Abstract
This paper discusses the sculpture of "The Head of Constantine." The paper examines the work in terms of its place both in the past and in the present. The paper looks at how the sculpture makes reference to art of the first and second centuries.

From the Paper
"Constantine the Great was the first Roman ruler to be converted to Christianity. He was the founder of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), which remained the capital of the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire, until Roman sculpture was determined to portray the individual as he or she actually looked whether an ordinary person or an emperor. Roman art is distinguished throughout its history through the use of a selective retrospection. Generals and emperors often liked to associate themselves with great emperors or warriors of the past..."

Tags:pagan art, chrisian art, sculpture, Constantine the Great

Abstract
This paper assesses the impact of Constantine's conversion to Christianity after his curiousmystical experience. According to the paper, this involved seeing the blazing cross in the sky the day before his attack on the enemy forces at the Milvian Bridge.

From the Paper
"Constantine I was the first Christian emperor of Rome. Because of his acceptance of Christianity, it was transformed from being a persecuted sect of zealots to being the favored religion, and before the end of the century, it would become the mandatory religion of the Empire. In the centuries that followed, Christianity would become the most powerful religion in the world. All of this makes it very reasonable to consider the impact of Constantine's conversion. THE VISION AND CONVERSION: IN 292, the Emperor Diocletian created the..."

Tags:constantine, church, christianity

Abstract
The reasons for and the nature of Constantine's commitment to Christianity is a complicated issue. By examining Eusebius's "Life of Constantine", his "Edict of Milan", the laws of Constantine as found in the Codex Theodosius, his architectural undertakings, and the coins he issued, this paper shows that Constantine devoted himself to Christianity because he believed the Christian god afforded his victory at Milvian Bridge. However, through these sources the writer also reveals that the nature of his commitment originally was not of a genuine belief in Christian theology, but rather more of a vague monotheism.

From the Paper
"When Constantine decided to march against Maxentius in Rome, Eusebius explains that Constantine sought the assistance from a god, knowing that he would need a "more powerful aid than an army can supply because of the mischievous magical devices practiced by" Maxentius. Eusebius then describes that Constantine had sworn an oath that he had seen a trophy in the shape of a cross resting above the sun with "By this conquer" attached to it. During the night, God had appeared in his dream with the same trophy, urging him to make a replica and use it as protection against the enemy. Baffled by these events, "those expert in his words," members of the clergy, enlightened him about the Christianity of his signs; so, Constantine became "determined to worship no other god than the one who had appeared." "

Tags:mithraism, monotheism, pagan, rome

Abstract
The paper reveals that the Roman Empire had a huge impact on the spread of Christianity and Emperor Constantine in particular contributed to this growth as the first emperor to convert to Christianity. The paper discusses how Constantine made it acceptable to be a Christian and helped change the society into meeting Christian ideals. The paper emphasizes how Constantine was a major cause behind Christianity's spread across the Roman Empire and could even be considered a reason for the religion's prevalence today.

From the Paper
"Before Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christians were not treated with much respect in Roman society. As was shown in a letter from a Roman governor to a Roman Emperor, anyone suspected of being a Christian was arrested immediately and questioned about his or her beliefs. When someone was suspected of being a Christian, that person was asked three times whether or not he or she was in fact a Christian. Each time the answer was yes, harsher punishments were offered towards the person if the person was in fact a Christian. If the person admitted to being a Christian all three times, he or she was sent away for execution. This was how Christians were treated in the times before Christianity was accepted in Roman culture. Roman citizens who admitted to being Christians were not immediately executed, but were given a fair trial."

Tags:Roman, Empire, religion

Abstract
The paper analyzes the Christian status before Constantine's act of legalizing Christianity, as a premise of defending the idea that his act paved the way for subsequent Christian evolution. The eventual recognition of Christianity and its path ever since is subsequently presented by the paper, along with the potential negative outcomes that may have arisen. The paper determines that, during the period preceding Constantine's legalization of Christianity, the religion consolidated its own faith, characteristics and place among the other religions. With Constantine's recognition, its path opened for a bivalent participation in worldly matters, both for the case of simple individuals, and the case of nation - states.

Outline:
Introduction
Christianity before legalization
Legalization of Christianity
Effects of legalization
Potential negative consequences of legalization
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Initially, Christianity develops around the personality of Jesus Christ, more as "a movement of people around a single charismatic teacher or preacher". The moment of Jesus Christ's death transforms the movement of people into a sect, because these are individuals that have been able to transform real life happenings into something bearing a religious and mystical meaning. The Christian mythology and cosmogony is this born, along with the main writings of the new religion."

Tags:relationship, defending, Christian, mythology, cosmogony

Abstract
This paper discusses the mysterious story behind the Roman Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity. The paper explains that due to the lack of historical evidence, there are many speculations surrounding his conversion. The paper contends that one of the most commonly accepted facts is that Constantine saw something when he looked up at the sun that caused him to convert to Christianity.

From the Paper
"The Roman Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity is a story filled with intrigue and mystery. Due to the lack of historical evidence, many speculations arise from his conversion. One of the most commonly accepted facts is that Constantine certainly saw something that day in 312 when he looked up at the sun. Some believe that he did see a sign from God. Others believe that Constantine saw ice crystals in the sun's rays. What he saw we will never know but what he did after his vision changed the course of Western history and there can be no doubt that Constantine credited his vision as a sign from the Christian God."

Tags:eusebius, milcian, bridge

Abstract
This paper explains the persecution of the Christian minority before Constantine, and how he led them to become the Emporer's favored people and a recognized religion that no longer needed to practice in fear. The paper focuses on the growth of Catholicism and Constantine's crucial role.

From the Paper
"The first recorded persecution of the Christian people perpetrated by the Roman Government was in the year 64 AD. Nero was Emperor and he saw the Christians as both threatening and blasphemous to the Roman Empire. At that time, the Christians were seen as threatening by the other Romans because they would not partake in pagan rituals. Because the Christian Gospels opposed idolatry, and their First Commandment clearly ordered their followers to accept no others gods, it basically insisted that the Roman gods be rejected. Beginning in the third century, Edicts were composed by the Emperor and entailed persecution of the Christians. The Christians that would not pay public homage to the Roman gods were subject to torture and death at the hands of the rulers. In the early fourth-century, Diocletian was the main threat to the Christians; he ordered all of their books and places of worship to be burned. In addition, Christians were not allowed to congregate and were omitted from the protection of laws. However, all of this would end in 311 when Galerius issued a decree that allowed Christians to continue with their religious practices. These liberties were temporarily halted when Galerius died and Maximinus Daia once again ordered for the persecution of the Christians. Soon after though, Constantine was named Emperor after his father's demise. With Constantine's ascent to Emperor, the Christian people breathed a sigh of relieve; they knew that they would no longer be a minority people and fear persecution."

Tags:christian, edict, history, nero, gospels, rituals, pagan, religion, pope

Abstract
This paper debates whether the Emperor Constantine can be considered a true Christian Emperor, or whether he was a Roman Emperor who adopted aspects of Christianity. In particular, it looks at his political needs and his establishment of the Senate and other institutions at Constantinople. It also examines his supposed conversion and whether it an be considered genuine or not.

From the Paper
"The principal primary sources we have for the life of Constantine are Eusebius' Vita Constantina, the writings of Lactantius, and the various edicts which Constantine himself put forward. These sources should be looked at in the context of Christianity and the tradition of Roman historical writing. Since Christianity was a new development, the roman historical traditions were still being taught to bishops and prominent Christian writers. In this tradition the agenda of the writer was exceptionally important; the writer's opinions affected most strongly what would be written down. Eusebius is no exception. 'I would be ashamed of myself if I did not put together what I can, little though it be and poor, for the one who out of his extraordinary devotion to God honoured us all.' Eusebius describes his ultimate goal of honouring Constantine, and throughout the book he commends Constantine highly as a Christian Emperor. "

Tags:bridge, eusebius, milvian, nicaea, paganism, senate

Abstract
This paper provides an historical overview of the life of Emperor Constantine and discusses his impact on early Christianity. It shows how and why many consider him to be the most important man in the history of the Christian church.

From the Paper
"His Control of the Roman Empire changed Christianity forever. Constantine himself was not born into Christianity, but later converted. In doing so he raised many questions as to whether or not he was a true Christian. Over his life he proved both for and against his being a Christian. The main points in his life that would help us determine the truth are the battle of Milvian Bridge, His defeat of Licinius, the Council of Nicea resulting in the Nicene Creed, his building of Constantinople, his governing style, and finally his death in A.D. 337."

Tags:battle, bridege, council, creed, defeat, licinius, milvian, nicea, nicene

Abstract
Thisessay compares Herod and Constantine as builders and shapers of Jerusalem. The author examines how the Jewish king and the Christian emperor used and/or abused religion in their respective actions and policies.

Tags:herod, the, great