Ancient Statues, Christian City

Abstract

This chapter examines some of the public statues of Constantinople between the 4th and sixth centuries CE, and their significance to a Christian audience as illuminated in literary records pertaining to the city. The Parastaseis Syntomoi Chronikai account dated to the eighth century CE, which not only describes the statues in their historical urban settings, but also details various encounters of viewers with them. Roman Empire perception was perpetuated into the future and encapsulated by the statues. The statues proved themselves to be superior to Christian images, which, up until the ninth century CE, were repeatedly debated concerning their very validity. The statues, however, never suffered the official interrogation and violence their Christian counterparts did—adding to their charisma and appeal over generations. Constantinopolitan public statuary offers critical insights into the ways a controversial ancient heritage imbricated itself into the very fabric of Christian material infrastructure and endured.