THEN & NOW
Constantine became emperor in 306 A.D. An avid soldier and conqueror, two battles in 312 and 324, (the dates shown in Roman numerals), were the significant victories that made him the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. This warlike mentality, displayed in the upper corners of the painting, stands in opposition to the peaceful scenes in the lower half. The triangular segment of the hollow mountain is a symbol for the money needed and the lives lost to establish and sustain a religious hierarchy. An upside-down papal tiara emphasizes these financial demands.
Constantine exercised his absolute power as a despot surrounded by pomp and wealth. Helena, Constantine’s mother of humble origin, stands to his left, emphasizing her influence on his beliefs. He presided over the First Council of Nicaea to resolve escalating controversies among the bishops about fundamental aspects of the Christian faith. Six more councils were to follow after his death in 337, symbolized by the circles stretching across the canvas.
Although he was a ruler of major importance, Constantine has always been a controversial figure. Historians have questioned if his conversion to Christianity was a sincere action or rather one inspired by political opportunity, his religious inconsistencies a subject of debate. However, past events have documented that power tends to corrupt if a person’s ego is inflated and his sense of morality lessens.
Constantine became emperor in 306 A.D. An avid soldier and conqueror, two battles in 312 and 324, (the dates shown in Roman numerals), were the significant victories that made him the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. This warlike mentality, displayed in the upper corners of the painting, stands in opposition to the peaceful scenes in the lower half. The triangular segment of the hollow mountain is a symbol for the money needed and the lives lost to establish and sustain a religious hierarchy. An upside-down papal tiara emphasizes these financial demands.
Constantine exercised his absolute power as a despot surrounded by pomp and wealth. Helena, Constantine’s mother of humble origin, stands to his left, emphasizing her influence on his beliefs. He presided over the First Council of Nicaea to resolve escalating controversies among the bishops about fundamental aspects of the Christian faith. Six more councils were to follow after his death in 337, symbolized by the circles stretching across the canvas.
Although he was a ruler of major importance, Constantine has always been a controversial figure. Historians have questioned if his conversion to Christianity was a sincere action or rather one inspired by political opportunity, his religious inconsistencies a subject of debate. However, past events have documented that power tends to corrupt if a person’s ego is inflated and his sense of morality lessens.