Byzantine architecture Flashcards
Two centers developed by the christian church
- The roman catholic, the western church in rome (latin church)
- The eastern orthodox, the eastern church in Constantinople (greek church)
Origin of byzantine architecture
Europe
Is a federation of self-governing national churches. Has patriarchs in important eastern cities like istanbul, alexandria and jerusalem and archbishops and bishops but no pope or papacy
Eastern orthodox church
3 well known orthodox church
- The greek orthodox
- The russian orthodox
- The coptic (egyptian) orthodox church
Was most important church in christendom. Has priests bishops archbishops and headed by a pope
Roman church
When rome fell as a political power, it become the most dominant institution in rome
Roman church
5 similarities of the eastern orthodox and roman catholicism
- Acceptance of tradition
- Episcopal hierarchy
- Observance of seven sacraments
- Veneration of mary as mother of god
- Sacraments are called holy mysteries of which baptism and holy eucharist are the most important
Greek word meaning general or universal
Katholikos
This united the two churches religiously in spite of the different language, customs and institutions
Christian faith
Granted the toleration of christians which followed the building of churches
The edict of milan by constantine and licinius
Forbade all representations of human or animal forms in sculptures which affected byzantine church architecture
The iconoclastic movement
2 important characteristics of the byzantine style of ornamentation
the absence of sculptured figures, while colored pictures are generally flat and stylized
are distinguished by the centralized type of plan having a dome over the nave
byzantine architecture
became the prevailing motif of byzantine architecture
dome
screen of pictures; cut off the east end of the church from the nave
iconostas
chief features
small windows and arcades with open courts
3 types of dome
- simple dome
- compound dome
- melon shaped dome
kind of roof combined with domes
flat roof
dome and pendentive are parts of the same sphere
simple dome
is a triangular curved overhanging surfaceto support a circular dome over a square or polygonal compartment
pendentive
dome constructed separately from the pendentive
compound dome
2 types of compound dome
a dome on top of a pendentive
dome raised on a drum on top of a pendentive
dome with convolutions or ribs
melon shaped dome
3 materials where mosaics are made of
- glass
- tiles
- marbles
One of the small squares of stone or glass used in making mosaic patterns
tesserae
8 ornament motifs
- fish
- dove
- peacock
- lamb
- grapevine
- endless knot
- chi rho
- symbolic group of saints
is mentioned and given symbolic meaning several times in the gospels. it is also a symbol for jesus
fish (ikhthus)
symbol of peace and unity
dove
emblem of immortality and resurrection
peacock
refers to jesus’ role as a sacrifice atoning for the sins of man in christian theology
lamb (good shepherd)
the idea of the vital union of the believers with christ and among each other is symbolized by the vine and its branches
grapevine
emblem of eternity
endless knot
is formed by superimposing the first two letters of the word christ in greek. it invokes the crucifixion of jesus as well as symbolizing his status as christ
chi rho
2 architectural character of byzantine architecture (ornaments)
- mosaic
2. fresco painting
the art of painting on fresh, moist plaster with pigments dissolved in water
fresco painting
utilized tiny, geometrically, shaped pieces of colored stone and glass paste that were arranged in intricate geometric patterns dotted with large disks of semiprecious stones
opus alexandrinum
are made from larger specially cut pieces usually of tile or stone
opus sectile
are massive with cubiform capitals often with dosseret block to support the voissoir of an arch
columns
is a former orthodox patriarchal basilica later a mosque and now a museum
hagia sophia (“holy wisdom”)
the stones areframed all round with bricks
cloeisonne technique
the facing of this church was executed usingthe cloeisonne technique
monastery church at hosios loukas, phocia, greece
is the oldest church in athens
the church of the holy apostles
is popular for the representation of the incidents from the old and new testaments
st. mark, venice
the interior and the exterior are lavishly decorated with elaborate mosaic, much of it in shimmering gold
st. mark, venice
was built for the most important state ceremonies. it was faced with limestone
catheral of the assumption, russia
has the ogee arch as the dominant motif
the annunciation cathedral, kremlin, moscow
has steep bulbous domes to throw off snow
S. Sophia, Novgorod
has 13 domes and has mosaic interior decorations
S. Sophia, Kiev
is famous for its elaborately carved exterior
cathedral of st. demetrius, vladimir
is a russian orthodox cathedral built by ivan iv in 1555. it is the most recognizable symbol of russia
s. basil the blessed cathedral, red square, moscow
the building’s design, shaped as a frame of a bonfire rising into the sky has no analogues in russian architecture
s. basil the blessed cathedral, red square, moscow
has 9 unique onion domes, each with 9 individual chapels. each dome isdifferent and painted in the most brilliant colors. the architect was postnik yakovlev
s. basil
it has strangeness that astonishes by its unexpectedness, complexity and dazzling interleaving of the manifold details of its design
s. basil dome detail, moscow
Was founded by Constantine over the traditional birthplace of Christ
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Palestine
