Early Byzantium: The Art of the New Rome

Byzantion (Greek) or Byzantium (Latin) = Constantinople (“City of Constantine”) = “New Rome” = Istanbul

11 May 330 Inauguration of Constantinople as the New Rome 29 May 1453 Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks

Ivory panel with an emperor (most likely Justinian I) on horseback (the so-called Barberini Ivory), mid-6th century

Equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Rome, ca. 176 CE

Church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Constantinople/Istanbul, 532–537 and later

Architects: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus Plan of Hagia Sophia, 532–537 and later

Old St. Peter’s, Rome Santa Costanza, Rome

Dome on pendentives

Church of San Vitale (= St. Vitalis), Ravenna, 526–547

Mosaic decoration of the choir, San Vitale

Emperor Justinian, Bishop Maximianus, and attendants

Empress Theodora and her entourage

PATEN CHALICE

Christ, angels, St. Vitalis and Bishop Ecclesius