byzantine and christian architecture
TRANSCRIPT
Early Christian Architecture ̀ Towards Byzantine architecture ̀ Special features of Byzantine Architecture
• 1) Propylaeum-‐ the entrance building of a sacred precinct, whether church or imperial palace.
• 2) Atrium-‐ in early Chris=an, Byzan=ne, and medieval architecture, the forecourt of a church; as a rule enveloped by four colonnaded por=coes.
• 3) Narthex-‐ the entrance hall or porch proceding 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.
• 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 Chris=an 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 Chris=an church un=l the Carolingian period.
• 8) Apse-‐ a recess, some=mes rectangular but usually semicircular, in the wall at the end of a Roman basilica or Chris=an church. The apse in the Roman basilica frequently contained an image of the Emperor and was where the magistrate dispensed laws. In the Early Chris=an basilica, the apses contained the "cathedra" or throne of the bishop and the altar.
• 9) Nave eleva<on-‐ term which refers to the division of the nave wall into various levels. In the Early Chris=an basilica the nave eleva=on usually is composed of a nave colonnade or arcade and clerestory.
• 10) Clerestory-‐ a clear story, i.e. a row of windows in the upper part of a wall. In churches, the clerestory windows above the roofs of the side aisles permit direct illumina=on of the nave.
Historical Background Location The Early Christian and Byzantine architecture started in two prominent locations centered at Rome and Byzantium or Constantinople •Early Christian architecture occurred in Rome and in areas around Rome •Byzantine architecture was centered at Byzantium •From the two focal points Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture spread to other areas in the European and Asian region
• Social Characteris0cs & Beliefs
• The Roman Empire and the Chris=an
• Religion • The single most important social phenomenon of the early Chris0an and Byzan0ne period was the spread and acceptance of the Chris0an religion– Early
• During the period from the first century to the third century a>er the death of Jesus, Chris0anity was a secret society
• It was considered dangerous and subversive by the government
• Architecture of the Period – With Chris=anity widely accepted as a state religion in Rome it was necessary for architecture to respond to the demands of the religion for worship space – Mode of worship was the most important determinant of the form of the church – Requirement for church design was centered on worship and burial The requirements include: • A path for processional entry and exit of the clergy • An alter area, where the clergy celebrate mass • A space for the segrega0on of the clergy from the congrega0on during procession and communion • Burial space
• Architecture of the Period – The focus of both Early Chris0an and Byzan0ne architecture is on the Chris0an church – Before the legal recogni=on of the new faith, Chris0an places of worship were of necessity inconspicuous with no fixed architectural form – A_erward, however, imposing cult edifices were erected in many parts of the Roman Empire, especially in its major ci0es – Early Chris0an builders adapted structures that had been used in the Roman world
• Architecture of the Period – The basilica, consis0ng of a nave flanked by lower aisles and terminated by an apse, was adopted as the standard structure in Chris0an congrega0onal worship – This was not however the only form adopted – More centralized plans which were of round, polygonal, or cruciform shapes were adopted occasionally –Martyria were erected on sites connected with certain events in the life of Jesus and other places held to be sanc=fied by the sacrifice of the martyrs
• Architecture of the Period – In such buildings the martyrium structure and basilica were combined, crea0ng a new formal synthesis of great significance for Chris0an religious architecture – Development of the Chris0an church con0nued during the Byzan0ne era – In the Byzan0ne period focus shi>ed from the rituals or prac0ces of worship to the building as an embodiment or symbols of the majesty of the faith – Innova0ve structure was combined with light and decora0on to create fascina0ng interiors
Early Chris0an Architecture Introduc0on The term early Chris=an architecture refers to the architecture of the early Chris=an churches of the roman era •This is further divided into two types; the basilica church and the alterna0ve church plans •With Chris0anity accepted as a state religion in Rome and expanding in influence, it became necessary for architecture to respond to the space demands of the new religion •A building used for Chris0an worship had to provide a path for the processional entry and exit of the clergy, an alter area, where the clergy celebrated mass, a space for the segrega0on of the clergy from congrega0on during the procession and communion
• Basilica Church Type • Apart from administering to the spiritual needs of the living, some churches also provided burial spaces for the dead
•The early churches were generally simple and func0onal in their design •The emphasis was centered on the act of Chris0an worship •The architecture of the church that developed was not a completely new style, but the use of available Roman forms to sa0sfy a new program need •The form chosen for the early church was the Roman basilica
It was suitable for use as a church with no serious modifica=on and it could be easily and rapidly built at low cost •The Basilica was also preferred because of the emphasis on par0cipa0on in mass. •The most common form of the early churches had a rectangular hall with a 0mber trussed roof •It also had one or two isles on each side of a central nave and an apse at one end facing the principal entrance located at the other end
Apart from administering to the spiritual needs of the living, some churches also provided burial spaces for the dead •The early churches were generally simple and func0onal in their design •The emphasis was centered on the act of Chris0an worship •The architecture of the church that developed was not a completely new style, but the use of available Roman forms to sa0sfy a new program need •The form chosen for the early church was the Roman basilica
It was suitable for use as a church with no serious modifica=on and it could be easily and rapidly built at low cost •The Basilica was also preferred because of the emphasis on par0cipa0on in mass. •The most common form of the early churches had a rectangular hall with a 0mber trussed roof •It also had one or two isles on each side of a central nave and an apse at one end facing the principal entrance located at the other end The apse of the basilica was used as a loca0on for the alter •The nave was used as a siRng for the clergy •Common people sat in the isles •The early churches may have a courtyard or atrium in front of it •A fountain is usually located in the center of such an atrium; This was used for bap0sm
• Most of the early churches had clerestory ligh=ng •Clerestory windows were developed to give light to the central part of the interior •Gradually, the clerestory windows became a symbol of the transcendence and grace of god •Varia0ons in the character of the early church reflected differences in local resources and tradi0ons
S PETER’S ROME,333 St Peter was the most important of the basilica churches built by Constan=ne •The church has a triple entrance gate leading to an atrium •The church like S. Giovanni discussed earlier is a five isles church •The Basilica had a wooden roof of interlocking ra>ers •The nave did not lead directly to the apse but instead ends in a transverse space that is as high as the nave
The nave terminated in a triumphal arch that framed the curve of the apse •Some of the early churches were built over the tomb of martyrs and are known as martyrium •St Peters is one of the earliest and most important of the matyrium churches •It was built over what was believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter who was a disciple of Jesus
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE Alterna0ve Church Form The rectangular basilica was not the only form adopted for the early church •Alterna0ve more centralized plans, with a focus on a central ver0cal axis rather than a longitudinal horizontal one were also adopted occasionally •The reasons for their adop0on is not very clear •The centralized churches were of two broad types •There were the completely circular churches •These had a circular or octagonal space surrounded by an ambulatory •Examples of these include Saint Constanza Rome, the lateran Bap0stery Rome and Saint Stefano Rotondo
ALTERNATIVE CHURCH FORM The second type of centralized church was the lobed or four-‐lobed form set within an overall pentagon or square •Examples of this include Holy Apostle Milan and St Lorenzo Milan •In the early years of Chris0anity, the alterna0ve form was common both in the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, but later the Basilica Become more popular in the West and the centralized alterna0ve form more popular in the Eastern Empire
Round Alterna<ve Form St Constanza This was a church originally designed as a mausoleum for Emperor Constan=ne’s daughter •It was designed as a centralized monument It is symmetrical in plan with a domed central space •The domed central space was ringed by an arcade with 12 pairs of double colonnade •Beyond the arcade is an encircling ambulatory •A barrel vault is used to roof the ambulatory
Round Alterna<ve Form Lateran Bap<stery The lateran Bap=stery was built by Emperor Constan=ne in A.D. 315 •It was designed to mirror S.Constanza •The circular scheme of S.Constanza was in this church changed to two octagonal rings •A ring of trabeated colonnade defined the central space
Round Alterna<ve form St Stefano Rotondo It was built in A.D. 468 and was the first circular church in Rome •It is the largest circular church, having diameter of about 36 meters •The plan of the church blends the cruciform with a circular plan •It has a huge central nave .The central nave is encircled by ionic columns and is lit by 22 clerestory windows •An ambulatory surrounds the colonnade of the nave and opens to four chapels used to define a cruciform shape
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Lobed Alterna<ve form Holy Apostle, Milan AD 370 This is basically a square form church with a central plan •It was built as the church of the imperial palace, when the capital of the Western Empire moved to Milan •It had a square central space 23.5 meters wide extending in all four direc0ons •The central space was defined by a 2-‐storey columnar screen suppor0ng some half dome •Several subsidiary octagonal structures are grouped around the main church