Overview
This assignment is structured like a matching game. You will read excerpts from the New Testament of the Bible and then match the passages to paintings that illustrate the written descriptions. The New Testament details the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded by his followers. I have included excerpts from three of the four evangelists, or writers of Christ's life story. Matthew, one of Jesus' twelve apostles; Luke, a Greek doctor and scholar who became a later follower of Christ; John, likely another one of Jesus' twelve apostles.
The images were painted on a wood templon (barrier) that separated the altar from the nave of the church at Saint Catherine's monastery in Sinai Egypt. The monastery was built in the sixth-century CE and these paintings date to the 12th c CE.
Step 1: Read these Biblical passages Download Biblical passages
Step 2: Look at these painted images Download painted imagesfrom St. Catherine's Monastery in Mt. Sinai, Egypt
Step 3: Match the written passage to the corresponding image. The images are out of order. Your answers can be simple, i.e. "Passage 1 = Image D" or "1. D".
Step 4: Provide a 2-3 sentence justification for your choices. For example, what did you see represented in the image that matched the words of the text?
*If you need extra help, this Smarthistory article explains the Standard Scenes form the life of Christ in art. Links to an external site.