Early Christian Architecture

Early Christian Architecture

Architectural Character :
Simplicity in Design
Coarseness in execution
 The most crucial period of Christianity was the
first three centuries A.D.
 Officially recognized as the state religion of
Rome in 326 A.D. by the Roman Emperor
 Constantine Replaced Paganism
 First Christian architecture was modest in
scope and served two needs:
 Provided a space for spiritual needs of the living

Provided a burial place for the dead

Early Christian Architecture

Rectangular in plan w/a high colonaded

nave lift by a clerestory ,covered by
a timbered gable roof .

The covered walk of

an atrium or cloister
A basin for a ritual cleansing
with water In the atrium

The portico before the

nave , for penitents
An inner narthex when
two are present
 Early Christian Architecture

ATRIUM
NARTHEX
AISLE
NAVE
 Early Christian Architecture
Early Christian Architecture
BASILICA
Early Christian Architecture Early Christian Architecture
 Early Christian Architecture
 Early Christian meeting places were actually set-up in
pre -existing apartments or homes
 These locations were known as titilus
 Most were rebuilt into full scale churches
 Best known early Christian architecture are the burial
places, known as catacombs
 Early Christians were quite poor
 Burial was provided in individual “shelf ” tombs or
private family chambers
 Usually located beneath churches
Catacombs are ancient,
human-made subterranean
passageways for burial or
protection . Any chamber
used as a burial place can
be described as a catacomb.
 Early Christian Architecture
 Open air cemeteries were also in existence
 Actually preferred over the dreary catacombs
 Vatican Hill
 Modest monument of the late second century

 Said to have marked the grave of Saint Peter

 Now occupied by the church of Saint Peter

Vatican Hill (known, in Latin, as Vaticanus Mons) is a Roman hill

located on the opposite side of the Tiber River from the more
commonly known "seven hills" of Rome. Historians are not
certain, but it may have been the site of Vaticum, an ancient
Etruscan town.
 Early Christian Architecture

During the 1st cent.A.D.,Vatican Hill was not inside the city limits
of Rome.It has a cemetery & a circus arena (the circus of Nero,
originally founded by Caligula). St. Peter was crucified, upside
down, at the circus & was then buried in the nearby cemetery.
 Rome and the Holy Land

 Roman Structures
 Lateran
 Constantine donated this structure to be seat
of the Bishop of Rome (The Pope)
 Built around 313 A.D., prior to the official
establishment of Christianity in Rome
 The 1st imp’t. Christian structure in Rome
 Has been rebuilt,leaving only its foundations
& historical evidence as to its original form
 Early Christian Architecture
 Roman Structures
 (Old) St. Peters Church
 Considered the most imp’t. basilican church
built by Constantine
 Building began around 333 A.D.
 Located on the slope of the Vatican Hill ,Rome
 Covers a cemetery & features a shrine to Saint
 Peter, whom is presumably buried there
 Rome and the Holy Land

 Structures in the Holy Lands

 Constantine also built many structures in the
Holy Lands
 Church of the Nativity
 Built in Bethlehem as a shrine to honor Christ
 Replaced in the sixth century A.D. with the
modern structure
 Very similar to St. Peters but on a much smaller
scale
Rome and the Holy Land
 Early Christian Architecture
Rome and the Holy Land
 Structures in the Holy Lands
 Church of the Holy Sepulcher
 Built to honor the burial place of Christ
 More elaborate than the Church of the Nativity
 Had been instructed by Constantine to be

 “a basilica more beautiful than any on Earth”

 Surrounded the Holy Sepulcher

 Believed to be the burial place of Christ
 Early Christian Architecture

Original Plan, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Early Christian Architecture
 Early Christian Architecture

Dome, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
 Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna
Structures in Milan
 Church of the Holy Apostles
 St. Ambrose laid out the design of this
church
 A huge, cross-shaped structure
 Housed relics of the apostles in a
silver casket beneath the main altar
 Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna
Structures in Milan
 Church of S. Lorenzo
 Built around 370 A.D.
 Most scholars believe that it was used
as the official chapel of the Imperial
Palace in Milan
 Based on a Constantinian model
Milan and Ravenna
 Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna
Ravenna
 In 402, Emperor Honorius transferred the
Western Capitol from Milan to Ravenna
 Ravenna became the residence of the
Ostrogoth king Theodoric and his followers
 Maintained close contact with Byzantine East
(the Eastern Empire based in Constantinople)
 Gained much influence fr.the East Architecture
 Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna

 Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Built around 425 A.D.

 Featured a cross-shaped plan Small and preserved
 Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna
 Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna

 Structures in Ravenna
 Orthodox Babtistery
 Built between 400 – 450 A.D
 Featured a wealth of internal

ornamentation on the wall surfaces

 Uncommon at this time

 Features a dome overhead that depicts

the baptism of Christ

Early Christian Architecture
Milan and Ravenna
 Milan and Ravenna
 Structures in Ravenna
 Tomb of King Theodoric
 Reflects the unique political and cultural status of
Ravenna during this time period
 Features a two storied interior
 Cruciform chamber below

 Circular structure above

 Probably required laborers from Syria who, at the

time, were the only people versed in the
technique of massive ashlar construction
Milan and Ravenna
Early Christian Architecture
Early Christian Architecture
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland