Judaism and Christianity in Ancient Rome

The Pantheon118-125 AD

Note the Greek temple front…

The Pantheon

• The Pantheon – Built by Emperor Hadrian,

between AD 118 and 128. – circular building of

concrete faced with brick, with a great concrete dome

– lighter mixtures at the top• Corinthian columns

• Triangular pediment

• Oculus

Temple to the Gods- An example of polytheism

Greek to Roman Culture

New Philosophies and Religions Gain Strength as Roman Gods lose Power

• Greeks > Stoicism• Greeks > Epicureanism• Greeks > Cynics

• Egypt > Isis• Persians > Mithraism

• Palestine > Judaism• Palestine > Christianity

• Abraham’s covenant with God– Monotheistic

• Torah (What Christians’ call “Old Testament”)– Ten Commandments.

• Jerusalem was the religious and political capital

Judaism

Wailing Wall located in Jerusalem, last remnant of the 2nd Temple, destroyed by Roman army in 70AD

Judaic Culture:A Covenant with God

Requirements

1. Kosher dietary customs, no pork or shellfish, have to be killed and prepared in a specific way

2. Read Hebrew

3. Jewish heritage is passed through mother

4. Male circumcision

Jewish conversion by non-Jews is difficult

A Brief Timeline of JewishHistory

• 2000 BCE Abraham – Isaac - Jacob• 1200 BCE Moses

– descends from Mt. Zion with the Ten Commandments

• 730 BCE Solomon Building of 1st temple in Jerusalem– King David ‘s “Golden Era”: Evidence of God’s Promise

• 570 BCE Persians invade– Destruction of the1st temple of Jerusalem

• 500 BCE Building of the 2nd Temple• 323 BCE Alexander the Great Invades

– Then Greek-Egyptian Ptolemies invade

– Then Persian Seleucids build a Greek altar in the Temple – Judas Macabee Leads Revolt 142 BCE- Hannakah celebrates this!

• 65 BCE Romans occupy Palestine/Judea • 6 CE Romans create Province of Judea• 66CE Romans destroy 2nd Temple

Roman’s Final War with Judea66-73 AD, the Last Revolt led by ZealotsProphets call for restoration of the Kingdom of David by force–½ million Jews are killed in this war:–wealth seized helps build Coliseum–Destruction of the 2nd Temple.

Today, Masada from the air

73 AD Masada fortress falls to Romans in last battle

1000 Zealot men women and children commit suicide inside

New temple to Jupiter built on site of the Jewish temple by Hadrian

Diaspora begins – Jews forced out

Judaism becomes decentralized in Europe and Asia Minor

Many synagogues take place of Temple

Tree of Abrahamic Religions

Drawn in class

Jesus of Nazareth: A Life in Brief1. Awaited Messiah2. Parents Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem

• Angels tell of special birth

3. Grows up in Nazareth• Specialness forgotten

4. Ministry began at 30 years old5. Miracles performed6. Crucified by Romans in Jerusalem at

urging of the Jewish chief priests• 33 years old

7. Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion and ascended into Heaven• Apostles rally afterwards

Jesus Christ: “Born of the House of David” • (1-33AD)…(4BC-29AD)• “Son of God… forgiver of sins”• “Abba” = God is our Father, a parent• A new covenant:

– Love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind; AND

– love your neighbor as yourself. • Love your enemies.

– Forgive those who spite you 70 times 7…

• Obviously a dangerous man…

Jesus’ Teachings

Sermon on the Mount

“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth”

The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven…”

The Gospels in The New Testament

• “The Good News”. – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.• These 4 chosen were the best representation

of Jesus’ teachings, said church leaders.

• Written between 70 AD and 110 AD.

Christ’s Passion– God suffered for us– Jesus sacrificed for us

•Resurrection– God as man

overcomes the trial and opens a bigger path for God to work in the world

– Easter

Resurrection of Christ, Grunewald, 16th C

This Man, Antonio Ciseri, 19th c (Christ and Barabas w/ Pontius Pilate)

Christianity’s Power as Philosophy• God became man• Jesus as a true man, an example• Spread the Jewish idea: God is a God of all people• Equality of People• Membership is open to all people, slave and king• Faith• Hope• Forgiveness• Love

Peter

• Or “Simon Peter”– Rock (Petra)– Evangelized– Bishop of Rome = 1st Pope – Martyred in 64 AD by ________

St. Peter’s Basilica

In the city of

_______

Paul

Crucifixion of Paul by Caravaggio

• Christianity first spreads westward into Roman Empire…WHY?

• A Roman Jew

“On the road to Damascus…” God appears to him…

• Writes• Acts• Epistles

Allowed new followers to maintain many of their old traditions.

Paul’s Travels through the Roman Empire

Christianity: a New Cult That Spread• Persecuted from the start.

– Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for burning Rome (64AD)– Diocletian became a major persecutor

• Cult of Jesus spread – Christianity was fast growing, esp. after 70AD– Slaves, women and the poor. – Early Christians were charitable and against infanticide– Victims at some Games– 20 % of Empire by end of 200s AD

• Christians & Jews refused to honor the Roman Emperors.– But Jews in the Roman empire were largely excused from it

• Martyr =

Constantine the Great 285-337 AD

Father -> Roman General , Mother, Helena -> Christian

Reunified -> 312 AD : Roman Empire after battling his brother in law at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Edict of Milan 313 AD

Sent his mother, Helena-> Jerusalem to find the relics of Jesus as well as to help build churches in the area.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher First Church in Rome

Constantine moves the Empire’s capital to Constantinople (Byzantium) in Asia Minor 330 AD 335 AD Kills son and wife for plotting against him

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Built by Constantine in Jerusalem

Where Jesus was entombed?  

Emperors Aid Christianity

Emperor Constantine

• Organizes Nicene Conference

– “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth…”

• Officially converts to Christianity on his deathbed

Emperor Theodosius

• Makes it the Official religion in Rome in 395 AD – all other religions are

banned

Constantine helped make the Cross the Main Symbol of the

Christian Religion