Byzantine Empire Flashcards
Geological Influence
No good building stones, and local materials such as clay for bricks and rubble for concrete were used.
Marble was also used but imported materials.
Climatic Influence
Semi-tropical, thus flat roof was used and combined with domes, to counteract the New Empire
Religious Influence
•Political division between the East and the West, followed by the division of Churches due to ICONOCLASTIC MOVEMENT
built several military gates and towers (defence against the Goths and Huns) but cannot avoid the Moslems or the Islamic People.
Theodosius II
responsible for rebuilding of St. Sophia (Divine Wisdom) which now turned to a
Moslem Mosque.
Justinian
From Byzantium, Constantine renamed it to .. Now knows as …
Constantinople, Istanbul/ Also called New rome
It was the architecture of the Eastern Roman Empire which was developed from early christian and late roman antecedent in the 4th century
Constantinople or New Rome
Decree to ban the use of statues as means of representation either of human or animal form
Iconoclastic Movement
Subtitute for iconoclastic movement
Painting figures in decoration
Was merged with the domical system of the byzantine
Early Christian Basilicaa
Contributed greatly to the fall of Roman Empire
Way of life and corruption
From ? to ? Century was one of the fluctuating and gradually declining fortunes
5th to 11th
had continued up to the present day to the seat of a Patriarch of the Orthodox church
Constantinople
Architectural Character
-Mostly Church Construction
- Discarded Early Christian Style for new domical Byzantine style
-Still official style for orthodox church
Byzantine style
Basilican Plan was
Early christian
Domed Centralized Plan
Byzantine
Early Christian Architecture also drew on Roman Buildings with centralized plans, based on?
A circle, cross, or polygon
Early Christian Architecture also drew on Roman Buildings with centralized plans, based on A circle, cross, or polygon. This form was most prominent in Roman Architecture in the building of ?
Mausolea
Construction system of Byzantine
Domical construction with classical columnar style
Material
Simplicity in external design which resulted in the use of clay and rubble
-Richness in internal treatment importing marble
Columnation and Capitals
Dosseret block used as a deep abacus invented to enlarge surface for receiving wide voussors of arches or thick walls
Examples of columns
Cushion Capital
Bird and basket
Wind swept acanthus
Decoration of Byzantine
Stone bands instead of mouldings
Decorative Arches
Internal marble, mosaic and fresco decoration
Characteristic Feature
- Large pendentive supported domes
-Features the grouping of small domes and semi domes around a large central dome - Extensive use of mosaic decoration
- Dont use campanile and atrium in their churches
Were frmed from small cubes of stone or glass
Mosaic - tesserae
Clear glass was often backed with gold to
create a rich, shimmering effect
were used to cover every surface, replacing moldings and cornices and flowing uniterrupted over walls, arches and domes
Mosaic
Dome and pendentives were part of the same sphere
Simple dome
the dome is not part of the same sphere as the pendentives and domes rises independently upon them.
Compound Dome
a curve triangle spanning between the arches. Whereas the Romans were able to build domes only over circular spaces, the pendentives allowed the Byzantines to build domes over square plans. The form probably originated from Aegean and Syrian architecture.
Pendentives
consist of curved fluting which avoid the necessity of pendentives.
Melon-Shaped/ Pumpkin Dome
Their ornaments were religious in character.
The most popular forms of ornaments used are
- Symbolic Figures
- Group of Saints
- Peacock - symbol of eternal life
- Endless Knot - symbol of eternity
- Sacred Monogram of Christ.
Most popular mosaic patterns for pavement:
Opus sectile and Opus Alexandrinum
became the see of the Byzantine Carthage viceroys. Politically and geographically, therefore, it bridged East and West and the many buildings initiated by its rulers show the influence of the nascent Byzantine style.
Ravenna
Built by Justinian, St. Sergius and Bacchus is similar to St.
Vitale, comprising a double shell of central octagon and outer square. However, it shows greater complexity, the niches of the inner core being alternately squared and rounded and finding an echo in the niched outer wall.
St. Segius and Bacchus.
Constantinople
Square domed bays were introduced into basilical plans to create domed basilicas, built by Justinian in
532. Here, the dome rested on four arches supported by four huge piers, while the name to east and west was barrel vaulted and flanked by vaulted aisles and galleries.
St. Irene, Constantinople (532)
Founded by Justinians in commemoration of the recover of Ravenna
St. Vitale Basilica, Ravenna
•Also known as (Divine Wisdom)
*This is the most important church in Constantinople with 107 multi-colored columns
*Designed by Anthemius and
Isodorus
St. Sophia. Constantinople (Istanbul)
Or as Hagia Sophia
form produced by the interpenetration of a cube and a hemisphere. They have small lonic angle volutes, combined with deeply undercut stylized foliage.
Cubiform Capitals
saw greater decoration of the exteriors of churches. Bricks were arranged in patterns- herringbone, chevrons, meander, dog’s tooth
- in Greece thin bricks framed blocks of stone, in a style known as cloisonne. Blind niches, recessed arched windows. colonnettes and pilasters were also introduced.
Mid-Byzantine exterior
“Greek Cross in plan with Ogee Arch
•Design by Cancelli
St. Mark Basilica, Venice
Smallest cathedral in the world.
The Little Metropolis Cathedral, Athens
The 1* century quincunx church of Kilise Cami was extended c. 1320 by a five-bayed exonarther (outer narthex) with three domes - a form traditional in Thessalonica. The elaborate façade of the exonarther features tall niches framing triple arcades with parapets, while on the upper floor five semi-circular blind arches are disposed in a different rhythm.
Kilise Cami/S. Theodore. Constantinople
This quincunx church is framed by a U-shaped exonarthe with a dome in each corner. Its exterior is richly decorated, its faceted apse featuring steep recessed niches and elaborate brickwork with band of double zigzag.
Holy Apostle. Thessalonica (1310-14)
