Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp

Topics Medieval Byzantine Architecture Structures of the Dark Ages Middle Byzantine Renaissance Late Byzantine Architecture Structures of the Dark Ages Structures of the Middle Byzantine Renassaince Structures of Late Byzantine

Byzantine Architecture: Medieval Architecture Medieval Byzantine architecture refers to Byzantine architecture after Justinian Divided into three periods The Dark Ages Middle Byzantium Renaissance Late Byzantium

Byzantine Architecture: Medieval Architecture The Dark Ages 610 – 842 A.D. Turbulent, architecturally meager time Byzantium’s energy was sapped fighting powerful invaders Fierce religious controversies over Iconoclasm A rejection of religious images depicting Christian figures

Byzantine Architecture: Medieval Architecture Middle Byzantium Renaissance 824 – 1204 The empire had been relatively stabilized and reached a peak in the flowering of the arts and architecture

Byzantine Architecture: Medieval Architecture Late Byzantium 1267 – 1453 The Paleologian Dynasty came to power in Byzantine Retained a surprisingly artistic creativity in architecture

Byzantine Architecture: Dark Ages Medieval Byzantine architecture becomes a strong style in Armenia during the late sixth and early seventh century A.D. This style is highly realized in the St. Hripsime at Vagharshapat, Armenia

Byzantine Architecture: Medieval Architecture St. Hripsime at Vagharshapat, Armenia Built in 618 A.D. Scheme embodied an intricate configuration of sharply defined spaces and volumes Features: Domed center Rectangular shell Built of Roman concrete but faced in massive ashlar masonry Provided a theme that most later mainstream medieval Byzantine architecture was based

Byzantine Architecture: Dark Ages Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance This period represented a fairly conservative approach to architecture Buildings served a common purpose A meeting place for Christians serving the ritual mass Features Domed-core Triple sanctuary to the East Ancillary shell of space around the other three sides Domes were used to represent Heaven, as in earlier structures

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance The most common medieval Byzantine church is known as a “cross-in-a-square” scheme Cross-shaped structure within a square or rectangular plan Examples: The Bodrum Camii in Constantinople Panaghia Chalkeon in Greece Church of Theotokos

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance The Bodrum Camii in Constantinople c. 920 Poorly preserved Embodies the cross-in-a-square theme Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance Panaghia Chalkeon Located in Greece c. 1028 Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance Church of Theotokos Located at the Monastery of Hosios Loukas in Phocis, Greece Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance Other plans during this period included: Octagon-domed plan Nea Moni in Chios Greek Cross-octagon Kathlikon Church at the Monastery of Hosios Loukas Church of the Dormition in Daphni

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance Nea Moni in Chios Imperial foundation built by Constantinopolitan architects between 1024 and 1056 A.D. Triple-domed Featured an inner-narthex with a single dome Octagon-domed plan Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance Kathlikon Church at the Monastery of Hosios Loukas c. 1020 One of the most brilliant Byzantine designs Interior is pervaded by light from many different sources Greek cross-octagon plan Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Middle Byzantine Renaissance Church of the Dormition in Daphni c. 1100 A.D. Greek cross-octagon plan Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Medieval Byzantine architecture was pushed to the limit during this period Some critics believe it was pushed beyond the point of where balance and harmony were possible, but into excess and mannerism Key Structures: Pantanassa in Mistra Parigoritissa Church at Arta Church in Gracanica, Yugoslavia

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Pantanassa in Mistra c. 1428 A.D. A domed-basilica Two Storied structure Lower story was a Western-style three-apsed, three-aisled basilica Upper story was a cross-in-a-sqare church

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Parigoritissa Church at Arta c. 1283 – 1296 Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Church in Gracanica, Yugoslavia c. 1318 – 1321 Considered one of the most intense and exaggerated structures in the Late Byzantine period Considered a double cross-in-a-square structure Outer foundations form a cross-in-a-square around the main structure, which is a cross-in-a-square

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Photo: Sullivan

Byzantine Architecture: Late Byzantine Architecture Photo: Sullivan

References Sullivan, Mary; http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/ Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernity Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture

Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture Architectural History ACT 322 Doris Kemp