Chapter 5 Christianity: The Architecture of a New Faith (4th–7th Century)
In: A Companion to Late Antique and Medieval Islamic CordobaSearch for other papers by María de los Ángeles Utrero Agudo in
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Abstract
The study of the late antique architecture of Cordoba (4th–7th century) is not an easy task. Written records and archaeological remains have been combined, the latter usually in a subordinate way, to compose the history of the capital of Hispania Baetica throughout this long period in an effort to identify its Christian urban topography and determine its material transformation from the Islamic period onwards. The review of old evidence and the discovery of new have recently increased our knowledge by enhancing the catalogue of available sculptural and architectural material and have opened up new debates and avenues of research. Among the main issues that need to be addressed in future research, and which are briefly introduced here, are the precise location of the late antique episcopal see, the confirmation of the chronology of the abundant sculptural evidence that lacks an archaeological context (and even topographic origin), and the proper identification of ecclesiastical architectural structures.