Reconsidering the Tholos Image in the Eusebian Canon Tables : Symbols, Space, and Books in the Late Antique Christian Imagination

Book chapter

Crawford, M.. (2023). Reconsidering the Tholos Image in the Eusebian Canon Tables : Symbols, Space, and Books in the Late Antique Christian Imagination. In In Ayres, Lewis, Champion, Michael W. and Crawford, Matthew R. (Ed.). The Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity: Reshaping Classical Traditions pp. 484-515 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.028
AuthorsCrawford, M.
EditorsAyres, Lewis, Champion, Michael W. and Crawford, Matthew R.
Abstract

This chapter re-examines the image of a canopied building supported by columns that often appears as the concluding page to the prefatory paratext to the gospels known as the Canon Tables, which was devised by Eusebius of Caesarea in the early fourth century. A catalogue of surviving examples of the so-called tholos image is provided, followed by an argument that the image is underdetermined and polyvalent, and that it operates together with the rest of the Canon Tables decorative scheme to invite an imaginative response from the viewer. The latter half of the chapter turns to two texts in Eusebius’ corpus to elucidate the way in which he used sacred architecture as a means of mapping the theological truths and ritual activities associated with such spaces. The same approach can be applied to the architectural decorative scheme adorning the Canon Tables, including its richly symbolic tholos, which can be seen as a potent symbol that can be activated through a biblically inspired ekphrasis and used as a ‘cognitive machine’ to theorise Christian knowledge and practice.

KeywordsEusebius of Caesarea; tholos; codex; images; imagination; canon tables; Neoplatonism
Page range484-515
Year2023
Book titleThe Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity: Reshaping Classical Traditions
PublisherCambridge University Press
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Edition1
ISBN9781108883559
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.028
Web address (URL)https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/intellectual-world-of-late-antique-christianity/reconsidering-the-tholos-image-in-the-eusebian-canon-tables-symbols-space-and-books-in-the-late-antique-christian-imagination/0D03271EE6606CF6CBA5ADBCB2A9B74C
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Supplemental file
File Access Level
Safeguarded
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online05 Oct 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted2023
Deposited31 May 2024
Additional information

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023.

Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/90987/reconsidering-the-tholos-image-in-the-eusebian-canon-tables-symbols-space-and-books-in-the-late-antique-christian-imagination

Log in to edit

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 21
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

The Emperor Julian and Cyril of Alexandria on Human Nature, Ethnicity, and Moral Progress
Crawford, Matthew Roy. (2024). The Emperor Julian and Cyril of Alexandria on Human Nature, Ethnicity, and Moral Progress. Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses. 100(1), pp. 73-102. https://doi.org/10.2143/ETL.100.1.3292853
Modes of Knowing and Ordering Knowledge in Early Christianity
Crawford, Matthew Roy, Champion, Michael Wesley and Ayres, Lewis Odell. (2023). Modes of Knowing and Ordering Knowledge in Early Christianity. In In Ayres, Lewis, Champion, Michael W. and Crawford, Matthew R. (Ed.). The Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity: Reshaping Classical Traditions pp. 1-20 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.003
Cyril of Alexandria’s renunciation of religious violence
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2023). Cyril of Alexandria’s renunciation of religious violence. Church History. 92(1), pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000964072300063X
Henrik Ibsen, Emperor Julian, and the crisis of faith in modernity
Boswell, Brad, Crawford, Matthew R. and Stavrakopoulou, Anna. (2023). Henrik Ibsen, Emperor Julian, and the crisis of faith in modernity. Classical Receptions Journal. 15(2), pp. 151-171. https://doi.org/10.1093/crj/clad002
TOWARDS A NEW EDITION OF JULIAN’S CONTRA GALILAEOS : ASSESSING THE MATERIAL FROM THE SYRIAC TRANSMISSION OF CYRIL’S CONTRA IVLIANVM
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2022). TOWARDS A NEW EDITION OF JULIAN’S CONTRA GALILAEOS : ASSESSING THE MATERIAL FROM THE SYRIAC TRANSMISSION OF CYRIL’S CONTRA IVLIANVM. Classical Quarterly. 72(2), pp. 850-867. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838822000799
John Cassian, On the Incarnation of the Lord against Nestorius 3.1–16 and 5.1–4
Crawford, Matthew R. and Humphries, Thomas L.. (2022). John Cassian, On the Incarnation of the Lord against Nestorius 3.1–16 and 5.1–4. In In Mark DelCogliano, Mark (Ed.). Christ : Through the Nestorian Controversy pp. 593-622 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107449640.045
Cyril of Alexandria, Second Letter to Nestorius
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2022). Cyril of Alexandria, Second Letter to Nestorius. In In DelCogliano, Mark (Ed.). Christ : Through the Nestorian Controversy pp. 564-569 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107449640.041
Nestorius of Constantinople, Second Letter to Cyril
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2022). Nestorius of Constantinople, Second Letter to Cyril. In In DelCogliano, Mark (Ed.). Christ : Through the Nestorian Controversy pp. 570-576 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107449640.042
Nestorius of Constantinople,Three Letters to Celestine of Rome
Crawford, Matthew R. and DelCogliano, Mark. (2022). Nestorius of Constantinople,Three Letters to Celestine of Rome. In In DelCogliano, Mark (Ed.). Christ : Through the Nestorian Controversy pp. 585-592 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107449640.044
Severus of Antioch on Gospel reading with the Eusebian Canon Tables
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2022). Severus of Antioch on Gospel reading with the Eusebian Canon Tables. In In Pierce, Madison N., Byers, Andrew J. and Gathercole, Simon (Ed.). Gospel reading and reception in early Christian literature pp. 215-233 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009083188.012
“The Hostile Devices of the Demented Demons” : Tatian on astrology and pharmacology
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2021). “The Hostile Devices of the Demented Demons” : Tatian on astrology and pharmacology. Journal of Early Christian Studies. 29(1), pp. 31-59. https://doi.org/10.1353/earl.2021.0001
Tatian, Celsus, and Christianity as “Barbarian Philosophy” in the Late Second Century
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2020). Tatian, Celsus, and Christianity as “Barbarian Philosophy” in the Late Second Century. In In Ayres, Lewis and Ward, H. Clifton (Ed.). The rise of the early Christian intellectual pp. 45-80 De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110608632
The influence of Eusebius’ Chronicle on the Apologetic Treatises of Cyril of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2020). The influence of Eusebius’ Chronicle on the Apologetic Treatises of Cyril of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo. Journal of Ecclesiastical History. 71(4), pp. 693-711. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022046920000664
Do the Eusebian Canon Tables Represent the Closure or the Opening of the Biblical Text? Considering the Case of Codex Fuldensis
Crawford, Matthew. (2020). Do the Eusebian Canon Tables Represent the Closure or the Opening of the Biblical Text? Considering the Case of Codex Fuldensis. In In Alessandro Bausi, Bruno Reudenbach and Hanna Wimmer (Ed.). Canones: The Art of Harmony: The Canon Tables of the Four Gospels pp. 17-27 De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110625844-002
Cyril of Alexandria’s Contra Iulianum: Imperial politics, and Alexandrian Philosophy (c. 416–428)
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2020). Cyril of Alexandria’s Contra Iulianum: Imperial politics, and Alexandrian Philosophy (c. 416–428). In In E. Anagnostou-Laoutides and K. Parry (Ed.). Eastern Christianity and Late Antique Philosophy pp. 110 - 132 Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004429567_006
Introduction
Crawford, Matthew R. and Zola, Nicholas J.. (2019). Introduction. In In Crawford, Matthew R. and Zola, Nicholas J. (Ed.). The Gospel of Tatian : Exploring the nature and text of the Diatessaron pp. 1-9 T&T Clark. https://doi.org/10.5040/9780567679901-008
The Eusebian Canon Tables: Ordering textual knowledge in Late Antiquity
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2019). The Eusebian Canon Tables: Ordering textual knowledge in Late Antiquity Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198802600.001.0001
The Eusebian Canon Tables as a corpus - Organizing paratext within the multiple-text manuscript of the Fourfold Gospel
Crawford, Matthew. (2019). The Eusebian Canon Tables as a corpus - Organizing paratext within the multiple-text manuscript of the Fourfold Gospel. In In A. Bassi, M. Friedrich and M. Maniaci (Ed.). The Emergence of Multiple-Text Manuscripts pp. 107 - 124 De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110645989
Rejection at Nazareth in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke—and Tatian
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2018). Rejection at Nazareth in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke—and Tatian. In In Watson, Francis and Parkhouse, Sarah (Ed.). Connecting Gospels : Beyond the canonical/non-canonical divide pp. 97-124 Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198814801.003.0006
A new witness to the 'Western' ordering of the gospels: GA 073 + 084
Crawford, Matthew. (2018). A new witness to the 'Western' ordering of the gospels: GA 073 + 084. Journal of Theological Studies. 69(2), pp. 477 - 483. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/fly067
Ephrem, commentary on the Gospel 1.2-1.8
Crawford, Matthew. (2017). Ephrem, commentary on the Gospel 1.2-1.8. In In A. Radde-Gallwitz (Ed.). The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings: Volume 1 God pp. 224 - 228 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107449596
Cyril of Alexandria, five tomes against Nestorius 4.1-4.2
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2017). Cyril of Alexandria, five tomes against Nestorius 4.1-4.2. In In A. Radde-Gallwitz (Ed.). The Cambridge Edition of Early Christian Writings: Volume 1 God pp. 328 - 338 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/97811449596
The origins of Pauline Theology: Paratexts and Priscillian of Avila's Canons on the Letters of the Apostle Paul
Lang, T. J. and Crawford, Matthew. (2017). The origins of Pauline Theology: Paratexts and Priscillian of Avila's Canons on the Letters of the Apostle Paul. New Testament Studies. 63(1), pp. 125 - 145. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002868851600031X
White matter predicts functional connectivity in premanifest Huntington's disease
McColgan, Peter, Gregory, Sarah, Razi, Adeel, Seunarine, Kiran K., Gargouri, Fatma, Durr, Alexandra, Roos, Raymund A. C., Leavitt, Blair R., Scahill, Rachael I., Clark, Chris A., Tabrizi, Sarah J., Rees, Geraint, Coleman, Allison J., Decolongon, J., Fan, M., Petkau, T., Jauffret, Céline, Justo, Damian, Lehericy, S., ... Johnson, H.. (2017). White matter predicts functional connectivity in premanifest Huntington's disease. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 4(2), pp. 106 - 118. https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.384
Scholarly practices: The Eusebian canon tables in the Hiberno-Latin tradition
Crawford, Matthew Roy. (2017). Scholarly practices: The Eusebian canon tables in the Hiberno-Latin tradition. In In G.E.M. Gasper, F. Watson and M.R. Crawford (Ed.). Producing Christian Culture: Medieval Exegesis and its Interpretative Genres pp. 65 - 88 Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315602301
The Diatessaron, Canonical or Non-Canonical? Rereading the Dura Fragment
Crawford, Matthew Roy. (2016). The Diatessaron, Canonical or Non-Canonical? Rereading the Dura Fragment. New Testament Studies. 62(2), pp. 253 - 277. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688515000478
'Confessing God from a Good Conscience': 1 Peter 3:21 and Early Christian Baptismal Theology
Crawford, Matthew Roy. (2016). 'Confessing God from a Good Conscience': 1 Peter 3:21 and Early Christian Baptismal Theology. Journal of Theological Studies. 67, pp. 23 - 37. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flw085
Kavwv and Scripture according to the Letter of Peter to James
Crawford, Matthew Roy. (2016). Kavwv and Scripture according to the Letter of Peter to James. Zeitschrift fur Antikes Christentum. 20(2), pp. 260 - 275. https://doi.org/10.1515/zac-2016-0032
Resolving Genealogical Ambiguity: Eusebius and (ps-) Ephrem on Luke 1.36
Crawford, Matthew Roy. (2016). Resolving Genealogical Ambiguity: Eusebius and (ps-) Ephrem on Luke 1.36. Aramaic Studies. 14, pp. 83 - 97. https://doi.org/10.1163/17455227-01402005
The Problemata of Tatian: Recovering the Fragments of a Second-Century Christian Intellectual
Crawford, Matthew. (2016). The Problemata of Tatian: Recovering the Fragments of a Second-Century Christian Intellectual. Journal of Theological Studies. 67(2), pp. 542 - 575. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flw171
Reading the Diatessaron with Ephrem: The Word and the Light, the Voice and the Star
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2015). Reading the Diatessaron with Ephrem: The Word and the Light, the Voice and the Star. Vigiliae Christianae: a review of early Christian life and languages. 69(1), pp. 70 - 95. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700720-12341191
The Fourfold Gospel in the Writings of Ephrem the Syrian
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2015). The Fourfold Gospel in the Writings of Ephrem the Syrian. Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies. 18(1), pp. 9 - 51.
"Reordering the Confusion": Tatian, the Second Sophistic, and the so-called Diatessaron
Crawford, Matthew. (2015). "Reordering the Confusion": Tatian, the Second Sophistic, and the so-called Diatessaron. Zeitschrift fuer Antikes Christentum. 19(2), pp. 209 - 236. https://doi.org/10.1515/zac-2015-0018
Detection of motor changes in huntington's disease using dynamic causal modeling
Minkova, Lora, Scheller, Elisa, Peter, Jessica, Abdulkadir, Ahmed, Kaller, Christoph P., Roos, Raymund A. C., Dürr, Alexandra, Leavitt, Blair R., Tabrizi, Sarah J., Kloppel, Stefan, Coleman, Allison J., Decolongon, J., Fan, M., Koren, T., Jauffret, Céline, Justo, Damian, Lehericy, Stephane, Nigaud, Kevin, Valabrègue, Romain, ... Mills, J.. (2015). Detection of motor changes in huntington's disease using dynamic causal modeling. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 9, pp. 1 - 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00634
Compensation in preclinical Huntington's disease: Evidence from the track-on hd study
Kloppel, Stefan, Gregory, Sarah, Scheller, Elisa, Minkova, Lora, Razi, Adeel, Durr, Alexandra, Roos, Raymund A. C., Leavitt, Blair R., Papoutsi, Marina, Landwehrmeyer, G. Bernhard, Reilmann, Ralf, Borowsky, Beth, Johnson, Hans, Mills, James A., Owen, Gail N., Stout, Julie C., Scahill, Rachael I., Long, Jeffrey D., Rees, Geraint, ... Orth, M.. (2015). Compensation in preclinical Huntington's disease: Evidence from the track-on hd study. EBioMedicine. 2(10), pp. 1420 - 1429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.08.002
Ammonius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea and the Origins of Gospels Scholarship
Crawford, Matthew. (2015). Ammonius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea and the Origins of Gospels Scholarship. New Testament Studies. 61(1), pp. 1 - 29. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0028688514000216
Cyril of Alexandria's Trinitarian Theology of Scripture
Crawford, Matthew R.. In A. Louth and G. Clarke (Ed.). (2014). Cyril of Alexandria's Trinitarian Theology of Scripture Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198722625.001.0001
The preface and subject matter of Cyril of Alexandria's de Adoratione
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2013). The preface and subject matter of Cyril of Alexandria's de Adoratione. Journal of Theological Studies. 64(1), pp. 154 - 167. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flt031
Scripture as 'one book': Origen, Jerome, and Cyril of Alexandria on Isaiah 29:11
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2013). Scripture as 'one book': Origen, Jerome, and Cyril of Alexandria on Isaiah 29:11. Journal of Theological Studies. 64(1), pp. 137 - 153. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/fls175
Diatessaron, a Misnomer? Evidence from Ephrem's Commentary
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2013). Diatessaron, a Misnomer? Evidence from Ephrem's Commentary. Early Christianity. 4(3), pp. 362 - 385. https://doi.org/10.1628/186870313X13744931257520
On the Diversity and Influence of the Eusebian Alliance: The case of Theodore of Heraclea
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2013). On the Diversity and Influence of the Eusebian Alliance: The case of Theodore of Heraclea. Journal of Ecclesiastical History. 64(2), pp. 227 - 257. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002204691200365X
An inauthentic Georgian epistle attributed to Cyril of Alexandria
Jashi, Zurab and Crawford, Matthew. (2013). An inauthentic Georgian epistle attributed to Cyril of Alexandria. Museon. 126(2017-04-03), pp. 369 - 378. https://doi.org/10.2143/MUS.126.3.3005393
Assessing the Authenticity of the Greek Fragments on Psalm 22 (LXX) Attributed to Cyril of Alexandria
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2013). Assessing the Authenticity of the Greek Fragments on Psalm 22 (LXX) Attributed to Cyril of Alexandria. Studia Patristica. 68(16), pp. 95 - 100.
The Triumph of Pro-nicene Theology over Anti-Monarchian Exegesis: Cyril of Alexandria and Theodore of Heraclea on John 14.10-11
Crawford, Matthew R.. (2013). The Triumph of Pro-nicene Theology over Anti-Monarchian Exegesis: Cyril of Alexandria and Theodore of Heraclea on John 14.10-11. Journal of Early Christian Studies. 21(4), pp. 537 - 567. https://doi.org/10.1353/earl.2013.0047