EARLY CHRISTIAN

&
BYZANTINE
330 AD - 1453

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BIRTH AND SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
•Christianity found its birth in the city of Bethlehem. Until the birth of Christianity the universal religion in all
civilizations was based on pagan beliefs and the worship of nature.
•Christianity began in and around the region of Jerusalem and Palestine spreading to the Roman Empire around the
3rd c. AD
•Christianity spread chiefly among the underprivileged in those commercial centers visited by Jewish traders.
•By the early 2nd c. AD its adherents were found in all parts of the society
•By the 3rd c. AD it had become numerous enough to be a threat in the Roman Empire during the period of Diocletianst
significant happening, which led to the spread of Christianity, was the role of Constantine’s decision to recognize
Christianity as a religion equal to all others in 313 AD
•Choosing to rule primarily from Constantinople (Byzantium) in the eastern empire in 324 AD
Spread of Christianity:
•Constantine’s decision to recognize Christianity & ruling from the East
•Revival by Charlemagne under the name of the Holy Empire by Pope Leo III in 800
•Growing prestige of the S Peter in the Christian West- a prestige confirmed by the growing wealth and temporal power
filling the vacuum left by the Roman Empire
•The only threat for the spread was from the Persians on the East despite the existence of semi independent
Christian state of Armenia
•Expansion of the Byzantine empire to cover Northern Africa, southern Spain and Italy
•They were affected badly due to the Arab attacks leading to the loss of Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem, N.Africa, Armenia
& Asia Minor, even Spain by the 7th c.AD
•Thus the Byzantine empire fell to the Turks
•But this was not the end for the Orthodox church which survived through the Turkish occupation
•Also survived in Russia
•The coronation of Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 marked the beginning of the new era with the
Romanesque period in Europe
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BIRTH AND SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
•Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine empire. The empire emerged
gradually after AD 330, when Constantine moved the capital of the Roman empire to
Byzantium, which was later renamed Constantinople and is now Istanbul.
•a style emerged which was influenced more by the architecture of the near east, and used the
Greek cross plan for the church architecture which mostly stands today.

• Brick replaced stone,

• classical orders were used more freely,
• mosaics replaced carved decoration, and
• complex domes were erected.

•The various building typologies in EARLY CHRISTIAN were as follows:

•Churches
•Commemorative structures
•Covered cemeteries
•Baptisteries
•The other periods are:
•BYZANTINE DURING JUSTINIANS PERIOD (6th C.)
•BYZANTINE AFTER JUSTINIAN/ LATER BYZANTINE

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 EVOLUTION OF CHURCH FORMS

The invention of the Christian church was achieved by a process of assimilating and rejecting various
precedents, such as the
•Greek temple,
•Roman public building,
•Private Roman house, and the
•Synagogue.
Early Christian Architecture consisted of various building typologies in:
•Churches
•Commemorative structures
•Covered cemeteries
•Baptisteries

Evolution:
•The 1st Christians had the Synagogue as a place of worship
•When the Jews severed their ties with the Christians, there was a need for a large space for prayer, and the
Liturgy of the Eucharist
•By the 3rd c. purpose built churches and adaptations of existing buildings
•There were requirements for spaces for activities such as the Eucharist, Baptism
•Thus forms were chosen which was suitable without much of modification
•Thus the Basilica was chosen

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PARTS OF A TYPICAL CHURCH

6. Crossing.
1. Narthex.(covered porch)
7. Altar.
2. Façade towers.
8. Apse.
3. Nave.
9. Ambulatory.
4. Aisles.
10. Radiating chapels.
5. Transept.

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PARTS OF A TYPICAL CHURCH

TYPICAL LAYOUT IN TYPICAL LAYOUT IN TYPICAL LAYOUT IN A

EASTERN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT “FREE CHURCH”
CHURCHES LITHURGICAL CHURCHES BAPTIST CHURCH
OF WEST

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
Early Christian Architecture:
1. BASILICAL CHURCH developed from Roman secular basilica or axial, type,
represented by the basilica at the Holy Sepulchre
2. CENTRALISED type from Roman tombs.
These were nearly always vaulted, with a central dome
The central space was sometimes surrounded by a very thick wall, in which deep
recesses, to the interior, were formed, as at the noble church of St George, Salonica
Vaulted aisle, as at St Costanza, Rome (4th century)
Annexes were thrown out from the central space in such a way as to form a cross, in
which these additions helped to counterpoise the central vault, as at the mausoleum of
Galla Placidia, Ravenna (5th century).
The most famous church of this type was that of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople.
Vaults appear to have been early applied to the basilican type of plan; for instance, at
St Irene, Constantinople (6th century), the long body of the church is covered by two
domes.

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAN CHURCH FORM
•Developed from Roman secular basilica or
axial, type, represented by the basilica at the
Holy Sepulcher
•These were timber roofed rectangular halls with
colonnaded central space with aisles and galleries
above
•The main space was higher than the aisles giving
options of clerestory lighting and 1 or more apses
for legal transactions
•This form could be varied in size and form
•The only limitation was the span of the central
space.
•Seating could be provided in the apse for the
clergy as it had been for the magistrate
•The altar could be placed in the front there had
been a small altar for libations
•An atrium was added in front of the temple
(typical of the roman house) with a fountain at the
center
•In the interiors a open screen separated the nave BALDACHINO
from the sanctuary known as the Iconostasis
•This was surmounted by a canopy known as the
Baldachino or the Ciborium AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
CENTRALISED CHURCH FORM
•The possible prototypes for this form could be the circular temple
(Pantheon) and the centralized audience hall or garden pavilion (Minerva
Medica) which was typical of a roman palace
•This form varied from a completely circular form to a more complex lobed
(tetraconch or 4 lobed) form set within a square or an octagon
•These were nearly always vaulted, with a central dome
•The central space was sometimes surrounded by a very thick wall, in which
deep recesses, to the interior, were formed, as at the noble church of St George,
Salonica Vaulted aisle, as at San Costanza, Rome (4th century)
•Annexes were thrown out from the central space in such a way as to form a
cross, in which these additions helped to counterpoise the central vault, as at
the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna (5th century).
•The most famous church of this type was that of the Holy Apostles,
Constantinople.
•A simple circular, octagonal or centralised form was chosen for the
Baptistery
•In the west the aisle continued around the apse forming an ambulatory
•In addition to all these the cross shaped plan was also adopted with 4 arms
leading to the transept and the crossing usually surmounted by a dome
•There are 2 types of cross plans in churches
•The one with equal arms referred to as the Greek cross and the other known
as the Roman cross

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES –
LATERAN BASILICA ROME
•Constantine's 1st church commission
•Basilica with a wide nave terminating in an apse
•Double aisles at each side
•The inner aisles were taller than the outer
•Shallow projecting wings which cut the ends of the outer aisles short
•Serving purpose similar to that of modern sacristies
•Tall nave colonnade carrying horizontal entablatures
•Lower aisles carry arcades
•No galleries
•Gilt ceilings, silver altars ,
•Coloured marble columns, Wall facings

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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 4th c.
CHURCH OF HOLY SEPULCHRE, JERUSALEM
•Constantines most important church foundation in the East
•Consisted of: ANASTHASIS
•ANASTHASIS (Greek: Resurrection ) ROTUNDA
ROTUNDA
•Porticoed court
•Rock of Calvary PORTICOED COURT
•Martyrium basilica
•Serves as a cathedral CALVARY
•Double aisles on each side
•Galleries MARTYRIUM BASILICA
•The altar is encircled by 12 columns
•Set tightly against the walls of the apse
•Outer atrium

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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 6th c.
CHURCH OF NATIVITY, BETHLEHEM
Present Basilica
Teriminates in a triconch arrangement
Central apse
2 similar transept arms
Original Basilica
Octagon with a conical roof in place
of the triconch
In the center was the Grotto of Nativity

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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 4th c.
BASILICA OF S PETERS
•The present church was rebuilt on a totally different design
•On an enlarged scale
•Church:
•Constructed over a cemetery
•Extended over an earlier circus
•CIBORIUM like canopy had
barley sugar twisted columns
•These columns are now set into great piers
that carry Michelangelo's dome
•Dome:Raised over S Peters tomb
•A broad platform – BEMA,
extended to each side of the dome
•Apse projected westwards
•Basilica- 210’ x 295’
•Double aisles
•22 huge antique columns support nave walls
•22 shorter columns divide aisles from aisles
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AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 4th c.
CHURCH OF HOLY APOSTLES CONSTANTINOPLE

BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 4th c.

CEMETERY OF S AGNESE

Cross shapes
4 arms meet in a crossing space
Symbolic stele erected to represent the apostles
Large court around

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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 3th c.
•Square in plan
S STEFANO ROTONDA, ROME
•Opened out by exedra(apse or niche)
•2 storey ambulatory
•Towers at 4 corners of square
•Central square roofed by a groined vault
•Atrium at the front of narthex,
approached through a colonnade
•Subsidiary octagonal structures grouped
around church
•The only structure to depart from the
Rectangular basilican plan
•Light conical roof above central space
•Column below could not carry dome
•Transverse arcade added
•Walls in marble

BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES

S LORENZO, MILAN

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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 3th c.
CHURCH OF HOLY APOSTLES, MILAN
•The cross consisted of long aisles and nave
•2 arms project from the naves
•He altar is at the center of the cross
•Each arm of the cross focused into it
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BASILICAL PLAN CHURCHES – 3th c.
CHURCH OF S SABINA, ROME
•The core is an octagon
•The diagonal sides are expanded
•At the center is the saints column
•Each arm had a grater width by
means of aisles
•Triple apses at the E arm end
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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
CENTRALISED PLAN CHURCHES CENTRALISED PLAN CHURCHES
CATHEDRAL BOSRA 6TH C. SANTA CONSTANZA,ROME 6TH C.

•Fully centralised cathedral

•Had a central square expanded by
•Mausoleum converted to a church
Exedra
•For Constantine's daughter
•Surrounded by an ambulatory
•Circular form
•Further exedra like projections form an
•Central domed circular space
ambulatory
•surrounded by an ambulatory
•Which is enclosed in a square outer wall
•Barrel vault roof
•Outer square wall is interrupted by 3
apses in the E
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 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE-CHURCH FORMS
CENTRALISED PLAN CHURCHES
NOCERA BAPTISTERY

Octagonal plan
Central space between columns
Supported a timber roof

Santa constanza

•Has a fountain in the center CENTRALISED PLAN CHURCHES

•Ring of coupled columns LATERAN BAPTISTERY, ROME
support the central dome AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
S CLEMENTE, ROME ( 4th c/rebuilt in early 12th c.)
•The most interesting e.g.. Of the continued use of Roman Basilican Plan
•The original church in 380 AD was rebuilt in 12the c
•A substantial portion of the earlier church still exists below the floor
•The width of the structure was reduced during the rebuilding
•The fine marble floor and the mosaic do not belong to the early Christian
PLANNING:
•The entrance is on the E through a small porch
•The porch leads to the Atrium with a fountain at the center
•From the Ambulatory is an entrance to the convent . Behind the atrium is the rectangular nave
where the crowd gathered
•An aisle on both sides flanks the nave . There is a colonnade separating the nave and the aisle
•Towards the end of the nave is the Choir with the
•Epistle ambo on the right
•Gospel ambo on the left
•Behind the choir to the west lies the Sanctuary at the apsidal end
•In front of the sanctuary is the Altar
•There is a balustrade between the choir and the sanctuary

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
S CLEMENTE, ROME ( 4th c/rebuilt in early 12th c.)

GOSPEL AMBO

AMBULATORY AISLE

ATRIUM
PORCH FOUNTAIN NAVE CHOIR SANCTUARY

AISLE

CHANCEL EPISTLE AMBO ALTAR

ENTRANCE TO
CONVENT

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 Mithras
The Mithraeum beneath the
church of S. Clemente is one of the
artificial underground caves where
those who were initiated in the cult
of Mithras celebrated their festivals,
such as the birth of the god on 25
December.
•The Mithraeum underneath the S.
Clemente was built inside a late-first
century house in the late second
century. The relief shows how the Presbyterium
god killed the devilish bull, the
central part of his myth.
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AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
BYZANTINE DURING JUSTINIAN
S SOPHIA ( HAGIA SOPHIA/divine wisdom) CONSTANTINOPLE 532-537AD

Justinian's principle commission

•Dedicated to Christ
•Known as Megale Ecclesia or Great Church
Site:
•Located on the site of 2 earlier churches
•Along the principal axis of the city
square
•The 1st church by Constantine in 360
burnt in 404
•The 2nd by Theodorus II 415 burnt 532
•Greatest vaulted space without
intermediate supports through the
Layout history of the byzantine empire
Basilica with a double aisle and gallery
The 2nd church had an atrium and propylae
Designed by Anthemius and Isodorus
Features: masterly geometric ordering of space and vaults
the dome collapsed 30 yrs. later and rebuilt

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 Planning:
•70m x 75m
•Projecting apse at the E end
•Double Narthex
•Atrium on the W ( destroyed)
•The planning of the Hagia
Sophia is based on the
centralised plan & basilican
•At the Center is a square 31.2m
with a dome carried on
pendentives
•These Pendentives are between
semicircular arches carried on
piers just outside the square
•Other piers face these piers
across the aisle
•Between the main piers and the secondary piers the hemicycles •These help to resist the outward
open into smaller semicircular Exedrae thrust of the dome in NS
•There is a single aisle on each side •There are 2 Semidomes of equal
•Above the aisle and the inner Narthex are Galleries
dia. To the main dome carried on
•The inward projection of the piers was a later addition when the
horizontal forces generated above had begun to push the piers aside piers along the EW walls
•The inner boundaries are different in different bays because of the •Below the semidomes are great
great hemicycles, exedrae AR2202 /HOA- III HemicyclesAr. thatSHARMILI
double the EW
extent of the nave
 Columns:
•These run between the piers around the nave to
carry the aisle and gallery vaults
•There are further columns between the aisles and
the galleries
•Monolithic shafts with bronze collars of white
Proconnesian marble
•The columns at the nave are of green Thessalian
marble
•Red Porphyry at the exedra at the gr. Level
•The capitals are of different designs with carved
cornices
•The arrangement of the columns at the 2 levels
runs around the nave at the gallery level
Colonnades:
•Central colonnade-straight
•Around exedrae- curved
•These are closely spaced
Cornice:
Above the 2nd cornices are the springing of the
main semi domes, smaller semi domes over the
exedrae and the arches that carry the dome
•The semi domes are ¼ of a sphere with a flattened crown
with 5 windows
•Originally 40 windows lit the main dome
•Below the main axis at N & S are window filled walls
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Materials:
The main structure was partly built of large well fitted
blocks of Limestone and local Granite
Partly Brick
Pier – Ashlar for lower levels
Brick for higher levels •No Pastophoria (rooms of apses for the clergy)
Vaults- Brick •Preparation for the consecration in a separate
Brickwork – mortar joints were almost as chamber in the N called the Skeuophlyakion
thick as the bricks
-Contributed to the collapse

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 •The Altar was canopied behind the
Chancel screen
•The great Ambo was set further
under the dome connected to the
chancel by a screened passageway
•Buttresses were added to the
exterior for the dome and the vaults
later
•Provisions for the Mosque
•Flying buttresses also added
The museum garden has replaced the
atrium
DECORATION IN INTERIORS

•Multicoloured marble facings

•Gold and mosaic at the aisles and the Narthex
vaults
•Bulky buttresses added to the outer walls
•Original furnishings in gold & silver with
precious stones have disapperared
The nave is divided into horizontal bands by
colonnades and cornices
Aisle varied bay shapes, columns, colours,AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
heights, varying glimpses of the nave
 Additions for reconstruction:
•The original dome was lower
than present
•The square base the dome stands
on were also lower
•The heights were increased later
•The main Semidomes were
constructed later
•Western semidome - 10th c.
•Eastern dome – 14th c.
•Patriarchal palace in the SW
corner of the church and south
side
•No Pastophoria (rooms of apses
for the clergy)
•Preparation for the consecration
in a separate chamber in the N
called the Skeuophlyakion

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 BYZANTINE DURING JUSTINIAN
S SOPHIA ( HAGIA SOPHIA/divine wisdom) CONSTANTINOPLE 532-537AD
METHODOLOGY OF CONSTRUCTION OF DOMES –
Pendentive System
•Drawing a circle inside a square leaves 4 rough triangles at
the corners
•When a dome was constructed over a square, it was these 4
corners that had to bridged either in stone, brick or concrete
•On a small scale various devices were used
•Eg. A simple stone slab from wall to wall
•On a large scale a structural element was essential
•This resulted in the “Pendentive”
•The pendentive is a small triangular segment of the dome rising
from each corner of the square
•These meet to form a circle upon which the true dome is built
•The transformation from a square to circle is the pendentive
system used in the Byzantine
•The ribbed vault, buttress were used in gothic architecture
•This led to large no. of permutations and combinations of dome
buildings
•Instead of one central dome, a whole series of square bays each
with its own dome could be set producing a cluster of domes

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BYZANTINE DURING JUSTINIAN
S VITALE, RAVENNA 540-548AD
•Followed the Centralised plan
•Strong Byzantine character
•Italy was ruled by Ostragoths in 521-532
•Fell under Justinian a decade later
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Planning:
•Domed octagonal core
•Ground level ambulatory with a gallery
•Dome:
•The crown is 6m high
•Impression of the height is reinforced by
emphasis on the verticality of the piers
•Contrast with the emphasis on horizontal
by cornices at the piers at the gallery level
•The central space is 54’9” in dia.
•Large exedrae open from the central space
•There is one exedra between each pair of
piers except at the east end where deeper
opening is provided with an apse
•The outer wall of the ambulatory is
octagonal
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CONSTRUCTION:
•The dome of the church is constructed out of hollow
tubes
•It has a tiled timber roof wherein the normal practice in
Constantinople was to cover the vault and the dome
with lead laid on brickwork
•It was only by raising a dome on a drum that it could
have greater height
•This church has retained most of its original character
in mosaic and the vaults at the chancel
•There is a lifesize representation of Justinian with his
consort Theodora AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
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AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
BYZANTINE DURING JUSTINIAN
S MARKS, VENICE 1063-1073 & LATER AD

•The church is an enlarged reconstruction of an

earlier one with a cross shaped plan built in 830
AD
•It was built to receive the relics of the Apostle
Mark from Alexandria
•The layout is similar to the Holy apostle
Church at Constantinople AR2202 /HOA- III Ar. SHARMILI
 •The plan is of 5 domes on a group of 4 piers
•It originally had a simple covering of lead as
weather protection
•By mid 13c. It was given a more impressive
external profile by addition of outer timber
framed domes
•The narthex was extended around each side of
the nave
•The Baptistery is on the S making the aisles
dark
•The galleries were hence reduced to walkways
the interiors were rich in surface and finish

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