Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture Architectural

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Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

• Architectural History
• ACT 322
• Doris Kemp

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Topics

• Early Christian Architecture
• Rome Structures
• Structures in the Holy Lands
• Milan Structures
• Ravenna Structures
• Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland

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Early Christian Architecture

• The most crucial period of Christianity was the
  first three centuries A.D.
• Officially recognized as the state religion of
  Rome in 326 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine
• Replaced Paganism
• First Christian architecture was modest in scope
  and served two needs
• Provided a space for spiritual needs of the
  living
• Provided a burial place for the dead

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Early Christian Architecture

• Early Christian meeting places were actually
  set-up in preexisting apartments or homes
• These locations were known as titilus
• Most were rebuilt into full scale churches
• Best known early Christian architecture are the
  burial places, known as catacombs
• Early Christians were quite poor
• Burial was provided in individual shelf tombs
  or private family chambers
• Usually located beneath churches

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Early Christian Architecture

• Open air cemeteries were also in existence
• Actually preferred over the dreary catacombs
• Vatican Hill
• Modest monument of the late second century
• Said to have marked the grave of Saint Peter
• Now occupied by the church of Saint Peter

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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land

• Roman Structures
• Lateran
• Constantine donated this structure to be seat of
  the Bishop of Rome (The Pope)
• Built around 313 A.D., prior to the official
  establishment of Christianity in Rome
• The first important Christian structure in Rome
• Has been rebuilt, leaving only its foundations
  and historical evidence as to its original form

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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land

• Roman Structures
• (Old) St. Peters Church
• Considered the most important basilican church
  built by Constantine
• Building began around 333 A.D.
• Located on the slope of the Vatican Hill in Rome
• Covers a cemetery and features a shrine to Saint
  Peter, whom is presumably buried there

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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land

• Structures in the Holy Lands
• Constantine also built many structures in the
  Holy Lands
• Church of the Nativity
• Built in Bethlehem as a shrine to honor Christ
• Replaced in the sixth century A.D. with the
  modern structure
• Very similar to St. Peters but on a much smaller
  scale

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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land

• Structures in the Holy Lands
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• Built to honor the burial place of Christ
• More elaborate than the Church of the Nativity
• Had been instructed by Constantine to be a
  basilica more beautiful than any on Earth
• Surrounded the Holy Sepulcher
• Believed to be the burial place of Christ

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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land

• Structures in the Holy Lands
• Anastasis Rotunda
• Located in Jerusalem
• Built to honor the resurrection of Christ
• Middle Age representations of Christs tomb are
  almost all based on this structure
• Built by Constantine, or possibly his sons, in
  the fourth century A.D.
• An addition to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

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Early Christian ArchitectureRome and the Holy
Land
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureMilan and Ravenna

• Milan
• Emerged as a major architectural center in the
  early Christian period
• After Constantine moved the seat of the Roman
  Empire to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul),
  Milan became the capitol of the Western Empire,
  replacing Rome.
• A number of important churches were built after
  Milan was recognized as the spiritual capitol of
  the West

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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna

• Structures in Milan
• Church of the Holy Apostles
• St. Ambrose laid out the design of this church
• A huge, cross-shaped structure
• Housed relics of the apostles in a silver casket
  beneath the main altar

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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna

• Structures in Milan
• Church of S. Lorenzo
• Built around 370 A.D.
• Most scholars believe that it was used as the
  official chapel of the Imperial Palace in Milan
• Based on a Constantinian model

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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna

• Ravenna
• In 402, Emperor Honorius transferred the Western
  Capitol from Milan to Ravenna
• Ravenna became the residence of the Ostrogoth
  king Theodoric and his followers
• Maintained close contact with Byzantine East (the
  Eastern Empire based in Constantinople)
• Gained much influence from the East ion
  architecture

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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna

• Structures in Ravenna
• Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
• Built around 425 A.D.
• Featured a cross-shaped plan
• Small but perfectly preserved

Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna

• Structures in Ravenna
• Orthodox Babtistery
• Built between 400 450 A.D
• Featured a wealth of internal ornamentation on
  the wall surfaces
• Uncommon at this time
• Features a dome overhead that depicts the baptism
  of Christ

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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna

• Structures in Ravenna
• Tomb of King Theodoric
• Reflects the unique political and cultural status
  of Ravenna during this time period
• Features a two storied interior
• Cruciform chamber below
• Circular structure above
• Probably required laborers from Syria who, at the
  time, were the only people versed in the
  technique of massive ashlar construction

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Early Christian Architecture Milan and Ravenna
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland

• Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
• Hagios Demetrios
• Salonika, Greece
• Considered the most imposing early Christian
  church in the Greek-speaking eastern
  Mediterranean
• Has been restored after a fire in 1917 A.D.

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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland

• Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
• St. Simeon Stylites
• Located in Qalat Siman, Syria
• Built around 470
• Constructed of heavy ashlar masonry
• Grandiose in size, but simple in scheme

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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland

• Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
• Church in Qalb Louzeh
• Located in Syria
• Built around 500 A.D.
• Hints at the beginnings of the Romanesque style
  of architecture

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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland
Photo Sullivan
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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland

• Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
• The early Christian structures in the Rhineland
  laid the foundations for later Medieval
  architecture
• Rhineland maintained close architectural ties
  with Milan
• St. Gereon
• Located in Cologne
• Originally constructed as a double cathedral
• Underwent major reconstruction in 380

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Early Christian ArchitectureGreece, Syria, and
the Rhineland
Photo Sullivan
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References

• Sullivan, Mary http//www.bluffton.edu/sullivanm
  /
• http//www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/wdpt1.htm
  l
• Trachtenburg/Hyman Architecture From Prehistory
  to Postmodernity
• Wodehouse/Moffett A History of Western
  Architecture

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Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

• Architectural History
• ACT 322
• Doris Kemp