Medieval and Renaissance Influence on Christian Culture

In class we often discuss the fundamental role Christianity has over shaping our culture whether it be our politics, entertainment, or values. While we acknowledge and emphasize this sometimes we don't recognize the extent that culture has shape some of our preconceived notions of Christianity. I didn't realize until recently how many of my interpretations of Christianity have been culturally conditioned.

The image of an angel is a universally recognizable image. You can immediately spot one if someone makes its impression in the snow or puts one up on the Christmas tree. The Angel that we picture now is very different from the accounts in the Bible. In Ezekiel 10:14 the Cherubim angels are described as a frightening four headed monster with the face of a man, eagle, and lion. The “Cherub” only got it's baby image, often seen with a bow or a harp, in the Renaissance period thanks to practice of 'putti' in Renaissance sculpture. Donatello and other Renaissance sculptors revived the practice of 'putti' by carving depictions of babies dancing and playing on infant tombs. Donatello gave 'putti' a distinct Christian meaning as he depicted these sculptures as musical angels. Today we incorporate this image of an angel in association with St. Valentines day.

        *A depiction Ezekiel's vision.  ACherub and Ophanim (depicted as a burning wheel covered in eyes)

The cup which Jesus is said to use in the Last Supper has become a popular artifact associated with the Christian tradition. The 'Holy Grail' can be culturally traced back to 12^th century folklore and most famously works of Chretien de Troyes, a french poet, and his Arthurian legend “Perceval, The story of the Grail”. The tale has found itself associated with the Eucharist and Holy Communion in the Christian tradition and consequently become tightly associated with the Christian tradition. Otherwise the Bible makes no mention of the cup except within the context of the Last Supper and gives no special significance to the object.

                                                   *The Holy Grail as seen in Indiana Jones

The images of angels and of the Holy Grail are just two examples cultural images and symbols that have been assimilated into the popular conception of the Christian tradition. The latter image has particularly become an important artifact in popular culture as Hollywood has taken the symbol and ran with it resulting in multiple movies and books about the pursuit of the Holy Grail.

                                         *The Holy Grail in The Da Vinci Code