CHAPTER VII

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE
4TH CENTURY – 6TH CENTURY A.D.
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire,
also known as the Later Roman or Eastern Roman Empire. Byzantine
architecture was mostly influenced by Roman and Greek architecture. It
began with Constantine the Great when he rebuilt the city of Byzantium
and named it Constantinople and continued with his building of churches
and the forum of Constantine. This terminology is used by modern
historians to designate the medieval Roman Empire as it evolved as a
distinct artistic and cultural entity centered on the new capital of
Constantinople rather than the city of Rome and environs. The empire
endured for more than a millennium. Its architecture dramatically
influenced the later medieval architecture throughout Europe and the
Near East, and became the primary progenitor of the Renaissance and
Ottoman architectural traditions that followed its collapse.
GEOGRAPHICAL
From Byzantine, Constantine
renamed it to Constantinople,
now as “Istanbul” and also
called “New Rome”. It was the
Arc hitecture of the Eastern
Ro m a n E m p i r e w h i c h wa s
derived from Early Christian
and Late Roman antecedent in
the 4th century.
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

No good building stones and local materials such as

clay for bricks and rubble for concrete were used.
Marble was also used but mostly imported materials.

CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
Semi– tropical thus flat roofs was used and combined
with domes to counter- act the New Empire.
RELIGIOUS

Political division between east and west, followed by

the division of churches due to “iconoclastic movement”
(decree to ban the use of statues as means of
representations either of human or animal forms) and
this made painting figures in decoration a substitute.
Early Christian Basilica was merged with the domical
system of the Byzantine.
SOCIAL & POLITICAL

Ways of life and corrupt conditions contributed

greatly to the fall of Roman Empire. Prominent Figures
considered movers of this Architecture:
1. Theodosius II -built several military gates and towers
(defense against the Goths & Huns) but cannot avoid
the Moslem or the Islamic people.
2. Justinian –responsible for rebuilding of St. Sophia
“Divine Wisdom “whic h now turned to a Moslem
Mosque.
HISTORICAL

From 5th to 11th Century

was one of the fluctuating
and gradually declining
fortunes. The spirit of the
Byzantine Empire persisted
even after the Empire had
fallen Constantine had
continued up to the present
day to the seat of Patriarch
of the Orthodox Church.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
A. Plan: Church plan is the same as in roman church but the atrium was removed.
main entrance is the narthex and in the Greek cross plan
B. Large Pendentives is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular
dome over a square room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room
C. Supported Domes
D. Round Arches
E. Column of the Hagia Sophia
F. Rich in decorative elements and color.
Billet molding Mosaic pattern (opus sec tile)
G. Absence of campanile

Basilica di San Marco Fonte Holy Trinity Monastery

H. Vertical Impression
I. STRUCTURES
HAGIA SOPHIA: The Greatest Example of Byzantine Architecture
HAGIA SOPHIA: INTERIOR
St. Mark's Basilica, Venice
St. Mark's Basilica, Venice
St. Mark's Basilica, Venice
St. Mark's Basilica, Venice (INTERIOR)