Traditio Legis

60 Pages·2016·2.01 MB·English

Kelechi Johnbosco Ahunanya

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY:
THE TRADITIO LEGIS MOTIF ON CHRISTIAN SARCOPHAGI
IN FOURTH-CENTURY ROME

MA Thesis in Comparative History, with a specialization
in Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies.

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May 2016
TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY:
THE TRADITIO LEGIS MOTIF ON CHRISTIAN SARCOPHAGI

IN FOURTH-CENTURY ROME

by

Kelechi Johnbosco Ahunanya

(Nigeria)
Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies,

Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements

of the Master of Arts degree in Comparative History, with a specialization in Interdisciplinary
Medieval Studies.

Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU.
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Chair, Examination Committee

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Thesis Supervisor

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Examiner
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Budapest
May 2016
TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY:

THE TRADITIO LEGIS MOTIF ON CHRISTIAN SARCOPHAGI

IN FOURTH-CENTURY ROME

by

Kelechi Johnbosco Ahunanya

(Nigeria)

Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies,

Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements

of the Master of Arts degree in Comparative History, with a specialization in

Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies.

Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU.

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May 2016
TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY:

THE TRADITIO LEGIS MOTIF ON CHRISTIAN SARCOPHAGI
IN FOURTH-CENTURY ROME
by

Kelechi Johnbosco Ahunanya

(Nigeria)

Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies,
Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements

of the Master of Arts degree in Comparative History, with a specialization in

Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies.

Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU.

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External Supervisor

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I, the undersigned, Kelechi Johnbosco Ahunanya, candidate for the MA degree in Comparative
History, with a specialization in Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies declare herewith that the
present thesis is exclusively my own work, based on my research and only such external
information as properly credited in notes and bibliography. I declare that no unidentified and
illegitimate use was made of the work of others, and no part of the thesis infringes on any person’s
or institution’s copyright. I also declare that no part of the thesis has been submitted in this form
to any other institution of higher education for an academic degree.
Budapest, 19 May 2016
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Signature
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Abstract
This thesis focuses on the traditio legis motif, as found on fourth-century sarcophagi in Rome.
Scholars previously interpreted this motif as the replacement of the old Mosaic Law by the new
Law, which Christ gives to Apostle Peter in the presence of Apostle Paul. Thus, they also called it
‘the Lord gives the Law’ scene. However, the assessment of this motif in the context of the debates
and events of the fourth-century, especially in Rome, reveals that it might rather primarily express
the establishment and the transfer of authority from Christ to Peter, and, hence the establishment
of the apostolic linage.
I approached the idea of the transfer of authority by analyzing other motifs that are found
alongside the traditio legis on Roman sarcophagi. I also analyzed the scriptural topoi and narratives
to clarify this notion. A significant scene was the ascension of Elijah, during which he hands over
the mantle of leadership and authority to his disciple, Elisha. Other motives currently used in the
Roman sarcophagi are Moses receiving the Law and eschatological scenes. For these reasons, I
argue that, although the traditio legis expresses the transfer of a new law, its primary interpretation
might be the divine origin of power and its transfer to humans.

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Acknowledgements
To my supervisors Marianne Sághy and Volker Menze for believing in me. Also for the time
travelling into the captivating and breath-taking world of Late Antiquity, and fourth-century Rome.
To the entire staff and student of the Department of Medieval Studies here at CEU, especially
Daniel Ziemann, Alice Chokye, Cristian Gaspar, Csilla Dobos, Annabella Pál, Dóra Mérai, Zsuzsa
Reed, Johanna Tóth, and Andra Juganaru, for developing, teaching, instructing and helping me
survive beyond the four walls of the university.
Krisztina Figler of the Department of Antiquities, Library of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest,
for guaranteeing the library services even on non-working days.
To my families in Nigeria and Hungary, for colouring my life.
To Erika, Ondrej, and Zsolt, for giving me laughter, lunch, and lounge.
Last but not the least, for having every reason to kele chi, without whom my existence would not
have any meaning.
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Table of contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 1 – “The Lord Gives the Law”: the Traditio Legis Scene and Scholarship ...................... 6
The Elements of the Composition........................................................................................... 7
The Traditio legis in Scholarship .............................................................................................. 12
Chapter 2 – Models and Typology................................................................................................ 16
Biblical Typology ..................................................................................................................... 16
Imperial Models ........................................................................................................................ 17
Chapter 3 – Authority and the Traditio Legis Motif ..................................................................... 21
The Authority of the Bishop of Rome ...................................................................................... 21
The Visual Propaganda ............................................................................................................. 22
Concordia .................................................................................................................................. 24
The Traditio Legis as an Apologetic Tool ................................................................................ 28
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Receiving the Law with Covered Hands .................................................................................. 35
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Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 48

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List of Figures
Pictures taken from Repertorium der Christlich-antiken Sarkophage, volume one by Friedrich
Wilhelm Deichmann (1967), identified as REP. I; and volume two by Jutta Dresken-Weiland
(1998), identified as REP. II. Unless otherwise cited in the details of the pictures.

Figure 1 Sarcophagus of Iunius Bassus. Basilica of Saint Peter. Vatican. AD. 359. Front. L. 2,40;
W. 0,40; H. 1,37. REP. I. 680. ........................................................................................................ 7
Figure 2: Sarcophagus of Flavius Gorgonius. Cathedral of Saint Cyriacus, Ancona. AD 386. Front:
L. 2, 37; W. 0, 80; H. 1, 13; with cover (lid): L. 2, 35; W. 0, 32; H. 1, 15. REP. II. 149. .............. 8
Figure 3: Sarcophagus. Gregoriano Profano Museum, Vatican Museums. Late fourth Century.
Front. L. 2, 19; W. 0, 79; H. 1, 13. REP. I. 677. ............................................................................ 9
Figure 4: Sarcophagus. Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan. AD 380 – 400. Front. L. 2, 30; W. 0,
50; H. 1, 14. REP. II 150............................................................................................................... 10
Figure 5: Sarcophagus of Anicii. Louvre Museum, Paris. Late fourth century. L. 2, 52; W. 1, 46;
H. 1, 11.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:P1070871_Louvre_sarcophage_de_la_Remise_de_la_
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Ascension of Elijah (left), and Moses receiving the law (right). .................................................. 36
Figure 8: Sarcophagus of Flavius Gorgonius, Cathedral of Saint Cyriacus in Ancona. Left Side
with the details of Moses receiving the Law and Sacrifice of Isaac. ............................................ 37
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Figure 9: Left side of Sarcophagus of Anicii. Louvre Museum, Paris.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:P1070873_Louvre_sarcophage_de_la_Remise_de_la_
Loi_face_lat._droite_Ma2980_rwk.JPG ....................................................................................... 38
Figure 10: Fragment (side) of a Sarcophagus. Vatican Museums. Late fourth Century. L. 0, 84; H.
0, 47. REPI. 115. ........................................................................................................................... 39

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