BYZANTINE

ARCHITECTURE

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 BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
“Simplicity and Richness”

Simplicity – in external design w/c resulted

in the use of clay & rubble
Richness - in internal treatment importing
“marble”
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BYZANTIUM also known as NEW ROME
 Characteristic Features
1. Characterized by large pendentives
supported domes to cover polygonal and
square.
2. Plans for churches & baptisteries; rounded
arches, elaborated columns with colors
3. Features the group of small domes or semi-
domes around a large central dome.
4. Extensive use of “mosaic decoration”
5. They don’t use campanile and atrium in their
mosques.
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EXAMPLES
OF BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

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HAGIA
SOPHIA
“CHURCH OF THE DIVINE
WISDOM”

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HAGIA SOPHIA
Constantinople, Istanbul

Most important mosque in Constantinople with

107 multi-colored columns.

• Architects: Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Milletus

• Rose on the site of 2 successive Basilican churches of the
same name
• Perfection of Byzantine style
• Later converted into a mosque
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The Hagia Sophia’s most impressive
feature is its enormous interior space
that it encloses. Having a dome 31m
across and reaching a height of 56m
extended by series of vaulted spaces,
pushing walls further out until the
dome appears to be hanging in the air
One of the base of the dome is a row
of 40 windows that illuminate all the
surroundings creating an impression
of light and a weightlessness space
within the church.
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End

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