This study explains the rise of the Christian grandeur of great churches in late antiquity and the Middle Ages. From the fourth century churches were paid for in gold--and were often decorated with it--in apparent contradiction to Christ's message of poverty and simplicity. Previous books have focused either on art historical imagery or on theological disputes. This pioneering study employs modern theories concerning imagery and allegory to enable us to understand the ancient and medieval world view and the textual and artistic legacy of that age.