From Pagan to Christian: An archaeological study of the transformation of Corinth in Late Antiquity

Eli J. Weaverdyck, Macalester College

Document Type Article

Thank you Joe for your invaluable help and advice. I could not have written this without you.

Abstract

This thesis examines the process by which Christianity became the dominant religion of Corinth as evidenced in the archaeological record. I compare the evidence in Corinth to historical evidence for the Eastern Roman Empire, including imperial legislation and evidence for Christianization in five other eastern cities. I conclude that, in order for Christianity to supplant paganism as the dominant religion in ancient society, it had to accept many of the institutions and traditions of paganism. My investigation of the archaeological evidence in Corinth, specifically the monumental architecture, the sculpture, and the cemeteries, reveals the same phenomenon in Corinth.