(EECA) Questions for Thought

Questions for Thought

  • What is sacred space?
  • What are examples of sacred spaces?
  • What are some of the qualities of space that you consider sacred?
  • What makes that space sacred?
  • What rituals or symbols are used to designate these spaces as sacred?
  • What religious ideas are expressed in different parts of the building's space—both inside and outside?
  • How are sacred objects used in worship?

 

The College Board has used this theme on the AP Art History exam predominantly over the years. This review component has been designed to help you explore this theme.

In the earlier modules, you were introduced to several medieval religious sites. The following list is just a few examples:

  • White Temple and Ziggurat, Uruk, 3200 BCE
  • Temple of Horus
  • Etruscan Temple
  • Parthenon dedicated to Athena, Athens, Greece
  • Pantheon, Rome, Italy 118 CE

 In this module, a few of the works that are good examples of sacred spaces are the following:

  • Catacomb of Priscilla. Rome, Italy. Late Antique Europe. c. 200-400 C.E. Excavated tufa and fresco.
  • Santa Sabina. Rome, Italy. Late Antique Europe. c. 422-432 C.E. Brick and stone, wooden roof.
  • San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy. Early Byzantine Europe. c. 526-547 C.E. Brick, marble, and stone veneer; mosaic.
  • Hagia Sophia. Constantinople (Istanbul). Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. 532-537 C.E. Brick and ceramic elements with stone and mosaic veneer.
  • Church of Sainte-Foy. Conques, France. Church: c 1050-1130 C.E.; Reliquary of Saint Foy: ninth century C.E., with later additions. Stone (architecture); stone and paint (tympanum).
  • Great Mosque. Córdoba, Spain. Umayyad. c. 785-786 C.E.   Stone masonry.

In this module, a few of the works that are good examples of objects of devotion are the following:

  • Reliquary of Saint Foy gold, silver, gemstones, and enamel over wood.
  • Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George. Early Byzantine Europe. Sixth or early seventh century C.E. Encaustic on wood.
  • Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well and Jacob Wrestling the Angel, from the Vienna Genesis. Early Byzantine Europe. Early sixth century C.E. Illuminated manuscript (pigments on vellum).

Learn more about the Saint Foy Plan in the activity below.

Learn more about Vienna Genesis, Jacob Wrestling the Angel in the presentation below.

Learn more about Vienna Genesis, Rebecca at the Well in the presentation below.

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