The Dark Ages

 Early Christian & Byzantine Era

 Constantine became emperor of Rome, and issued the Edict of Milan.
 The rise of Christianity
 The transfer of the capital from Rome to to Byzantium
 Justinian’s rule became the Golden Age of Byzantine culture and art.

Architecture
 Basilicas- became a legal place of worship after the Edict of Milan issued by Constantine

 Apse- a projecting part of the building, especially of a church, usually semi-circular and
topped by a half-dome or vault
 Narthex- a porch or a vestibule in Early Christian churches
 Nave- the long, narrow central area used to house the congregation
 Transept- the cross arm in a Christian church placed at right angles to the nave.

Centrally Planned Buildings

 Could be round or polygonal. They were developed from the Roman baths, radiated from
a central point and were surmounted by a dome.
 They contained a central altar or tomb and a cylindrical core with clerestory windows and
an ambulatory.

o Ambulatory- a circular barrel-vaulted passage, which ran between the central

space and the exterior walls.
 Martyrium- sanctuaries that enshrines a relic/tomb a martyr.
 Christians objected to cremation, insisted on burial on consecrated ground
 usually domed with lavish mosaic decorations
 Mausoleum a large architectural tomb
 Baptisteries
 separate or adjoined atrium
 occasionally used old Roman circular temples and tombs, enlarged by surrounding it one-
storey aisle enclosed by outer wall supporting lower roof

Architectural Landmarks
 San Vitale in Ravenna is a large octagonal building with a dome over the central core
 The Hagia Sophia (‘Holy Wisdom’)
o The undisputed architectural masterpiece of Justinian’s reign.
o It was planned by two mathematicians, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidoros of
Miletus, who successfully combined elements of the basilica with enormous
rising vaults
o Used pendentives in its design.

 Domes, Pendentives & Squinches

o Pendentives- these are inwardly curving triangular sections of
vaulting between walls or arches set at right angles

o Squinches- small single arches built across the corners of a square or

polygonal space.
 Art
 Early Christian iconography
o Cross
o Fish (ichtus)
o Lamb
o Chi-rho, alpha, omega
o Wreaths
o Grapes
o Doves

 Mosaic
 Iconoclastic Controversy (8th-9th century)- argued that images of holy figures were
tantamount to idolatry.
 The iconoclasts (breakers of images)- permitted religious art to depict designs, patterns,
animal or plant forms but not human figures.