The Decline of Romanitas in the West
Maps:
Many of the images on this page are courtesy of "A Visual Tour of Late Antiquity"
which highlights the world of Gregory of Tours
Ivory portrait of sixth-century Roman consul Basilius, shown with a
symbolic figure of Roma (right)
(Consuls, highest officials of state in the Roman republic, were still
chosen in the west in the early 6th century AD)
A mounted soldier symbolizing victory; 6th century, but style influenced by earlier classical art
Grave goods from Frankish tombs (5th-6th century)
Pitcher, c.500, made of raised bronze on wood; shows both Roman and Frankish influence
Frankish helmet from a grave c.525
Helmets of this sort were originally Persian and used by Romans as
well as barbarians;
could have been made by Romans or Franks
Royal Gravegoods:
Swordhilt and scabbard from the grave of Childeric, father of Clovis, late 5th century
A polychrome buckle from a post-Childeric
grave
2 fibulas (broaches) from grave of Frankish
princess,
first half 6th century
Sketch of Frankish queen Arnegundis (d. c.500) as archeologists
found
her & as they believe she was dressed for burial
(Her costume differs from that of Roman courtiers depicted in Ravenna.
Her inner skirt was knee length & worn over stockings.)
Jewelry of Queen Arnegundis
The Church in the post-Roman West
5th-century chalice used to celebrate the Mass
A 6th-century sarcophagus from Aquitaine, showing Christ between Peter & Paul
The Dominance of St. Martin of Tours & his cult among the Franks
(Later representations)
Education & Literary Culture
Stone tomb slab of Bishop Boethius of Carpentras, d. 604, ten years
after Gregory of Tours
(The carver, presumably an illiterate, has put the "alpha" &
"omega"
on backwards)
Pope Gregory the Great (590-604): The end of Late Antiquity
(Often considered the first medieval pope)
