Running Head: Roman Influences on Christianity Aspects of Roman Culture Borrowed by Early Christianity Lejla Bejtovic 1

Running Head: Roman Influences on Christianity Aspects of Roman Culture Borrowed by Early Christianity Up until the legalization of Christianity in Rome in 313 CE, Christians had to practice their religion in secret. Living in the Greco-Roman world led early Christians to borrow some cultural aspects from their neighbors, and adapt these things to fit with their new religion (Troolin, n.d.). As Christianity grew, it’s earliest members borrowed from the familiar styles around them. Firstly, Christians borrowed many motifs from the Romans, such as Jesus, who was portrayed as a young, clean shaven man, and looked like illustrations of the Roman god Apollo. Another example is the Roman depiction of a man named Endymion sleeping under the moon god Selene, which was adapted by Christians and used to show Jonah sleeping under a vine. Also, cheerful dinners at Roman events were used to show what rewards in heaven would be like, and is where the Eucharist scene came from. Sol, the Roman sun god, was used to