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Constantine Exhibition, Yorkshire Museum
Apr. 19th, 2006 06:06 pmI am very, very pleased with this & thoroughly recommend it to all.
Criticisms:
Quite a few of the displays are not numbered at the moment, probably in the process of re-numbering. Some of the lights are placed badly, so if you stand to look, you block your own light. A friend of ours was on duty when we went & introduced us to exhibition organiser Elizabeth Hartley & they are certainly aware of these issues & I understand they are working on it. Might be worth waiting if you are travelling a long way.
The static displays are a bit 'old school' compared to the animatronic dinosaurs we're used to, but they project a nice CHi-Rho & it's always nice to hear the Nicene Creed in (church) Latin.
I also feel that the emphasis on Constantine promoting Christianity rather plays down some of the less attractive elements of his life as 'companion of the sun god', although the continuity of symbolism & practice from Classical to Christian worship is illustrated by exhibits very well.
And the tools were not on display when we went! I want to see chisels!
My Highlights:
The mail shirt from Arbea in all it's crumpled glory & in an environmentally controlled case, looking like an old unravelling woollen sweater. 7mm rings, alternate rows rivetted, late third - early fourth century.
The Dalmatic tunic from Akhmin on loan from the Victoria & Albert Museum (T.361-1887). 130cm long, 206 cm wide, 'first half of the fourth century', full length purple wool clavi with interlocked geometric gold thread embroidery, with two identical bands on each cuff. Simpler pattern than I'd expected, but so attractive.
The glass beaker (from Bonn?) showing Constantine's guards over from Cologne & pictured in Southern & Dixon.
The Chi-Rho votive plaques from the Water Newton hoard - a strong reminder of the pagan flavour of early Christianity.
The central roundel with Christ & Chi-Rho from the mosaic at Hinton St. Mary, Dorset. Mid-fourth century. I love the way they've displayed it on a carpet showing the rest of the mosaic!
Silver military belt fittings from the Traprain Law Treasure. I want some.
Golden Chi-Rho monogram seal ring from Suffolk, a beautifully worked golden armlet from Cologne and, not least, the golden ring inscribed 'Fidem Constantino' from Amien & of a type probably commonly worn by soldiers in his service.
Oddest:
Lifesized goose statue with internal pipes to allow it to emit steam, smoke or possibly sound effects!
On 'til October. The catalogue is well worth it. Why not combine it with the York Roman Festival celebrating the 1700th anniversary of his acclamation, 21-30 July? Comitatus is taking over Barley Hall on the second weekend!
The exhibition site: www.constantinethegreat.org.uk
The Festival Site, such as it is (don't expect the rest of it to be as well organised as our bit): www.yorkromanfestival.com
Criticisms:
Quite a few of the displays are not numbered at the moment, probably in the process of re-numbering. Some of the lights are placed badly, so if you stand to look, you block your own light. A friend of ours was on duty when we went & introduced us to exhibition organiser Elizabeth Hartley & they are certainly aware of these issues & I understand they are working on it. Might be worth waiting if you are travelling a long way.
The static displays are a bit 'old school' compared to the animatronic dinosaurs we're used to, but they project a nice CHi-Rho & it's always nice to hear the Nicene Creed in (church) Latin.
I also feel that the emphasis on Constantine promoting Christianity rather plays down some of the less attractive elements of his life as 'companion of the sun god', although the continuity of symbolism & practice from Classical to Christian worship is illustrated by exhibits very well.
And the tools were not on display when we went! I want to see chisels!
My Highlights:
The mail shirt from Arbea in all it's crumpled glory & in an environmentally controlled case, looking like an old unravelling woollen sweater. 7mm rings, alternate rows rivetted, late third - early fourth century.
The Dalmatic tunic from Akhmin on loan from the Victoria & Albert Museum (T.361-1887). 130cm long, 206 cm wide, 'first half of the fourth century', full length purple wool clavi with interlocked geometric gold thread embroidery, with two identical bands on each cuff. Simpler pattern than I'd expected, but so attractive.
The glass beaker (from Bonn?) showing Constantine's guards over from Cologne & pictured in Southern & Dixon.
The Chi-Rho votive plaques from the Water Newton hoard - a strong reminder of the pagan flavour of early Christianity.
The central roundel with Christ & Chi-Rho from the mosaic at Hinton St. Mary, Dorset. Mid-fourth century. I love the way they've displayed it on a carpet showing the rest of the mosaic!
Silver military belt fittings from the Traprain Law Treasure. I want some.
Golden Chi-Rho monogram seal ring from Suffolk, a beautifully worked golden armlet from Cologne and, not least, the golden ring inscribed 'Fidem Constantino' from Amien & of a type probably commonly worn by soldiers in his service.
Oddest:
Lifesized goose statue with internal pipes to allow it to emit steam, smoke or possibly sound effects!
On 'til October. The catalogue is well worth it. Why not combine it with the York Roman Festival celebrating the 1700th anniversary of his acclamation, 21-30 July? Comitatus is taking over Barley Hall on the second weekend!
The exhibition site: www.constantinethegreat.org.uk
The Festival Site, such as it is (don't expect the rest of it to be as well organised as our bit): www.yorkromanfestival.com
