Blog Post #4

Grade 8 Mosaic Field Trip (Kalemegdan Fortress - St. Petka Chapel) 


1. Describe the mosaic you have chosen and include details about figures, colors, clothing, objects, etc.
What message is the mosaic trying to convey?
2. Compare your chosen mosaic to our checklist. Is it a good example of Byzantine Art? Why/not?

In St. Petka I saw pictures of eagle bodies with a realistic face, a lot of environment, nature, a lot of saints, Jesus Christ, angles, jewelry, mosaics, icons, new born babies, symbols, lots of color, leaders, repeating drawings, a king holding a castle, birds (freedom), floating feet, the more important person centered or closer, long dresses, all done in tiles, a lot of gold colored, feathers surrounding pictures, showing god many times and floating feet.  

1.In the St. Petka Chapel, I chose the Angles. I think that angles are very unique. The angles in the chapel could mean a new born baby, bishops or even messengers. The color of the angles were white. Showing peace and freedom. There were two angles. One on each side of the baby. The figures shown in this mosaic I chose was that the baby was on a huge chair. Maybe showing that the new born baby was really important and could of been Jesus Christ. The angles were placed so they were facing the new born baby.

2. I think that if I compare the mosaic I chose to the Byzantine Art checklist it is a good example because the angles were turned in a meaningful gesture to face the new born baby, they had their feet floating and the huge chair that the baby was sitting on was symbolic, showing that the baby is someone really important. The scale that the mosaic placed is interesting because the baby is in the center showing the importance and the two angles are on each side floating. The angles our wearing white, so it is kind of shinning out and showing peace. The story seems really clear to me and is a good example of Byzantine Art.

St. Petka Chapel, Belgrade, Serbia

Blog Post #3

Upon completion of your mosaic, explain the meaning of your symbol, reflect on the process of making a mosaic, and imagine what it would have been like to create a large scale mosaic in a church over 1500 years ago.


For my mosaic I did the 4- Point Star. The four-pointed star symbol in Christianity is usually styled to show a cross. Also known as the Star of Bethlehem or natal star, this star represents both Jesus' birth and the purpose for which he was born.
It is used especially for church decoration during the Advent and Christmas seasons. 
  Making a mosaic was really fun. It took me one in a half hour to finish the mosaic. I did my borders blue and inside the border brown, continuing with green. I had my 4-point star in the middle I made it blue on the two sides and the rest I did it purple. This was a mosaic so I needed to have spaces in between each tile of paper. The tiles of my border were really close, but after when I got inside the picture I fixed that. 
  If I were to create a large scale mosaic it would take a long time and I would need to have some powerful glue and maybe need some help. I think that it would be really valuable to have a great mosaic in a church that is over 1500 years ago. I guess that it would mean a lot to
 the people from that religion. 

This is one of the classic mosaics that people make. 

A mosaic from the Byzantine Empire

BlogPost #2

Christian Saints Research and write a mini-bio on a saint from either the Orthodox or Catholic faith.
(include image, MLA format, approx. 250 words)

Ergi Kirkin
Ms. Moore 
Humanities
March 04,2012

 St. Casimir

Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his won. As a prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, his life was scheduled to cement his father's authority and increase Poland's power. This saint realized from an early age that his life belonged to someones else, but someone much higher, to a King than his father. Born the third of thirteen children in 1461, Casimir was committed to God from childhood. Casimir participated in his true King's plans wholeheartedly by praying, studying, and helping the poor. Rejecting even ordinary comforts, he slept little, spending his nights in prayer. And when he did sleep, he lay on the floor not on a royal bed. Even though he was a prince, many of those around him must have laughed and joked at his choices. Yet, in the face of any pressure, Casimir always friendly and calm. Though his father must have wondered about him, he must have seen and admired Casimir's strength. His father, however, was furious at being deterred from his plans and banished Casimir to a castle in Dobzki, hoping that imprisonment would change Casimir's mind. He died at the age of 23 in 1484 from lung disease. He was buried with his favorite song, a Latin hymn to Mary called "Omni die dic Mariae" which we know as "Daily, Daily Sing to Mary." Because of his love for the song, it is known as the Hymn of St. Casimir though he didn't write it. His feast day is March 4 and he is the Patron of Poland and Lithuania.

UNIT #3

THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Unit Question:

How did Christianity unite the empire?