The Umayyads
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Christian Subjects under Umayyad Rule
‘It was known that in the religious context Islam prohibited the presence of representational imagery.’
In light of the new socio-religious situation, traditions of the Christian communities underwent some changes. It was a known fact that in the religious context Islam prohibited the presence of representational imagery. Under these circumstances Christian communities deliberately defaced human and animal forms in existing churches by replacing them with a cross or some other geometric or floral motif. In some cases the design was scrambled and re-assembled. The defacement of mosaic pavements was done with the utmost care and the churches continued to be used, indicating that the iconoclasm was executed by the church or at least under its direct supervision.
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A bronze Greek cross
Hegira, first third of the 2nd century / AD first half of the 8th century Umayyad
Madaba Archaeological Museum
Madaba, Jordan
A cross that was found in a church at Umm al-Rasas, and which was dated to the 2nd / 8th century by an inscription on a floor-mosaic in the church. The find provides evidence that a Christian community was active in the area during the Umayyad period.
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