Papers by nikolaos A gkioles
Κέντρο Μικρασιατικών Σπουδών, 2024
Constantinopolitan and Asia Minor Influences on the Middle and Late Byzantine Church Architecture... more Constantinopolitan and Asia Minor Influences on the Middle and Late Byzantine Church Architecture in Greece
Some of the features of the church architecture in Greece during the Middle and Late Byzantine periods can be interpreted as “oriental” or Constantinopolitan. These include architectural elements, plans, forms and building techniques that were transmitted in the provinces mainly through church and monastery founders, namely emperors, high ranking officials, members of the clergy, or monks (e.g. St. Nicon Metanoeite, St. Athanasios the Athonite). In the early Middle Byzantine era the above-mentioned features encountered in Mani and Boeotia are the following: a) the twin apsidal simple barrel-vaulted church, of which the earliest dated monument is the church of Saint Panteleimon at Boularioi (991/2); b) the masonry iconostasis with arched openings (these first two features are found earlier in Cappadocia); c) the large, open porch in front of the west façade of the church of Asomatos above Kita in Mani (c. 1000) and the Skripou church (873/4) in Boeotia (this type of porch only has either earlier or later parallels in Georgia and Trepizont respectively); d) the dome with ribbs that form a cross in the church of Asomatos in Mani (this type of ribbed dome occurs also in Georgia and Cappadocia).
The Katholikon of Great Lavra on Mount Athos has a peculiar plan; it was originally built as a rectangular cross-in-square piered structure (963), while in the year c. 1002 two lateral, projecting apses, the so-called “choroi” were added at the two ends of the transverse cross-arms (“Athonite church type”). This novel architectural type was probably modelled on coenobitic monasteries found in Constantinople or Bithynia, like the surviving church of St. Constantine monastery on Lake Apollonia in Bithynia, equipped with lateral apses (9th - 10th c.). St Athanasios the Athonite, the founder of the Great Lavra monastery, had lived in both of these regions. The basilica church of Protaton (965) also appears to imitate a Bithynian monument, a T shaped church with rectangular lateral conchs. This new church design with semicircular or rectangular lateral apses serves better the liturgical needs in a coenobitic monastery and it came to Athos via Constantinople or Asia Minor. Bithynia or Constantinople was most likely where the combination of the Georgian triconch church with the cross-in-square church type took place. The resulting new design was employed by its Georgian patrons - who had lived for some time in a monastery in Bithynia - in the katholikon of Iviron monastery (980) on Mount Athos and subsequently this church type served as a model for “Athonite-type” church.
The composite cross-in-square church type appeared in monastic circles in Bithynia during the iconoclastic period (8th century) and soon became popular. In the second half of the 9th century it was introduced to Constantinople, while it was brought to Greece a century later (Theotokos church in the Monastery of Hosios Loukas; second half of the 10th c.). The architectural origin of this church is generally linked to Constantinople. Similar origins have been attributed to the liti (narthex), the open portico, and the covering of the subsidiary bays with groin-vaults.
Two buildings techniques common in Late Antiquity survived in the Byzantine capital during the Middle and Late Byzantine periods: the opus mixtum and the pure brickwork, which has very rarely been used in Greece (Panagia ton Chalkeon in Thessaloniki). The prevailing technique in Constantinople was coursed masonry (opus mixtum), comprising alternating bands of stone and brick. This construction system occurs occasionally in Macedonia and Southern Greece. The Constantinopolitan concealed course technique occurs in Greece in brick masonry parts of building. Incisions on the plaster of the façade or painted architectural elements simulating ashlar blocks, well-squared stones, or emphasizing joints, which had become popular in the capital during the Middle Byzantine period, also appears in Greece. In some Greek monuments, following the formula from Constantinople, the façades are articulated with blind arcades, niches, pilasters, decorative brickwork, eaves, and large composite windows. Niches in the lateral walls of the Bema or the narthex are sometimes encountered in Greece and Cyprus.
Churches with a large, central dome resting on eight supports, either the simple variant, exemplified by the Nea Moni in Chios, or the complex, such as the katholikon of Hosios Loukas monastery also appear in Greece and Cyprus. Both variants originated in Constantinople (Church in Selymbry, Panagia Kamariotissa, St. George of Mangana, St. Satyros Monastery in Küçükyalı). Regarding the cross-in-square five-domed churches, they imitated the Nea Ekklesia in Constantinople (980). The so-called “mistratypus”, a composite architectural type that derived from the co-existence of a basilica plan on the ground floor with a cross-in-square church at the level above appears in Greece as well following Constantinopolitan practices.
This article offers a detailed presentation of the Athens church of the Mother of God, known by t... more This article offers a detailed presentation of the Athens church of the Mother of God, known by the name of Kapnikarea, which originates from the middle of the Byzantine period. Initially, the Kapnikarea was the katholikon of the monastery but today it is a building complex, consisting of three chronologically different ensembles. They are the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin, erected just after the mid-11th century, the exonarthex, probably dating from the beginning of the 12th century, and the smaller, northern church dedicated to St. Barbara, built during the Ottoman epoch.
Η απεικόνιση της Πεντηκοστής πάνω από την Αγία Τράπεζα σχετίζεται με το μυστήριο της Θείας Ευχαρι... more Η απεικόνιση της Πεντηκοστής πάνω από την Αγία Τράπεζα σχετίζεται με το μυστήριο της Θείας Ευχαριστίας.
Εικονογραφική ανάλυση των παραστάσεων «Πορευθέντες» κατά τα ευαγγελικά κείμενα και η διάκριση σε ... more Εικονογραφική ανάλυση των παραστάσεων «Πορευθέντες» κατά τα ευαγγελικά κείμενα και η διάκριση σε δύο βασικές εικονογραφικές ομάδες.
Το άρθρο ασχολείται με την εξέλιξη της αρχιτεκτονικής στην ύστερη αρχαιότητα. Εξετάζει τους αρχιτ... more Το άρθρο ασχολείται με την εξέλιξη της αρχιτεκτονικής στην ύστερη αρχαιότητα. Εξετάζει τους αρχιτεκτονικούς τύπους και τις τάσεις που επικρατούν μέχρι το τέλος της συγκεκριμένης περιόδου.
Books by nikolaos A gkioles
Περιεχόμενα: Δημήτρης Ι. Κυρτάτας, «Αναζητώντας τη βυζαντινή Άνδρο», 19-43. Νικόλαος Γκιολές, «Πα... more Περιεχόμενα: Δημήτρης Ι. Κυρτάτας, «Αναζητώντας τη βυζαντινή Άνδρο», 19-43. Νικόλαος Γκιολές, «Παλαιοχριστιανική Άνδρος», 45-58, πίν. 1-9. Ανθή Κουτσούκου, «Το τετραπύργιο του Γαυρίου», 59-64, πίν. 10-13. Χαράλαμπος Πέννας, «Αποκαταστάσεις στα βυζαντινά μνημεία της Άνδρου και νεότερα αρχαιολογικά τεκμήρια», 65-78, πίν. 14-23. Σταύρος Β. Μαμαλούκος, «Η αρχιτεκτονική του ναού του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Θεολόγου στο Άνω Κόρθι της Άνδρου», 79-93, πίν. 24-41. Μαρίνα Βόγκλη, «Κεραμική από την ανασκαφή του Αγίου Ιωάννη Θεολόγου στο Κόρθι», 95-115, πίν. 42-51. Νίκος Βίττης, «H συντήρηση των τοιχογραφιών του Αγίου Ιωάννη Θεολόγου στο Κόρθι», 117-125, πίν. 52-59. Κλήμης Ασλανίδης, «Η μεσοβυζαντινή ναοδομία της Άνδρου και οι σχέσεις με την ηπειρωτική Ελλάδα και τα νησιά», 127-139, πίν. 60-69. Γιώργος Πάλλης, «Η μεσοβυζαντινή γλυπτική ως πηγή για την τοπογραφία και την ιστορία της Άνδρου», 141-153, πίν. 70-72. Γιάννης Βαραλής, «Η γλυπτική του 12ου αιώνα στην Άνδρο: ζητήματα προέλευσης και εργαστηρίων», 155-171, πίν. 73-76. Νίκος Πετρόχειλος, «Επιγραφικές μαρτυρίες για τη βυζαντινή Άνδρο», 173-195, πίν. 77-83.
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Papers by nikolaos A gkioles
Some of the features of the church architecture in Greece during the Middle and Late Byzantine periods can be interpreted as “oriental” or Constantinopolitan. These include architectural elements, plans, forms and building techniques that were transmitted in the provinces mainly through church and monastery founders, namely emperors, high ranking officials, members of the clergy, or monks (e.g. St. Nicon Metanoeite, St. Athanasios the Athonite). In the early Middle Byzantine era the above-mentioned features encountered in Mani and Boeotia are the following: a) the twin apsidal simple barrel-vaulted church, of which the earliest dated monument is the church of Saint Panteleimon at Boularioi (991/2); b) the masonry iconostasis with arched openings (these first two features are found earlier in Cappadocia); c) the large, open porch in front of the west façade of the church of Asomatos above Kita in Mani (c. 1000) and the Skripou church (873/4) in Boeotia (this type of porch only has either earlier or later parallels in Georgia and Trepizont respectively); d) the dome with ribbs that form a cross in the church of Asomatos in Mani (this type of ribbed dome occurs also in Georgia and Cappadocia).
The Katholikon of Great Lavra on Mount Athos has a peculiar plan; it was originally built as a rectangular cross-in-square piered structure (963), while in the year c. 1002 two lateral, projecting apses, the so-called “choroi” were added at the two ends of the transverse cross-arms (“Athonite church type”). This novel architectural type was probably modelled on coenobitic monasteries found in Constantinople or Bithynia, like the surviving church of St. Constantine monastery on Lake Apollonia in Bithynia, equipped with lateral apses (9th - 10th c.). St Athanasios the Athonite, the founder of the Great Lavra monastery, had lived in both of these regions. The basilica church of Protaton (965) also appears to imitate a Bithynian monument, a T shaped church with rectangular lateral conchs. This new church design with semicircular or rectangular lateral apses serves better the liturgical needs in a coenobitic monastery and it came to Athos via Constantinople or Asia Minor. Bithynia or Constantinople was most likely where the combination of the Georgian triconch church with the cross-in-square church type took place. The resulting new design was employed by its Georgian patrons - who had lived for some time in a monastery in Bithynia - in the katholikon of Iviron monastery (980) on Mount Athos and subsequently this church type served as a model for “Athonite-type” church.
The composite cross-in-square church type appeared in monastic circles in Bithynia during the iconoclastic period (8th century) and soon became popular. In the second half of the 9th century it was introduced to Constantinople, while it was brought to Greece a century later (Theotokos church in the Monastery of Hosios Loukas; second half of the 10th c.). The architectural origin of this church is generally linked to Constantinople. Similar origins have been attributed to the liti (narthex), the open portico, and the covering of the subsidiary bays with groin-vaults.
Two buildings techniques common in Late Antiquity survived in the Byzantine capital during the Middle and Late Byzantine periods: the opus mixtum and the pure brickwork, which has very rarely been used in Greece (Panagia ton Chalkeon in Thessaloniki). The prevailing technique in Constantinople was coursed masonry (opus mixtum), comprising alternating bands of stone and brick. This construction system occurs occasionally in Macedonia and Southern Greece. The Constantinopolitan concealed course technique occurs in Greece in brick masonry parts of building. Incisions on the plaster of the façade or painted architectural elements simulating ashlar blocks, well-squared stones, or emphasizing joints, which had become popular in the capital during the Middle Byzantine period, also appears in Greece. In some Greek monuments, following the formula from Constantinople, the façades are articulated with blind arcades, niches, pilasters, decorative brickwork, eaves, and large composite windows. Niches in the lateral walls of the Bema or the narthex are sometimes encountered in Greece and Cyprus.
Churches with a large, central dome resting on eight supports, either the simple variant, exemplified by the Nea Moni in Chios, or the complex, such as the katholikon of Hosios Loukas monastery also appear in Greece and Cyprus. Both variants originated in Constantinople (Church in Selymbry, Panagia Kamariotissa, St. George of Mangana, St. Satyros Monastery in Küçükyalı). Regarding the cross-in-square five-domed churches, they imitated the Nea Ekklesia in Constantinople (980). The so-called “mistratypus”, a composite architectural type that derived from the co-existence of a basilica plan on the ground floor with a cross-in-square church at the level above appears in Greece as well following Constantinopolitan practices.
Books by nikolaos A gkioles
Some of the features of the church architecture in Greece during the Middle and Late Byzantine periods can be interpreted as “oriental” or Constantinopolitan. These include architectural elements, plans, forms and building techniques that were transmitted in the provinces mainly through church and monastery founders, namely emperors, high ranking officials, members of the clergy, or monks (e.g. St. Nicon Metanoeite, St. Athanasios the Athonite). In the early Middle Byzantine era the above-mentioned features encountered in Mani and Boeotia are the following: a) the twin apsidal simple barrel-vaulted church, of which the earliest dated monument is the church of Saint Panteleimon at Boularioi (991/2); b) the masonry iconostasis with arched openings (these first two features are found earlier in Cappadocia); c) the large, open porch in front of the west façade of the church of Asomatos above Kita in Mani (c. 1000) and the Skripou church (873/4) in Boeotia (this type of porch only has either earlier or later parallels in Georgia and Trepizont respectively); d) the dome with ribbs that form a cross in the church of Asomatos in Mani (this type of ribbed dome occurs also in Georgia and Cappadocia).
The Katholikon of Great Lavra on Mount Athos has a peculiar plan; it was originally built as a rectangular cross-in-square piered structure (963), while in the year c. 1002 two lateral, projecting apses, the so-called “choroi” were added at the two ends of the transverse cross-arms (“Athonite church type”). This novel architectural type was probably modelled on coenobitic monasteries found in Constantinople or Bithynia, like the surviving church of St. Constantine monastery on Lake Apollonia in Bithynia, equipped with lateral apses (9th - 10th c.). St Athanasios the Athonite, the founder of the Great Lavra monastery, had lived in both of these regions. The basilica church of Protaton (965) also appears to imitate a Bithynian monument, a T shaped church with rectangular lateral conchs. This new church design with semicircular or rectangular lateral apses serves better the liturgical needs in a coenobitic monastery and it came to Athos via Constantinople or Asia Minor. Bithynia or Constantinople was most likely where the combination of the Georgian triconch church with the cross-in-square church type took place. The resulting new design was employed by its Georgian patrons - who had lived for some time in a monastery in Bithynia - in the katholikon of Iviron monastery (980) on Mount Athos and subsequently this church type served as a model for “Athonite-type” church.
The composite cross-in-square church type appeared in monastic circles in Bithynia during the iconoclastic period (8th century) and soon became popular. In the second half of the 9th century it was introduced to Constantinople, while it was brought to Greece a century later (Theotokos church in the Monastery of Hosios Loukas; second half of the 10th c.). The architectural origin of this church is generally linked to Constantinople. Similar origins have been attributed to the liti (narthex), the open portico, and the covering of the subsidiary bays with groin-vaults.
Two buildings techniques common in Late Antiquity survived in the Byzantine capital during the Middle and Late Byzantine periods: the opus mixtum and the pure brickwork, which has very rarely been used in Greece (Panagia ton Chalkeon in Thessaloniki). The prevailing technique in Constantinople was coursed masonry (opus mixtum), comprising alternating bands of stone and brick. This construction system occurs occasionally in Macedonia and Southern Greece. The Constantinopolitan concealed course technique occurs in Greece in brick masonry parts of building. Incisions on the plaster of the façade or painted architectural elements simulating ashlar blocks, well-squared stones, or emphasizing joints, which had become popular in the capital during the Middle Byzantine period, also appears in Greece. In some Greek monuments, following the formula from Constantinople, the façades are articulated with blind arcades, niches, pilasters, decorative brickwork, eaves, and large composite windows. Niches in the lateral walls of the Bema or the narthex are sometimes encountered in Greece and Cyprus.
Churches with a large, central dome resting on eight supports, either the simple variant, exemplified by the Nea Moni in Chios, or the complex, such as the katholikon of Hosios Loukas monastery also appear in Greece and Cyprus. Both variants originated in Constantinople (Church in Selymbry, Panagia Kamariotissa, St. George of Mangana, St. Satyros Monastery in Küçükyalı). Regarding the cross-in-square five-domed churches, they imitated the Nea Ekklesia in Constantinople (980). The so-called “mistratypus”, a composite architectural type that derived from the co-existence of a basilica plan on the ground floor with a cross-in-square church at the level above appears in Greece as well following Constantinopolitan practices.