, in Mecca, where he began to receive divinely inspired messages in Arabic. After he died, Muhammad's followers invaded the nearest Roman provinces and conquered all of the Roman Near East, the Sasanid empire, Egypt and Roman North Africa. These are known as ‘the great Arab conquests’. This chapter considers whether the Arabian Peninsula can be properly treated under the title of ‘Arabia and the Arabs’. It also analyses evidence from the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian Near East, as well as the kingdom of Himyar. Finally, it looks at brief allusions to the life-history of Muhammad in a number of Christian sources to shed light on his preaching.

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