Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

Early Christian Early Christian and Byzantine and Byzantine ArchitectureArchitecture

Architectural HistoryArchitectural HistoryACT 322ACT 322

Doris KempDoris Kemp

TopicsTopics Byzantine ArchitectureByzantine Architecture The Ideal Byzantine ChurchThe Ideal Byzantine Church

Central PlanCentral Plan DomesDomes Lighting and DecorationLighting and Decoration

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia Other Justinian StructuresOther Justinian Structures

Byzantine ArchitectureByzantine Architecture In the years around 500 A.D. the In the years around 500 A.D. the

Western Empire laid in ruinsWestern Empire laid in ruins Rome had been sacked twice and Italy Rome had been sacked twice and Italy

was in the hands of the Ostrogothswas in the hands of the Ostrogoths The Eastern Empire lived onThe Eastern Empire lived on

Constantinople was the capitol of the Constantinople was the capitol of the Eastern EmpireEastern Empire Had been built on the Hellenic city of Had been built on the Hellenic city of

Byzantium (modern day Istanbul, Turkey)Byzantium (modern day Istanbul, Turkey)

Byzantine ArchitectureByzantine Architecture A formal shift from early Christian to A formal shift from early Christian to

Byzantine architecture can be seen Byzantine architecture can be seen in the early sixth century A.D.in the early sixth century A.D. Timber-roofed Latin basilican churches Timber-roofed Latin basilican churches

gave way to domed, central-plan gave way to domed, central-plan structures in the Eastern Empirestructures in the Eastern Empire

Byzantine Architecture:Byzantine Architecture:Ideal Byzantine ChurchIdeal Byzantine Church

No two Byzantine churches were No two Byzantine churches were identicalidentical

Features of the ideal Byzantine Features of the ideal Byzantine church:church: Central planCentral plan Pendentive domePendentive dome String focus on structure, lighting, and String focus on structure, lighting, and

elaborate decorationelaborate decoration


Central PlanCentral Plan The axis descended away from visitorsThe axis descended away from visitors

Leaves no possible active participation Leaves no possible active participation except weakly around a central axisexcept weakly around a central axis

In most Byzantine churches, the In most Byzantine churches, the centralized building core was squarecentralized building core was square


DomesDomes Central core of the church formed an Central core of the church formed an

integral part of a larger structure that integral part of a larger structure that included supporting structure and included supporting structure and vaulting as wellvaulting as well

The dome complimented the spatial The dome complimented the spatial core of the churchcore of the church

Domes were generally placed over Domes were generally placed over cylinders, as at the Pantheoncylinders, as at the Pantheon


DomesDomes Occasionally, domes were placed over Occasionally, domes were placed over

polygons or even squarespolygons or even squares Created certain structural problemsCreated certain structural problems PendentivePendentive

Provided a way to set a circle (dome) atop a squareProvided a way to set a circle (dome) atop a square A Roman invention, though rarely usedA Roman invention, though rarely used Byzantines used pendentives very oftenByzantines used pendentives very often

Domes were used to invoke powerful Domes were used to invoke powerful images of the Christian heavenimages of the Christian heaven


Photo: Sullivan


Lighting and DecorationLighting and Decoration Articulation was very important in Articulation was very important in

Byzantine architectureByzantine architecture No visible surfaces were left in a natural No visible surfaces were left in a natural

statestate All was dissolved in color and light:All was dissolved in color and light:

Glowing marble pavementsGlowing marble pavements Richly veined marble wallsRichly veined marble walls Extensive mosaic cyclesExtensive mosaic cycles Rich patterns of light created by glass and Rich patterns of light created by glass and

structural featuresstructural features


Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture:Byzantine Architecture:Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia Symbolizes the “ideal” Byzantine Symbolizes the “ideal” Byzantine

churchchurch Built as the new Cathedral of Built as the new Cathedral of

Constantinople by the Emperor Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian in 532 – 537 A.D.Justinian in 532 – 537 A.D.

Intended to be the keystone of Intended to be the keystone of Justinian’s massive architectural Justinian’s massive architectural campaigncampaign


Photo: Sullivan


Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia Justinian believed that only natural scientists Justinian believed that only natural scientists

and philosophers would be able to create the and philosophers would be able to create the structure he had seen in his dreamsstructure he had seen in his dreams

Designed by two men:Designed by two men: Anthemius of TrallesAnthemius of Tralles

Natural scientistNatural scientist MathematicianMathematician

Isidorus of MiletusIsidorus of Miletus Professor of stereometry and physics at ConstantinopleProfessor of stereometry and physics at Constantinople


Photo: Sullivan


Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia Built in an amazing five yearsBuilt in an amazing five years Its first dome was destroyed by an Its first dome was destroyed by an

earthquake and rebuilt in 563 A.D.earthquake and rebuilt in 563 A.D. Was converted to a mosque by the Was converted to a mosque by the

Ottoman TurksOttoman Turks


Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia Has some structural problemsHas some structural problems

Main piers are of excellent solidarity, built Main piers are of excellent solidarity, built of massive ashlar masonryof massive ashlar masonry

Rest of the building, however, was built of Rest of the building, however, was built of brick in thick mortar bedsbrick in thick mortar beds

The dome generates tremendous pressureThe dome generates tremendous pressure Corners are supported by pendentives but the Corners are supported by pendentives but the

sides have little supportsides have little support


Photo: Sullivan


Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture:Byzantine Architecture:Other Justinian StructuresOther Justinian Structures

No other Byzantine churches No other Byzantine churches approach even half the scale of approach even half the scale of Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

Two churches bear a resemblance to Two churches bear a resemblance to Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia SS. Sergious and BacchusSS. Sergious and Bacchus S. VitaleS. Vitale


SS. Sergius and BacchusSS. Sergius and Bacchus Located in ConstantinopleLocated in Constantinople Built as a palace chapel between 527 Built as a palace chapel between 527

and 536and 536 Many historians believe it was an Many historians believe it was an

experimental version of the Hagia experimental version of the Hagia SophiaSophia


Photo: Sullivan


S. VitaleS. Vitale Located in Ravenna, ItalyLocated in Ravenna, Italy Very precise and strict double-shell Very precise and strict double-shell

form that featured a domeform that featured a dome Featured mosaics of Justinian and his Featured mosaics of Justinian and his

queen, Theodora, and their courtqueen, Theodora, and their court


Photo: Sullivan


Church of St. John the EvangelistChurch of St. John the Evangelist Built at his tomb in the Hellenistic city of Built at his tomb in the Hellenistic city of

Ephesus on the coast of Asia MinorEphesus on the coast of Asia Minor c. 548 A.D.c. 548 A.D.

Photo: Sullivan

http://www.tylersterritory.com/travel/europe/turkey/ephesus/church-04.html


S. MarcoS. Marco Located in Venice, Located in Venice,

ItalyItaly Although built in Although built in

the Romanesque the Romanesque Period (c. 1063 – Period (c. 1063 – 1094), it is 1094), it is considered more considered more Byzantine in style Byzantine in style than Romanesquethan Romanesque

Photo: Sullivan

ReferencesReferences Sullivan, Mary; Sullivan, Mary;

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/ http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/

wdpt1.htmlwdpt1.html Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From

Prehistory to PostmodernityPrehistory to Postmodernity Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western

ArchitectureArchitecture

Early Christian Early Christian and Byzantine and Byzantine ArchitectureArchitecture

Architectural HistoryArchitectural HistoryACT 322ACT 322

Doris KempDoris Kemp

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Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture