5. Byzantine/Islamic Flashcards
Describe the structural difference between a Roman and Byzantine dome:
Roman: flatter dome on top of drum, load carried straight down
Byzantine: taller, sloped dome, load disperses by pendentives and squinches
Byzantine architecture can be credited with the invention of what two new structural techniques?
a. pendentives
b. flying buttress
Describe the difference between a Roman space and a Byzantine space:
B: planned to be more spatially dynamic and complex
R: everything is simple and clearly articulated, repeated use of structural model dome
What is the role of a pendentive?
transition between circular dome sitting on a square body, disperse weight of dome
Why did Byzantine churches employ gold leaf mosaics in their interiors?
to portray to realm of heaven, create “heaven on earth”
Describe the difference between a Byzantine church’s exterior and its interior. What was the reason for this difference?
exterior: minimal and plain (earthy)
interior: elaborate and rich, gold detailing (heavenly)
to create the notion of the elegance of heaven vs. the dullness of earth; life will get better after death
Constantine built his new capital at ____________.
Constantinople
Compare the Basilica Ulpia to the design of Old St. Peter’s church:
enter through short side instead of long side in St. Peters, plan rotated 90 degrees, no use of Roman exterior veneer of marble to heighten
The primary difference between the design of the interior Roman bath and that of a Byzantine church was:
Roman bath did not have central axis like church; baths had palisters, churches did not
Which space has the larger dimension: the Pantheon or Hagia Sophia?
Hagia Sophia
Why were Moslem architects able to build high profile domes while Byzantine builders were not?
they used wood
Early Moslem architecture can be credited with what three architectural innovations?
a. high profile dome
b. pointed arch
c. squinch
What is a squinch?
a series of arches built upon one another to span the space between a circular dome and square bay
To span the space between a circular dome and a square bay, Moslem architects typically used a series of arches built upon one another. This device is known as a ________.
squinch
