With the collapse of the Roman empire, devout Christians looked down upon the pagans with contempt; "leaders of the early Christian church encouraged the faithful to destroy all vestiges of polytheism" ("Pagan Artifacts in Christian Art" 3-3). In the painting Saint Apollonia Destroys a Pagan Idol, Apollonia prepares to destroy a statue of the Roman god Bacchus, the god of wine. It is said that the contrast between the clothed Apollonia and the nude Bacchus, provides a stark contrast between the pagan and Christian religion. Symbolically, "Bacchus’s nudity reinforces his association with ... sensuality, while Apollonia’s gown... expresses her self-abnegating chastity" ("Pagan Artifacts in Christian Art" 3-3). Not only is the painting a declaration of Christians ' disdain for the pagan culture, but it also serves as a reminder and encouragement to fellow Christians to stand up for their faith as expressed in the determination of
With the collapse of the Roman empire, devout Christians looked down upon the pagans with contempt; "leaders of the early Christian church encouraged the faithful to destroy all vestiges of polytheism" ("Pagan Artifacts in Christian Art" 3-3). In the painting Saint Apollonia Destroys a Pagan Idol, Apollonia prepares to destroy a statue of the Roman god Bacchus, the god of wine. It is said that the contrast between the clothed Apollonia and the nude Bacchus, provides a stark contrast between the pagan and Christian religion. Symbolically, "Bacchus’s nudity reinforces his association with ... sensuality, while Apollonia’s gown... expresses her self-abnegating chastity" ("Pagan Artifacts in Christian Art" 3-3). Not only is the painting a declaration of Christians ' disdain for the pagan culture, but it also serves as a reminder and encouragement to fellow Christians to stand up for their faith as expressed in the determination of