Urban and Religious Spaces in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium

Jean-Michel Spieser, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

• Contents: Preface; The city in late antiquity: a re-evaluation; La ville en Grèce du IIIe au VIIe siècle; The Christianisation of the city in late antiquity; L’evolution de la ville byzantine de l’époque paléochrétienne à l’iconoclasme; Caricin Grad et les routes; The Christianisation of pagan sanctuaries in Greece; Ambrose’s foundations at Milan and the question of Martyria; Les remparts de Thessalonique: à propos d'un livre récent; Note sur le rempart maritime de Thessalonique; Philon de Byzance et les fortifications paléochrétiennes; Remarques sur Saint-Démétrius de Thessalonique; Further remarks on the mosaic of Hosios David; The iconographic programme of the Doors of Santa Sabina; A propos du linteau d'Al-Moallaqa; Doors, boundaries and the use of space in early Christian churches; The representation of Christ in the apses of early Christian churches; Le développement du templon et les images des Douze Fêtes; Comparatisme et diachronie: à propos de l’histoire de l’iconographie dans le monde paléochrétien et byzantin; Addenda; Index.

'... the characteristics of Spieser's scholarship are manifest: assiduous study of art and archaeology, generally set in a wide context of theology and urbanism, close familiarity with Patristic and later religious sources as well as with the vast relevant bibliography...' Revue des Études Byzantines 'Spieser's insights into how space shapes religious experience and theological reflection are the hallmark of this superb collection, which belongs in theological and university libraries.' Religious Studies Review '... his essays include some extremely insightful and helpful observations about the symbolism of space in the early Christian period...' The Heythrop Journal