The most amazing thing about Pompeii is the preserved mosaics that give us insight into 1st-century art. Many of the patterns endure over centuries, but some of these early patterns hint at a Christian following. We can see the cross in stone on our walking tour. Let’s explore the cross-like designs in the Pompeii archeology park.
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Qajar Art and Technique upon the City of Tbilisi
In 1795, the Qajar dynasty surged into the Caucasus, reaching Tbilisi. The Battle of Krtsanisi left the city devastated in a single, violent episode, scarring its streets and memory.
Yet history leaves more than ruins. In quiet courtyards, hillside homes, and public buildings, traces of Persian influence remain. If you know where to look, Tbilisi tells a story not only of destruction, but of artistic exchange and survival. Let’s explore the lesser-known corners of Tbilisi where the Qajar imprint lingers.
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Breaking Rome’s Social Ladder: Christianity And The Dignity Of Labor
Christianity did not promote elitism for those who held political power or social status, but reached all levels of society, from the Roman political chambers to individual slaves. Roman society was, in some ways, anti-tradesmen, with particular biases shaping views of different craftspeople, especially those making mosaics. What was the mosaic influence in the first century?
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Pompeii Preserved Crosses of the 1st Century
A two-day eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD destroyed and buried the Roman city of Pompeii under vast amounts of ash and volcanic material. To this day, in Pompeii, they continue excavating the former city, as one-third still lies under volcanic debris. The city, frozen in time by volcanic rock, offers a unique glimpse of life in the 1st century. Did this city preserve Christian elements that had recently arrived? Let’s take a look.
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Persian Oral or Written Scrolls – Which one influenced?
What happens when a religion built on oral tradition encounters a faith grounded in written texts? In the ancient Near East, this question was not theoretical. When the Persian Empire absorbed the Jewish exiles in the 6th century BC, a culture shaped by oral priestly tradition encountered a people whose sacred law had long been written and publicly read.
When the Persian Empire encountered the Jewish exiles, a religion with ancient written scriptures interacted with priestly traditions still largely preserved through oral transmission. In such an environment, written texts could quietly influence oral traditions across generations.
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Were Zoroastrians in Tbilisi?
Persian armies conquered Tbilisi again and again, yet Georgia remained firmly Christian. Why? Did the Persians deliberately avoid converting the population to Zoroastrianism, seeking peaceful coexistence, or was the empire’s ancient faith reserved for its own administrators and elites? The ruins of Tbilisi’s Fire Temple point to a striking paradox: an imperial religion present at the heart of the city, yet never fully imposed. This tension reveals a complex encounter between power, faith, and cultural coexistence.
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