EARLY CHRISTIANITY AND BYZANTINE - WordPress.com

Bhagwan Mahavir College of Architecture Sem: 5

EARLY CHRISTIANITY AND BYZANTINE

Submitted by:- Pooja Padhy Ronak Rathod Ayushi Saliya Swati Gambhava Manali Goti Jasmin Dobariya Ravi Mistry Pratiksha Patel


• The vast Roman Empire spanning from the main lands of Italy, Greece extending up to England & France in the north, as well as encircled around the Mediterranean Sea confronting with Asia Minor & North Africa was subject to dismantling due to lack of central power.

• The vast empire was divided into Western & Eastern empires. • The rich western province centered around Rome was obviously the target

for invaders who destroyed the city. Europe Asia Minor Mediterranean Sea African Continent Western Empire Eastern Empire Roman Empire


• On the contrary, the eastern province which accepted the migrated population was provided with continuation of Roman structural techniques.

• The western empire was centered around Rome while the Eastern empire flourished around Constantinople (currently, Istanbul), which was strategically located on trade route by sea – connecting Asia & North Africa by Europe.

• Christianity was born in Judea – a place in eastern province of the Roman empire, which spread

Towards the north & west even against the backdrop of great opposition & ultimately accepted as state religion. • The formulation phase of Christianity & its architecture can be considered from Constantine period (300 AD) to Charlemagne (800 AD – French ruler).


• The development of Christian Architecture thus can be divided into the following phases:

• In these phases, architectural development experienced the formulation phase, alterations & development in plans, profile surroundings & concluded with imitation of classical structures & mannerism.

• The development of Christian architecture in general proved beneficial in establishing new norms, new construction features, new materials, different types of façade treatments & also versatile construction analysis.

• The phases proved beneficial not only for the religious architecture but also for secular, domestic, commercial & Mediterranean development.


• Christianity initially took its root in Judaea an eastern part of Roman empire. • Carried to other parts of the world by St. Peter, St. Paul and other Missionaries. • The Early Christian architecture is largely influenced by the existing remains of the

roman art. • Skillfully modified according to the sustainability of geographical conditions of those

countries like Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Italy and N. Africa.

Geographical Condition

• The architecture was the outcome of religion and hence geological conditions had no effect on it.

• The Early Christians relied upon the existing remains of the Roman buildings. • Either the old buildings were converted into churches or new churches were

constructed out of the existing remains. • This influenced the style, both as regards construction and decoration. • Columns and other architectural features, as well as fine sculptures and mosaics

from older building, were incorporated into basilica churches of the new faith.

Geological Condition


• The climate of Italy is varying , its north part being temperate.

• Center Italy is sunny. Southern Italy is almost tropical.

• Also climatic conditions of Syria, Egypt, N. Africa are different from one another.

• This variety of climatic condition is sufficient to account for diversity of architectural features Hence climate naturally modified the style.

Climatic Condition

Religious Condition • In all human history there is no record so striking as that of the rise of Christianity a

phenomenon so outstanding as the rapidity with which it was diffused throughout the civilized world, and not only in this period but also in all subsequent ages.

• Christianity has inspired the building of some of the greatest architectural monuments.

• Christianity is founded by Jesus. • After the recognition of Jesus Christ being as the ‘Son of God’, we can see emergence

of Christianity as a religion of new faith.


• From the East came the new attitude towards religion. • Christianity is founded by Jesus. He was born at Bethlehem near Jerusalem. • He started preaching about the kingdom of God and plunged himself for the services of

mankind. Soon he became a revolutionary figure among the Jewish religious leaders who had only contempt for the poor and sinner. So he boldly exposed the injustice and hypocrisy of those religious leaders.

• Afraid of his growing power they accused him of blasphemy and complained against him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. Consequently, he was crucified. But this was not the end. He resurrected again on the third day.

• His disciples were shocked and surprised when their beloved Jesus appeared before them.

• They therefore realized that Jesus Christ was not an ordinary man and further recognized him as the “Son of God”. Thus Christianity was born as a religion.

• Bible is considered to be the Holy book by the Christians. • It consists of two parts:- (i) Old Testament (deals with the religion of Jesus.) (ii) New testament (Life and Preaching's of Jesus.) • The Main Purpose of Christian Church was to Provide Shelter for the worshippers God. • The desire and necessity to Centre, focus and celebrate is an outstanding characteristics

Christian architecture.


• Cities declined and deserted. • Trade sea-borne, land-borne came to an end. • In A.D. 313 Constantine issued his celebrated decree from Milan, giving Christianity

equal rights with other religions. • In A.D. 323 he himself professed Christianity, which became the official religion of

the Roman Empire, and the Christians then began to build churches of a type suit-able to their needs and ritual.

• Constantine made Christianity official in 313 A.D. • He removed the seat of government from Rome to Byzantine in 330. • Christianity further produced powerful class of bishops.

Social Condition


• They made use of the remains of Roman buildings for the construction of their new churches.

• The columns, either short or long, fluted or unfluted, were brought to uniform size and height by some device for use in the same church.

• Columns were either closely spaced to carry entablature or widely spaced to carry semi-circular arches.

• There was no one basic kind of Constantine church. Even the Basilican form was variously treated and was not in anyways standardized.

• The plan of the church was simple in design, having two colonnades forming a long nave in the center and two or four aisles on either side with a high altar at one end and covered with simple timber roof trusses.

• The baptisteries and mausoleum chapels however were circular, octagonal in shape based on Roman precedent, and also in the shape of a Greek cross.

• The constructional features and spatial development are so fitting and completely established that neither Gothic nor the present day churches have gone beyond it.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES


CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Early Christian Architecture is Transitional Architecture and have no own structure

The church building as we know it grew out of a number of features of the Ancient Roman period: 1.The house church 2.Catacombs 3.The atrium 4.The basilica 5.The mausoleum: centrally-planned building 6.The cruciform ground plan: Latin or Greek cross


• The first house church is where the disciples of Jesus met together in the "Upper Room" of a house.

• For the first three centuries of the church, known as Early Christianity, Christians typically met in homes, if only because intermittent persecution (before the Edict of Milan in 313) did not allow the erection of public church buildings.

• Clement of Alexandria, an early church father, wrote of worshipping in a house. • The Dura-Europa's church was found to be used as a Christian meeting place in AD 232, with one small room serving as a baptistery. • At many points in subsequent history, various Christian groups worshipped in homes, often due to persecution by the state church or the civil government.

The Dura-Europos house church, with chapel area on right.

1. House church


• It is a rectangular early Christian or medieval church, usually having a nave with clerestories, two or four aisles, one or more vaulted apses, and a timber roof.

Interior of a basilica at Pompeii

3. Basilica


4. Mausoleum

• Monumental form of tomb. • A mausoleum is a house of the dead,

although ii is often as much a symbol as a sepulcher.

• This term has been employed for large, monumental, and stately tombs, usually erected for distinguished or prominent individuals.

Mausoleum of Constantia featured a taller, domed, central circular section surrounded by a vaulted ambulatory.


• Christianity spread among the underprivileged. By 2nd Cent. AD it had many followers and was regarded as a threat. This led to persecutions.

• Due to persecutions- no development in architecture for Christian worship • Christians met in private homes or in catacombs (subterranean tombs) for religious

gatherings. • Subterranean passageways used for burials by Romans • Used as gathering place by the Early Christians for religious purposes • Christianity was later accepted made the State Religion in 313 AD by Constantine • Church building started openly after that.

5. CATACOMBS


• These terms usually refer to the shape of a church. • A Greek cross church has four arms having the same length. • A Latin cross church has the arm of the entrance longer than the other arms.

6. Latin cross and Greek cross

Latin cross plan- building process of S. Pietro in Vatican


GREEK CROSS LATIN CROSS

Also called St. George’s Cross

Most common variety of cross with the cross piece slightly above the center of the

intersection, and somewhat in general shapes like a man with arms open.

It has arms of equal length.

Usually considered as Sign of God.

Usually found in Non- Christian countries

Difference between:-


• In Christian architecture the baptistery, is the separate centrally-planned structure. • The baptistery may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral and be

provided with an altar as a chapel.

• This is commonly a detached building, and almost always circular or polygonal.

• In some instances the baptistery adjoins the atrium or forecourt; but it soon became customary to erect detached baptisteries of considerable size.

• These generally have a high central portion carried by a ring of columns, and a low aisle running round, the receptacle for water being in the Centre. Lateran Baptistery, the first structure

expressly built as a baptistery

7. Baptistery


1)Propylaeum- the entrance building of a sacred precinct, whether church or imperial palace.

2) Atrium- in early Christian, Byzantine, and medieval architecture, the forecourt of a church; as a rule enveloped by four colonnaded porticoes. 3) Narthex- the entrance hall or porch proceeding the nave of a church. 4) Nave- the great central space in a church. In longitudinal churches, it extends from the entrance to the apse (or only to the crossing if the church has one) and is usually flanked by side aisles.

Parts of an Early Christian Basilica

Old St. Peter's in Rome

Parts of Church


5) Side Aisle- one of the corridors running parallel to the nave of a church and separated from it by an arcade or colonnade. 6) Crossing- the area in a church where the transept and the nave intersect. 7) Transept- in a cruciform church, the whole arm set at right angles to the nave. Note that the transept appears infrequently in Early Christian churches. Old St. Peter's is one of the few example of a basilica with a transept from this period. The transept would not become a standard component of the Christian church until the Carolingian period. 8) Apse- a recess, sometimes rectangular but usually semicircular, in the wall at the end of a Roman basilica or Christian church. The apse in the Roman basilica frequently contained an image of the Emperor and was where the magistrate dispensed laws. In the Early Christian basilica, the apses contained the "cathedra" or throne of the bishop and the altar.



BASILICAN CHURCH OF ST. PETER, ROME (Old)

• The original church survived without much change untie towards the end of 15th century & the nave for another century .

• Remain of old foundation are present below the present flooring but detail of atrium are obscure.

• Dimensions 110.0m long x 64 .0m wide with double aisle's on both sides .

• The atrium of open rectangular court formed an imposing approach.

• •Next was „narthex‟ between atrium and church.

• •The narthex opened to the great nave with double aisles ending in five arches, the Central one was called the “arch of triumph”.


• The nave was divided from aisles by 22 varied (size and color), huge and antique marble columns with equally varied capitals supporting the nave walls on a horizontal entablature, while similar numbers of shorter columns carrying arcades divided aisle from aisle.

• The nave ended with an arch and the walls had parallel windows each with frescos.

• It was built in the shape of Latin cross, with a gable roof, timbered on inside and at 30m high at center.

• An atrium known as garden of paradise stood at the entrance with 5 doors .

• At the end was „bema‟ of platform and apse with Pope's seat.




• First Basilica - Dedicated to Pope St. Clemente I. • Dimensions: 45.0 m x 25.0 m with width of nave as 13.0 m. • Most interesting example of the continued Roman use of early basilican plan until well into

Romanesque period. • The present day (Roman Catholic minor basilica) church is actually a • 3-tiered complex of buildings:

ST. CLEMENTE, ROME

Lower part – 2 structures: 1st century house of a Roman noble & a 2nd century pagan temple dedicated to God Mitra.

Middle part – 4th century (c.380 AD)

Old church dedicated to St. Clemente. Top part – Early 12th century (c.1100

AD) Romanesque church – replica of the earlier church.




1. Ante-portico, or porch. 2. Atrium, or court; under which the penitent, and those who had fallen away from the faith,

demanded the prayers of the passers by. 3. One of the side aisles, in which were the men, the catachumens, and the newly converted. 4. Aisles on the right for the women, narrower than the other. 5. Space enclosed with a low wall of marble, within which were the acolytes, the exorcists, and

other functionaries of the minor orders. 6. Sanctuary terminated in a semicircle, round which is the bench for the priests with the

episcopal seat; in the center an isolated altar, and in front the Confession.


Elevation of the ante-portico or porch before the atrium of the Church of St. Clement, Rome


At the center of San Clemente's forecourt there is a fountain, a

traditional symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Front of the Ambon, designed for the reading of the Gospel, accompanied by

the column on which was, and still is, placed the paschal candle.

Profile of the marble pulpit for the reading of the Epistle.

Part of the low wall or dado forming the enclosure of the choir of St. Clement. Another portion of the same.


• 330 – 1453 A.D. and later. • The early Greek settlers from Manga were led by some Byzias, from

whom the name Byzantine was derived. Later it was Romanized to Byzantium. The city of Byzantium was renamed as “Constantinople” the “God‟s favorite city” in 330, after its imperial founder Constantine. It was named as the New Capital of Christian Empire. It took six years of preparation. It is now named as ‘Istanbul’.

• Geographical condition: • This city is situated between Black sea and Mediterranean sea and

forms a link to Europe and Asia by means of a narrow strip of water. • It has a natural harbor of „Golden Horn‟ – a deep water inlet which

helped to expand commerce and trade to all parts of Eastern Roman Empire and further carried to Greece, Asia

• Minor, Russia, N. Africa, Venice, which later came under the influence of Byzantine style.

BYZANTINE


Geological condition:- • The use of lime concrete started in Roman period was continued by the Byzantines. • They manufactured bricks which they used for the construction of domes. • Marble was imported from other parts and used for ornamental work.

Climatic condition:- • Byzantines adopted the system of building to suit their needs. • Hence flat roofs with small openings were adopted in places of hot weather and

sheltered arcades surrounded the open courtyard. • These with the oriental dome as a symbol of faith became the chief features of this

style.

Social condition:- • Constantine's effect upon the world was remarkable. He declared Christianity as the

State Religion of the Roman Empire in 324 A.D., and founded “Constantinople”. • The largest church S. Sophia‟ became the center of Byzantine world, culturally

Greek, juridical Roman, officially and passionately Christian


Religious condition: • In 313, Constantine issued high command at Milan granting to

Christians and to everybody the free power to follow the religion of their choice.

• The results were seen at an early date in Palestine where as per the wish of Constantine, many churches were built. In the beginning they were of basilican Christian type but later dome became the prevailing motif of Byzantine church.

• Soon there were differences and disputes in the mode of construction of churches between Eastern and Western Europe.

• Eastern Emperor Leo III (717-741) made strict prohibition of worshipping any human or animal form of sculpture. Since no statues were permitted, painted figures supplemented as a decorative feature in all the eastern churches.

• These religious differences have greatly affected Byzantine church architecture from Western Europe.

• It has remained unchanged in its doctrines and religious rites. • Byzantine architecture also became stereo-typed in its

construction.


Historical condition: • After the death of able ruler Constantine, a line of weak

emperors followed and finally the Empire was divided in 364 A.D.

• Thereafter, the other Emperor who rose to prominence was Justinian (527-565 A.D.). He encouraged many gifted artists.

• He commissioned useful civil works, like schools, hospitals, hostels, theaters, baths, palaces, harbours, aqueducts, and a dozen of churches.

• For Justinian, building became an obsession. His code of „Civil Laws‟ or „Justinian Code‟ produced a dynamic effect on society. His citizens called him „the Emperor who never sleeps‟.

• Later on many more building activities continued in • spite of constant attacks by barbarians from north • and Muslims from the east. • By the 15th century, it could not resist the energy • and cannon of the Turks who succeeded and • captured it where Goths, Germans, Huns and Arabs • had failed.


• Characterized by the noval development of dome

to cover square or polygonal plans of churches and tombs while Romans placed domes only on circular plans.

• The various type of domes used were: simple, compound, melon shaped, onion shaped.

• These domes were placed on square or polygonal plan by means of spherical pendentives, i.e., triangular curved overhanging surface formed between the adjacent arches.

• Placing of small domes round the large central dome was very effective.

• On account of their great height, eye was directed upward, as if pointing to the sky or heaven while in early Christian style, eye was directed horizontally along the row of columns to the seat of God.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES


• The use of cement started in the Roman period, was continued by the Byzantines.

• the brickwork in concrete was first completed and allowed to settle before covering the interior with marble slab. The external facades were decorated with various design patterns in brick-work. The concrete needed for the brickwork was prepared from lime sand crushed tiles and bricks.

• The walls were fully covered with marble mosaics and fresco-decoration.

• They used columns decoratively as well as structurally to support the semi-circular arches.


ART

• Byzantine art flourished in Russia until 1917

(Russian Revolution ended most religious activity)

• Byzantine artists imported into Sicily and Venice, still popular

• Byzantine empire born out of remains of

Roman Empire- continued Roman artistic tradition but

with Christian themes

• Mosaics, icons, manuscript illumination are a big deal

• Two main elements:

• reflect the classical past and

• use hieratic medieval style

(representations are fixed by religious tradition)

• Architects invent PENDENTIVE and SQUINCH

• Buildings known for mysterious and shadowy interiors


PATRONAGE:

• Church + State = one thing (Byzantine empire) = commissioned art

• Religious works crowd buildings

• Interest in luxury objects – extravagant works in ivory, manuscripts, and precious metals

• Artists feel like they create art for the glory of God – rarely sign their names (pride = sin!)

• Many artists were priests, nuns, or priests –

• artistic production was an expression of their religious devotion


Art Forms • Sculptures/Carvings/Relief

• Wall Paintings

• Architecture (Basilica)

Mediums:- Sculpture/Carvings/Relief

• Marble, Bronze, Ivory, Ceramic

Wall Paintings:- Mosaic - Small Pieces of Colored Glass and Stones

• Fresco - Egg (Tempera), Glue, Oil

• Artists:- There are no known artists during this period.


527 A.D. • The church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople is

dedicated to two Roman soldiers who were tortured to death in 303. • It was built by Justinian. • The building stands on a plan measuring 33m by 28m • The significance of this building is that its octagonal design which

was later on a much larger scale, reused by Anthemius when he and Isidore of Miletus built the Church of the Divine Wisdom, the Hagia Sophia.

• It has four colonnaded exedrae and the dome supported on spherical pendentives is 15.8m in diameter and 22m high.

• The dome is very remarkable, because it consists of eight flat and eight concave sections, which rest on eight piers.

S. S. SERGIUS AND BACCHUS, ISTANBUL

Interior of church


Plan

Sectional view

22m


• ‘Church of holy wisdom’ chief church in Constantinople.

• Rebuilt by justinian between A.D. 532-537 after Constantine's original was burned down in a riot.

• Holy wisdom:- • Latin is a former orthodox

patriarchal basilica later a mosque , and now a museum in Istanbul , turkey.

HAGIA SOPHIA


• 532-537 A.D. • It was constructed for Justinian by two genius architects

Anthemius of Tralles and Isadora's of Miletus. • The church was designed in the form of Greek cross 91.5m

by 99m with top of the dome at 54.8m from the ground. • It has a central space of 32.6m square with four massive

stone piers 7.6m by 18.3m pierced by arches to form aisles and galleries.

• The stone piers support four semi-circular arches forming a spherical pendentive, on which rests the dome 32.6m in diameter.

• The curved surface of the dome produces extraordinary effects of resonance.

• On both ends are two large hemi-cycles covered with semi-domes, forming an oval nave 68.6m long and 32.6m wide.

• The hemi-cycles are flanked by exedrae covered with semi-domes, which acts as buttresses to the central dome.

• The dome collapsed due to an earthquake in 558 A.D. • View

View of the Hagia Sophia from the south.


•The marble columns 107 in all support the groined vaults under the galleries. •The interiors are decorated with colored mosaics which shine brilliantly under the light of the clere-story formed by a row of 40 windows in the lower part of the dome. •It is also illuminated by thousands of candles during nights, which further help to dramatize the spiritual aspect of the interior. •The stupendous size of the congregation halls with high and wide domes illuminated by thousands of candles was an inspiration sight for the followers. •Thus the simple faith of Jesus celebrated with dazzling splendor showed the greatness of divine power they worshipped. •In 1453 A.D., Constantinople fell in the hands of Sultan of Turkey who converted it into a mosque, with the tall pinnacles that surround the central dome today. It is now a museum.

Close view of the intricately carved columns of the tympanum (side walls). There are 104 columns like this



BYZATINE CAPITALS AND INTERIER DECORATION

(use of marble and mosaics)

Uncovered mosaics in Hagia Sophia (various periods, not all early)

Domes and light



Semi dome

Gallery

SECTION



EARLY CHRISTIANITY AND BYZANTINE - WordPress.com

Documents