Ruins, reuse and appropriation : rethinking temple-church conversion in the Eastern Mediterranean, A.D. 300-800
Temple-church conversion was a deeply meaningful process that took many different forms throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. It was not simple triumphalism, nor was it motivated purely by expedience. No such single, overarching explanations are found. Instead, many factors influenced the process, with factors local to specific sites key to understanding why conversion took place and why different forms were taken. This variety led, both intentionally and not, to a vast array of created, appropriated and adapted user experiences. Unlike many previous studies, I believe one can only understand temple-church conversion by considering user experience, not by categorising them by type, e.g. direct, indirect, cella-church, and related types. Indeed, I actively divorce analysis from such types and demonstrate throughout the necessity of doing so. Rather, I develop a theoretical approach and thematic method in Part One that allows for in-depth analysis of specific sites in terms of user experience. This focusses upon phenomenological analysis, with memory, landscape, materiality and biography important. By placing this theoretical basis at the fore, I repopulate often sterile architecture. In so doing, the terms
McElroy, Ian Elliot
CC Archaeology ; DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World
Ruins, reuse and appropriation : rethinking temple-church conversion in the Eastern Mediterranean, A.D. 300-800. Temple-church conversion was a deeply meaningful process that took many different forms throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. It was not simple triumphalism, nor was it motivated purely by expedience. No such single, overarching explanations are found. Instead, many factors influenced the process, with factors local to specific sites key to understanding why conversion took place and why different forms were taken. This variety led, both intentionally and not, to a vast array of created, appropriated and adapted user experiences. Unlike many previous studies, I believe one can only understand temple-church conversion by considering user experience, not by categorising them by type, e.g. direct, indirect, cella-church, and related types. Indeed, I actively divorce analysis from such types and demonstrate throughout the necessity of doing so. Rather, I develop a theoretical approach and thematic method in Part One that allows for in-depth analysis of specific sites in terms of user experience. This focusses upon phenomenological analysis, with memory, landscape, materiality and biography important. By placing this theoretical basis at the fore, I repopulate often sterile architecture. In so doing, the terms
reuse appropriation rethink temple church conversion eastern_mediterranean temple church conversion deeply meaningful process take many_different form throughout eastern_mediterranean simple motivate purely single overarching explanation find instead many_factor influence process factor local specific site key conversion take_place different_form take variety lead intentionally vast array create appropriate adapt user experience unlike_many previous_study believe temple church conversion consider user experience categorise type direct_indirect church related type indeed actively divorce analysis type throughout necessity rather develop theoretical thematic method part_one allow depth_analysis specific sit term user experience focus_upon phenomenological_analysis memory landscape materiality biography important place theoretical_basis fore often architecture term