Byzantine Art and Buildings

Christ Pantocrator, mosaic from the Hagia Sophia

Roman Society Reorganizes!

The Maiden's Tower in Istanbul

With the death of Roman Emperor Constantine in 337 and increasing political turmoil, the Roman Empire splits, and the Western Roman Empire fragments and collapses in the 5th century. The Eastern Roman Empire, “Byzantium”, prospered for around a thousand years—reaching its height under Emperor Justinian—until it fell to the Ottomans in 1453. Byzantine architecture and styles of art began in the cosmopolitan capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul)—the only city in the world to ever exist on two continents.

map

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia aerial

The prime example of Byzantine architecture and pride is the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish) in Constantinople. Commissioned by Justinian and built in 532-537, it was the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to be built on the site. Four triangular pendentives supported by columns allowed a circular dome to be built on a square base. Minarets, towers used to call Muslims to prayer, were added in the 1400s. 

interior panorama

interior

Hagia Sophia at night

Iconoclasts

Literally “breaker of images”, Iconoclasts sought destruction of religious images they saw as idols. Preservationists obviously worked to preserve exiting pieces. In this difficult time of the church’s split and the Great Schism, no mosaics or paintings were created for a hundred plus years. 

Cathedrals

St. Mark’s

St. Mark's pigeons

corner view

St. Mark’s Basilica—In Venice, Italy—is the largest and grandest church of the Second Golden Age (Byzantine renaissance), being nicknamed “Church of Gold”.  It’s one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture, and features opulent designs and gilded Byzantine mosaics throughout. It also has 2,643 colored marble columns, and the four horses above the doorway (now copies) where brought from Constantinople by Crusaders. 

the original four horses

doorway

St. Mark's Square flooded, with the Doge's Palace and the Campanile

columns!

interior

The original St. Mark’s was temporarily constructed in the Doge of Venice’s palace (the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice) to house relics of St. Mark stolen from Alexandria. A new church was built on its present site in 832, and was later burned and rebuilt. Eventually St. Mark’s body was “re-discovered” in a pillar by the Doge. 

St Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil’s 

Built in 1555-1561 with orders from Ivan the Terrible, St. Basil’s Cathedral is in the middle of Moscow, Russia. It was forcefully secularized in 1928 as a part of the Soviet Union’s anti-religion campaigns and is still federal property. It’s onion domes—made of brick— are called kokoshnikis.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, built in New York City, is the largest Cathedral and fourth largest Christian church in the world. Began in 1892, construction has been interrupted by two World Wars and a fire and has never been finished.  Originally designed in Byzantine style, it was changed to Gothic in 1909.

Painting Styles

Byzantine Painters—not concerned about being realistic—created emotional and bold, colorful spiritual paintings. They used egg tempera on wood panels, and people were painted with Eastern features—long fingers, noses, and bodies.

Left: Byzantine painting; unknown. Right: The Virgin and Child; Giotto di Bondone

Rise of Islam

interior of the Alhambra

Islam grew rapidly across the world, bringing new culture and innovations. Importantly, Arabic numerals originating in India were passed on to the West by Muslim mathematicians. Islamic architecture has transcended time—The Alhambra, in Spain, was constructed in 889 as a fortress and later converted into a royal palace for the Sultan of Grenada. It’s famous for its beautiful gardens. 

the Alhambra

gardens at the Alhambra

Dome on the Rock

the "Rock", Foundation Stone

The Dome on the Rock, built in 691, is a Moslem mosque on Temple Mount. It’s significant for the Foundation Stone at its core, where Abraham was believed to have almost sacrificed Isaac and Mohammad supposedly ascended into heaven.  It’s dome is made of wood covered in gold leaf!

Dome on the Rock

  Fin!