How does Early Christian and Byzantine portraiture represent both a continuation of and a break from the past?

            Early Christian Byzantine portraiture represents both a continuation of and a break from the past by showing objects from the past. In the Ravenna Portrait of Justinian, there are men holding shields and other weapons. This looks like a continuation from the past. In Rome, there were a lot of wars and fighting, and in this portrait there are still weapons shown. In the Fayum portraits, they are all almost Egyptians. I think this is a break from the past, because you can tell the people were from Egypt, but they have other looks too. In these pictures, you can tell that the artist was connecting and breaking the past from the present.

Picture From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_von_San_Vitale_in_Ravenna_003.jpg

"Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt." Web. 9 Mar. 2010. .

"File:Meister Von San Vitale in Ravenna 003.jpg -." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. .