Byzantine Architecture

Prof. Abhijeet B. Shinde, Pravara Rural College of Architecure,

Loni

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

Byzantine Empire - Early Period Timeline: • 330: Emperor Constantine founds a new capital of the Roman

Empire at the Greek town of Byzantium, renaming the city Constantinople after himself

• 395: Death of Emperor Theodosius – Empire permanently split in two halves. Constantinople is capital of the Eastern Roman Empire


Introduction

• 527-565: reign of Emperor Justinian I. Greatest expansion of Byzantine Empire

• 1453: Fall of Byzantine Empire

• By the end of the 5th century AD, Rome had completely declined • It had been sacked twice and was then under occupation • Its influence was significantly reduced and the Impetus for

architectural innovation shifted to the Byzantine Empire • This shift also marks the movement from early Christian civilization to

the Byzantine civilization • Under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, the Byzantine style of

architecture evolved • His interest in church building led to the discovery of the groin vault

and the evolution of the Byzantine style


Introduction

Constantinople (Istanbul)

• Although it is impossible to identify two similar Byzantine churches, it is still possible to identify the basic characteristics of an ideal Byzantine church • The attributes of the ideal church included: – The use of a centralized church plan – The use of surrounding isles – The use of pendantives and dome on pendentives – And the use of a complex program of interior structure, lighting and decoration to create fascinating interiors


Introduction

• Byzantine architecture gave us the pendentive domes and the dome on pendentives • The pendentive dome and the dome on pendentives provided the Byzantine architects with a unique way of adjusting the circular form of a dome roof to a square or polygonal plan


Domes and Domes on Pedentives

• This type of dome was invented by the Romans but was rarely used by them

• It was the Byzantine builders who used it to create dramatic interiors

• In the Pantheon in Rome, the Dome roof had to be supported by a circular plan



Pantheon, Rome, 118-125 CE

• The walls of the plan had to be thick to counterbalance the forces from the Dome

parts of the building circular concept.

• The pendentive dome is derived by trimming the sides of a regular dome over a square plan as shown in A.

• The pendentive dome enables the transfer the total load of the

• dome to the four corners of a building, meaning that only the

• four corners need to be reinforced

• This allows the dome roof to be adapted for a square building

• as shown in B



• Additionally, the top of the pendentive dome can be trim to

• introduce another dome on top • of it as shown in C • The additional dome can

further be raised to introduce a cylinder between the pendentive dome and the additional dome as in D

• Windows can then be introduced in the cylinder enabling architects to creating dazzling interior light effects



• Byzantine architecture has its early prototypes in two churches, San Vitale (526-47), Ravenna and in Saint Sergius

• and Saint Bacchus in Constantinople • Ravenna once served as the seat of

the Roman Empire • The church is among the most

important monument of Byzantine architecture

• It was also the prototype for the Hagia Sophia which was built 10 years later


Early Prototypes (St Vitale Ravenna)

• The exterior is very plain – no interest in impressing from the outside, but want to impress through the interior design and its meaning.

• The church is octagonal in plan

• It has a domed octagonal core surrounded by ground level ambulatory with a gallery above it

• The outer wall of the ambulatory is also octagonal

• It has an apse which extends from the central core to one of the 8 sides of the outer octagon


Early Prototypes (St Vitale Ravenna AD 526-547)

Plan

Section

• The domed roof of the church is raised on a drum allowing it

• greater height and lighting • The dome has a diameter of 17 meters

and a height of 30 meters • The Byzantine characteristics of the

church include: • Its central planning • The structural arrangement of its

central dome • The use of surrounding isles • And the way structure, lighting and

decoration have been integrated in the interior of the church


Early Prototypes (St Vitale Ravenna AD 526-547)


Early Prototypes (St Vitale Ravenna) • Series of smaller arches supporting a

centrally domed space. At one end of the plan there is an area that protrudes outward for the altar space Filled with decorative, colorful and vibrant mosaics.



• Central image of Christ. Emphasis on natural landscape, with greenery and flowers. But, behind him is a heavenly realm characterized by a gold background. Shows Christ as the ruler of the world, and he wears purple garments.

• Panels that show the donors themselves. The Emperor Justinian, wearing the same kind of clothes that Christ is depicted as wearing, shown presenting a liturgical vessel to the bishop of the church. He is flanked by the imperial troops that contain the chi ro symbol – first developed through Constantine.

mosaic panels showing Emperor Justinian



Emperor Justinian and his wife, Empress Theodora

• The second panel shows Justinian’s wife wearing purple garments, standing outside the church, showing a fountain.

• She is with her entourage of elaborately dressed women. The walls are shown with jewel encrusted stone.

• These images are placed in the apse area of the dome.

• This became a major political conditioning of architecture and art. There is an extremely close connection between the purpose of the emperor and his role as leader of the church himself – connection between church and state.

• It was built as a palace church between A.D. 527-536 • It is based on the four-lobed alternative church plan of early Christian architecture • The church in plan consist of an octagonal core set in a very loose rectangular form • The form of the church was not a perfect square


Early Prototypes (St. Sergius and Bacchus, Constantinople)

Nave

Narth

ex


Early Prototypes (St. Sergius and Bacchus,Constantinople)

Northeast (rear) view of Little Hagia Sophia in 2013

By user:Bollweevil - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0,

By User:Ggia - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,

Colonnade

• The central space was covered by a dome • The octagon of the central dome has a small but true pendentive dome • This church was constructed very shortly before Hagia Sophia and was believed to be a experiment • The dome, its adaptation to a squarish form, the use of pendentive and the lighting and decoration scheme in the interior gives it its Byzantine characteristics


Early Prototypes (St. Sergius and Bacchus, Constantinople)

General view from the gallery. Looking south-west

By user:Bollweevil - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0,

• Hagia Sophia or the church of the holy wisdom is the most accomplished master piece in the history of architecture • The church was constructed in 532 A.D. by Emperor Justinian in Constantinople now Istanbul • Hagia Sophia was the greatest vaulted space without intermediate supports that has ever been built and it remained so throughout the history of the Byzantine Empire


Hagia Sophia, Constantinople)

• Its architects were Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, professors of geometry at the University of Constantinople

• The church provides an expert solution to the problem of how to place a dome on a square base

• The solution was to use pendantives


(Hagia Sophia, Constantinople)

• Hagia Sophia is covered by a central dome 102 feet (31 m) across, slightly smaller than the Pantheon's


• The dome is carried on Pendentives

• The weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners

• Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches • These four concave triangular sections of masonry solved the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base


• The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colorful interior with light


The Dome, interior view




Section

Plan

• Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches • These four concave triangular sections of masonry solved the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base • The church form is a combination of centralized and longitudinal structure • Longitudinal direction is defined by domes to the east and west



• At Hagia Sophia, two opposing arches on the central square open into semi domes, each pierced by 3 smaller radial semidomes • At the west (entrance) and east (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended and by great half domes carried on smaller semi-domed exedras



• Thus a hierarchy of domeheaded elements build up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence never seen before in antiquity

• Of great artistic importance was its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings • The combination of interior decoration with lights flooding from its domes creates a glittering internal environment



• The church form is a combination of centralized and longitudinal structure • Longitudinal direction is defined by domes to the east and west

• Hagia sophia dominated church architecture after the 6th century AD • For over 900 years it was the seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for imperial ceremonies

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE (Hagia Sophia, Constantinople)

The Dome, exterior view

• Hagia Sophia was onverted to a mosque at the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mohammad II in 1453 • Its rich figurative mosaics were covered with plaster and replaced by Islamic motifs • It was for almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul

• Hagia Sophia served as model for many of the great Ottoman mosques of Constantinople such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rustem Pasha Mosque • After continuing as a mosque for many years, it was in 1934 turned by Turkish authorities into the Hagia Sophia Museum

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE (Hagia Sophia, Constantinople)

Shehzade Mosque Suleiman Mosque

• Byzantine churches, each with a central dome opening into surrounding semi domes and other vault forms and accompanied by the characteristic iconography proliferated throughout the Byzantine Empire Greece, Balkans, Asia manor, part of north Africa and Italy • It also influenced the design of churches in western Christendom • The later churches however lacked the power and vigor of the Hagia Sophia and were of a smaller scale compared to it • As Byzantine architecture spread, it also developed with a regional flavor • Many cities built Byzantine churches that were reflective of regional practices • Some of the most prominent ones are Santa Sophia Kiev, Saint Basils Moscow,Monastry of Hosios Loukas, and Church of Graenica Yugoslavia


IN OTHER PLACES -

• Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev was named after the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople

• The first foundations were laid in 1037 by prince Yaroslav

• The church measures 37 X 55 meters • The cathedral has 5 naves, 5 apses, and

13 cupolas (domes) • It is surrounded by two-tier galleries

from three sides • In 1934 the cathedral was confiscated

by the Soviets and turned it into an architectural and historical museum


St Sophia, Kiev IN OTHER PLACES -

• Commission by Ivan the Terrible of Russia and built as the capitals main parish church


St Basils, Moscow

St Basils, Moscow AD 1551-1536

• The ground plan is an eight pointed star at the center of which is a rectangular chamber and an apse • Eight domed tower chapels are distributed around the central chamber

IN OTHER PLACES -

• In Saint Basil Moscow, the Byzantine dome finally became onion shaped tops of towers,


(In other Places) St Basils, Moscow

St Basils, Moscow AD 1551-1536

• The Byzantine program of interior lighting and decoration was also lost • Instead, it was replaced by the use of brilliant exterior colors

• Built around 1020 A.D. • It has a complex plan with 8 piers carrying its large central dome • The church plan integrates a cross in square with an octogan dome scheme which resulted in effect of interpenetrating space


Monastry of Hosios Loukas

• Combined with lights from its dome and its decoration it give a clear expressing of its Byzantine character • On the outside, its construction materials reflect local practices

IN OTHER PLACES -

• St Mark is also a notable example of Byzantine architecture


IN OTHER PLACES -

St Mark Venice

• It lies on St Mark's Square, one of the most famous squares in the world • The church has five domes each toping a square • The church is based on a Greek cross floor plan, based on part on the Hagia Sophia and the Basilica of the Apostles, both in Constantinople

• Each arm of the cross is of the same length and is covered by a dome • A dome also covers the square space at the center • While the basic structure of the building has been little altered, its decoration changed greatly over time • The front façade is Gothic and was added much later


St Mark Venice IN OTHER PLACES -

• Early Christian and Byzantine architecture was a continuation of the Roman Empire

• Buildings and building practices continued from the Roman period to the Early Christian and Byzantine period

• All Roman civic and Residential buildings were used during the Early Christian and Byzantine period

• The only new element Early Christian and Byzantine Arch. is the Christian church


Building and Other Architectural Material

• The spread of Christianity in Rome led to the evolution of the Christian place of worship

• The form of the early church was an adaptation of the Roman Basilica • This form later evolved into an alternative church plan that was either

round or lobed • The Byzantine church form evolved much later than the Early

Christian church forms


Material Construction and Technology

• The system of construction in concrete and brickwork introduced by the Romans was adopted by the Byzantines.

• Where materials were not available, they were imported from colonies of the empire

• The carcase (skeleton) of concrete and brickwork was first completed and allowed to settle before the surface sheathing of unyielding marble slabs was added, and this independence of the component parts is characteristic of Byzantine construction.

• Brickwork, moreover lent itself externally to decorative patterns and banding, and internally it was suitable for covering with marble, mosaic, and fresco decoration.

• The ordinary bricks were like the Roman, about an inch and a half in depth, and were laid on thick beds of mortar.



• brickwork necessitated special care in making mortar, which was composed of lime and sand with crushed pottery, tiles, or bricks, and much of it remains as hard as that in the best buildings of Rome, while the core of the wall was sometimes of concrete, as in the Roman period.

• The decorative character of external facades depended largely on the arrangement of the facing bricks, which were not always laid horizontally, but sometimes obliquely, sometimes in the form of the meander fret, sometimes in the chevron or herring bone pattern, and in many other similar designs, giving great variety to the facades.

• An attempt was also made to ornament the rough brick exteriors by the use of stone bands and v decorative arches.

• Walls were sheeted internally with marble and vaults and domes with colored glass mosaics on a golden background



• In construction technology, the greatest contribution during the Early Christian and Byzantine era was the discovery of the pendentives and Dome on pendentives

Pendentives

• It is a curved support shaped like an inverted triangle.

• It is used to hold a dome. • Using pendentives, Byzantine architects

could build a higher and wider dome.

• Using pendentives and Dome on pendentive, Byzantine architects were able to adapt the circular profile of a dome roof to a square plan • By using several overlapping domes, Byzantine architects were able to create an intricate interior structural system and external roof system • Intricate interior structural systems combined with decoration and lighting created fascinating interior effects



• The Early Christian and Byzantine period saw the most extensive use of clerestory windows • From early basilica churches to Byzantine churches, clerestory windows were used to provide lighting in the interior of churches and together with decoration enabled the creation of interesting interiors



• It is possible to understand forces and principles shaping Early Christian and Byzantine architecture by examining the following issues: – Religious Ritual – Symbolism – Construction Technology


Principals of organizations

Religious Rituals • The various ritual that comprise Christian religious worship played a fundamental part in the evolution of the Christian place of worship • Design closely mirror rituals of the religion • The initial choice of the Basilica was because of its easy adaptability to a Christian church • Later when practices started changing, the alternative church forms evolved • Ritual practices and function played a more significant influence on church form during the Early Christian period than during the Byzantine period


Principals of organizations -

Symbolism • Symbolism also played a significant role in the evolution of the form of the Christian church • Spirituality and mysticism were integrated into the experience of church spaces • During Christian architecture, Symbolism in the experience of space become a predominant issue in design • The use of light and decoration to create fascinating interiors but function still predominated



Symbolism • During the Byzantine period the Church itself became a symbol of the faith • The Church is viewed as a house of god and its design and construction as a reflection of this symbolism • The scale of the church was therefore increased and its decoration became more complex • In this respect we see a contrast between an overriding emphasis in Early Christian architecture on function and rituals, and in Byzantine architecture on symbolism



Construction Technology • Construction technology was a major influence on Church form during the Early Christian and Byzantine period • The Basilica was chosen during the Early Christian period partly for its ease of construction • Ease of construction means places of worship could be provided for the expanding believers • During the Byzantine era, discovery of pendentives and dome on pedentives changed technology for church construction • Provided means to achieve church forms that reflected the significance of churches as house of God



Reference : 1. http://opencourseware.kfupm.edu.sa/colleges/ced/arc/arc110/

files/Lecture_Slides_Module_8_ECB.pdf 2. http://www.slideshare.net/BinumolTom/byzantine-

architecture-14165924 3. https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/test-

3/deck/10586103 4. http://jayrichardson.onmason.com 5. www.wikipedia.com 6. www.google.com


http://opencourseware.kfupm.edu.sa/colleges/ced/arc/arc110/files/Lecture_Slides_Module_8_ECB.pdf




http://www.slideshare.net/BinumolTom/byzantine-architecture-14165924







https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/test-3/deck/10586103




http://jayrichardson.onmason.com/



http://www.wikipedia.com/

http://www.google.com/

Date post:	14-Jan-2017
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Byzantine Architecture

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