Conti, FabrizioWalters, ErikArguello, Isabella2025-01-092025-01-092024Arguello, Isabella. "The “Pagan” Influence on Christianity: An Analysis of Cultural and Iconographical Transitions from the 1st Century BCE to 5th Century CE". BA Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2024.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14490/851Thesis (B.A. in Classical Studies)--John Cabot University, Fall 2024.This paper will explore and analyze the transitional period of the Late Roman Empire during its transition from a pagan dominated culture to a Christian one. The aim of this thesis is to highlight the events over this transition as well as question the efficacy and how linear/progressive the victory of Christianity was over the Roman world at a cultural level and whether “paganism” really transitioned quietly. To find this, I will be referencing translated primary sources, reviewing scholarly interpretations of certain myths both Christian and pagan, and analyze art works and archaeological sites in relation to texts provided. From this it can be seen that a mix of social and political factors over a period of time growing from tolerance as well as a backing from the upper and elite class of Roman citizens aided in a public acceptance of Christianity. However, this did not entirely succeed in diminishing the footprint of paganism especially in artworks adapted to fit the Christian narrative as well as possible adaptation of myths. This then can show that despite a major shift in religions during the Late Roman Empire not only was there an explicit shift from pagan to Christian but also a more subtle shift in Christianity with its roots in the Roman myths, thus revealing the complicated relationship between the two.v, 49 pagesenChristianityCultural translationLate Roman EmpirePagan influenceMythsThesis