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Byzantine Architecture
In the years around 500 A.D. the Western Empire laid in ruins
Rome had been sacked twice and Italy was in the hands of the Ostrogoths Constantinople was the capitol of the Eastern Empire
Had been built on the Hellenic city of Byzantium (modern day Istanbul, Turkey)
Byzantine Architecture
A formal shift from early Christian to Byzantine architecture can be seen in the early sixth century A.D.
Timber-roofed Latin basilican churches gave way to domed, central-plan structures in the Eastern Empire
No two Byzantine churches were identical Features of the ideal Byzantine church:
Central plan Pendentive dome String focus on structure, lighting, and elaborate decoration
Central Plan
Domes
Central core of the church formed an integral part of a larger structure that included supporting structure and vaulting as well The dome complimented the spatial core of the church Domes were generally placed over cylinders, as at the Pantheon
Domes
Provided a way to set a circle (dome) atop a square A Roman invention, though rarely used Byzantines used pendentives very often
Photo: Sullivan
Glowing marble pavements Richly veined marble walls Extensive mosaic cycles Rich patterns of light created by glass and structural features
Photo: Sullivan
Hagia Sophia
Symbolizes the ideal Byzantine church Built as the new Cathedral of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian in 532 537 A.D. Intended to be the keystone of Justinians massive architectural campaign
Photo: Sullivan
Hagia Sophia
Justinian believed that only natural scientists and philosophers would be able to create the structure he had seen in his dreams Designed by two men:
Anthemius of Tralles
Isidorus of Miletus
Photo: Sullivan
Hagia Sophia
Built in an amazing five years Its first dome was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 563 A.D. Was converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Turks
Hagia Sophia
Corners are supported by pendentives but the sides have little support
Photo: Sullivan
Photo: Sullivan
No other Byzantine churches approach even half the scale of Hagia Sophia Two churches bear a resemblance to Hagia Sophia
SS. Sergious and Bacchus S. Vitale
Photo: Sullivan
S. Vitale
Located in Ravenna, Italy Very precise and strict double-shell form that featured a dome Featured mosaics of Justinian and his queen, Theodora, and their court
Photo: Sullivan
Built at his tomb in the Hellenistic city of Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor c. 548 A.D.
Photo: Sullivan
S. Marco
Located in Venice, Italy Although built in the Romanesque Period (c. 1063 1094), it is considered more Byzantine in style than Romanesque
Photo: Sullivan
References
Sullivan, Mary; http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/ http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/wdpt1.html Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernity Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture