Adama Science And Technology University

School Of Civil Engineering And Architecture

Department Of Architecture
Second Year
Global History Of Architecture
Group 5
Early Christian And Byzantine Architecture
• Acknowledgment
CONTENTS
• Objective
• Early Christian Basilicas
• Early Christian And Byzantine
• Martyria
Architecture • Mausoleum
• Factor Influencing Architecture
• A, Geography
• B, Climatic
• C, Religious
• D, Historical
 Acknowledgment

Excerpted from wilkins, et. Al, art past, art present. New york: harry N. Abrams,
1997, 190-161
A world history of architecture, 5. Early Christian architecture, university of
Bahrain, college of engineering, department of civil engineering and architecture;
marian moffett, michael fazio and lawrence wodehouse, SUMMER 2012
ARC 203 history of European architecture – I.SRM university; prof. M.
Thirumeni,
 Objective

• The presentation aims to discuss about construction method

and examples of Early Christian and Byzantine architecture.
 Early Christian And Byzantine Architecture
Christian architecture after 313 derived from Roman precedent.
Stylistic developments in this period contributed to later buildings in the medieval period, thus
creating a transition between the classical past and the medieval era in western Europe.
Early Christian and Byzantine architecture was built as a continuation of roman architecture. Stylistic
drift, technological advancement, and political and territorial changes meant that A distinct style
gradually emerged which imbued certain influences from the near east and used the Greek cross plan
in church architecture. Buildings increased in geometric complexity, brick and plaster were used in
addition to stone in the decoration of important public structures, classical orders were used more
freely, mosaics replaced carved decoration, complex domes rested upon massive piers, and windows
filtered light through thin sheets of alabaster to softly illuminate interiors.
 FACTORS INFLUENCING ARCHITECTURE
GEOGRAPHICAL
Early Christian architecture was predominantly influenced by existing roman art &
architecture. Christianity was brought to Rome by peter, Paul & other disciples where it grew
in spite of opposition & became the universal religion of the roman empire. Early Christian
architecture spread to other parts but was modified in Egypt, Syria & north Africa according
to local conditions. Byzantium, renamed as Constantinople, after its founder is located at the
junction of Bosporus which connects the Mediterranean sea & the black sea.
It is also located in the trade route between Asia & Europe. Byzantine art spread to all parts of
the eastern empire such as Greece, turkey & even to Venice. Roman empire came to be
divided with the western half having its capital at Rome & the eastern half having its capital
at Constantinople. It was ruled by 2 emperors simultaneously.
 Climatic

The hotter climate prevalent in roman provinces such as Egypt & north
Africa led to the use of smaller windows in early Christian churches.
The Christians adapted their church form to the climate & culture of
eastern provinces by having a combination of flat roofs & domes with
small windows located higher up in the walls.
 Religious
In 323 AD Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire. The
rise of Christianity & the speed at which it spread to all parts of the empire is phenomenal
& resulted in the building of many basilica churches. The basic purpose of the church was
to shelter the worshippers who had gathered for prayer & rituals. The byzantine church
was much influenced by the use of domes & arches. The eastern & western churches
finally separated in 1054 AD due to ideological differences. Moreover, after the eastern
church forbade the use of all idols & sculpture due to attacks from Muslims, it evolved
into the Greek orthodox church. These controversies have vitally affected byzantine
architecture, which is devoid of sculpture, but has paintings.
 Historical:

The early Christian period is generally taken

from about 300 AD to 600 AD.
Byzantine art influenced the church
architecture of Ravenna & Venice very much.
Constantinople became a meeting point
between the Europeans & the Asians, which
led to a fusion of architectural ideas resulting
in a very different style of churches known as
the byzantine.
 Early Christian Basilicas
Church building began on the basis of roman basilica where assembly hall and court of justice suited the
new religion.
With minor modifications, the roman basilica form was adapted to christian ritual.
The altar was placed in the apse, entrances were set in the opposite short wall and an atrium
accommodated gatherings before services and enabled the unbaptized to hear but not participate in the
mass.
The longitudinal arrangement of atrium, nave, and apse formed an impressive axis for processions that
terminated at the altar.
Cathedral is a church that contains the seat or cathedra of a bishop. While cathedrals are often larger
than ordinary churches, not every large church a cathedral.
Basilican churches either had closely spaced columns carrying an entablature or widely
altar spaced columns carrying semicircular arches
 Hugia Sophia ,534 A.D., Basilica, Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia sophia is a former basilica, later a mosque & now a museum in Istanbul turkey, turkey. Famous in
particular for its massive dome, it is considered as the epitome of byzantine architecture. It was built on order
of emperor justinian by architects anthemius &
isadorus during 532 to 537 AD. The interior of the building is considered to be of great artistic value as it is
covered with polychrome marbles gold mosaics & porphyry , gold mosaics & porphyry. Though it was
converted to a mosque in 1453 by the ottoman Turks & was used as the principal mosque till 1935, when it
was converted to a museum, it remained as the largest cathedral for 1000 years until the Seville cathedral was
constructed.
The exterior is less impressive than the interior since the brick walls have been plastered & painted with red
and white distemper.
The actual shape of the domes & semi-domes is visible as there is only a thin coat of lead that covers them.
Hugia Sophia ,534 A.D., Basilica, Istanbul, Turkey
Hugia Sophia ,534 A.D., Basilica, Istanbul, Turkey
S. Marks, 1094 A.D., Basilica, Venice, Italy
 S. Marks, 1094 A.D., Basilica, Venice, Italy
The exterior of the basilica is divided into 3 registers:
lower, upper & the domes. The lower register has a
façade of 5 arched portals decorated with polychrome
marbles which open onto the narthex through bronze
doors. The exterior is a blend of a variety of features. A
crown of gold was given to the building by the use of
timber domes in the 13th century & the façade was
embellished by ogee arches, canopied niches &
pinnacles during the gothic period. Its beauty depends
on the marble & gold work.
 S. Marks, 1094 A.D., Basilica, Venice, Italy
Interior: the marble flooring g p g is tessellated with geometric
patterns & animal designs. The walls & pillars of the lower floor
are entirely covered with polychrome marble slabs. The eastern
arm of the plan has a raised altar with the crypt located beneath
it. Beyond the altar the relics of st. Mark is kept on a raised
platform. Located on the right transept are the doges ambo &
clement s chapel & on ’s chapel & on the left transept are the
gospel ambo & the peter’s chapel. The entire upper floor along
with the vaults & domes is treated as one continuous surface & is
decorated with bright colored mosaics in golden background
representing various incidents from the old & new testament.
S. Marks, 1094 A.D., Basilica, Venice, Italy
 Mausoleum
Mausolea, buildings were erected to contain the tombs of important people.
Following roman practice, these were often centrally planned, and they served as models for
later domed churches.
The basilican cross-section was rotated about the center axis to create a circular building.
Originally the resulting dome with encircling ambulatory focused the visitor's attention on
the sarcophagus placed in the center.
Twelve paired sets of columns
It is believed that constantine built a funerary hall beside the mausoleum dedicated to the
virgin martyr st. Agnes and resembled others built by constantine in this period.
 , Santa Constanza, 350 A.D., Mausolea, Rome, Italy

Commissioned by the roman emperor constantine for the members of his family.
Type of design adapted by the early christians was the centrally planned structure, in
which the main parts of a building radiate from a central point. It was used for baptisteries
and mausoleums. Santa costanza exemplifies the centrally planned structure. It features a
central
altar within a ring of paired columns that support the dome and clerestory. Between the
columns and the outer wall is a circular corridor that at santa costanza is barrel-vaulted
and decorated with mosaics; it is called the ambulatory (ambulare, "to walk")
Santa Constanza, 350 A.D., Mausolea, Rome, Italy
Santa Constanza, 350 A.D., Mausolea, Rome, Italy
 Martyria

A martyria is a building erected as memorials to commemorate saints

or sites of special importance to the christian faith.
Its importance was always attached to the tomb or shrine around which
it was built.
 Old St. Peter’s, 333 A.D., Martyria, Rome, Italy
Its plan is that of a basilica, with double aisles on each side of the nave and a transept
projecting beyond the sidewalls and extending across the nave in front of the apse.
Placed at the junction of transept and apse was the tomb of si. Peter.
The transept spaces accommodated those coming to venerate the shrine, while the enormous
nave (300 by 64 feet) and aisles functioned as a covered cemetery with space for burials and
commemorative funeral meals.
Old st. Peter's had a rather plain brick exterior, but the interior was adorned with precious
materials, including marble.
 Old St. Peter’s, 333 A.D., Martyria, Rome, Italy
Old st. Peter's in rome (318-22), predecessor of the present basilica of st. Peter,
began as a martyrium marking the tomb of st. Peter and used for several centuries
as a place of burial for other christians as well
Old St. Peter’s, 333 A.D., Martyria, Rome, Italy