The floral symbolism of the great masters - The Knowledge Den

10 FLORAL SYMBOLISM
poverty perhaps, and perhaps by the Eastern
fear of the ' graven image,' continued to re-
present Christ as the True Vine and the Apostles
as sheep or as doves.
But at the beginning of the fourth century
the Emperor Constantine established Chris-
tianity as the rehgion of the state. New, and
often magnificent, churches were built in each
town and the Emperor placed in the hands
of the ecclesiastics a large portion of the royal
revenues.
In these grand new basilicas the simple
decoration of the Catacombs and tiny ancient
chapels was not sufficient. The ample walls
offered a splendid field for the mosaicist and
Byzantine taste demanded elaborate pictorial
effects. Representations of the Redeemer
appeared surrounded by the Apostles, the pro-
phets and the four-and-twenty elders of Reve-
lation, Saints and martyrs were introduced,
and later we find imperial personages, Justinian
surrounded by his guards and Theodora followed
by the ladies of her court. It became necessary
to distinguish the figures one from another and
therefore symbolism was largely introduced.