1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910797370403321

Autore

Angelova Diliana <1968->

Titolo

Sacred founders : women, men, and gods in the discourse of imperial founding, Rome through early Byzantine / / Diliana N. Angelova

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Oakland, California : , : University of California Press, , [2014]

©2014

ISBN

0-520-95968-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (450 p.)

Disciplina

937.009/9

Soggetti

Imperialism - Religious aspects

Imperialism - Social aspects

Empresses - Religious life

Rome History Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Founding, power, and authority: Mediterranean history and Augustan innovations -- Founding and afterlife -- Women and founding from Livia to Helena -- The Christian founders Constantine and Helena -- Constantine's and Helena's legacy in the founding of public space -- Imperial women and civic founding -- Koinonia : the Christian founders' legacy in the symbolism of authority -- Christian piety and the making of a Christian discourse of imperial founding -- Church-building and founding -- The Virgin Mary and the discourse of imperial founders.

Sommario/riassunto

"Sacred Founders argues that from the time of Augustus through early Byzantium, a discourse of imperial founding helped articulate and legitimate imperial authority. Artwork, literature, imperial honors, and the built environment comprised the statements in this multi-authored, empire-wide discourse. These statements were bound by the idea that imperial men and women were sacred founders of the land, mirror images of the empire's divine founders. By establishing a new capital for the Roman Empire, Constantine and his formidable mother, Helena, initiated its Christian transformation. Over time this transformation empowered imperial women, transformed the cult of the Virgin Mary,



fueled contests between church and state, and provoked an arresting synthesis of imperial and Christian art. With balanced analysis, Angelova presents a fresh argument about the symbolic logic of Roman rule and uncovers forgotten legacies that profoundly shaped the Christian era"--Provided by publisher.