Early Christian1 architectures greatest .ppt

For history architecture students dive into early architecture

1. Early Christian and
Byzantine Architecture
Architectural History
ACT 322
Doris Kemp

2. Topics
Early Christian Architecture
Rome Structures
Structures in the Holy Lands
Milan Structures
Ravenna Structures
Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland

3. Early Christian Architecture
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

4. Early Christian Architecture
Early Christian meeting places were actually set-up in
preexisting 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

5. 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

6. Early Christian Architecture:
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 first important Christian structure in Rome
Has been rebuilt, leaving only its foundations and
historical evidence as to its original form

7. Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Roman Structures
(Old) St. Peters Church
Considered the most important basilican church built by
Constantine
Building began around 333 A.D.
Located on the slope of the Vatican Hill in Rome
Covers a cemetery and features a shrine to Saint Peter,
whom is presumably buried there

8. Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan

9. Early Christian Architecture:
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

10. Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan

11. 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

12. Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan

13. Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Structures in the Holy Lands
Anastasis Rotunda
Located in Jerusalem
Built to honor the resurrection of Christ
Middle Age representations of Christ’s tomb are almost
all based on this structure
Built by Constantine, or possibly his sons, in the fourth
century A.D.
An addition to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

14. Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan

15. Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Milan
Emerged as a major architectural center in the early
Christian period
After Constantine moved the seat of the Roman
Empire to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul),
Milan became the capitol of the Western Empire,
replacing Rome.
A number of important churches were built after
Milan was recognized as the spiritual capitol of the
West

16. 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

17. 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

18. Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan

19. 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 from the East ion architecture

20. Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Structures in Ravenna
Mausoleum of Galla
Placidia
Built around 425 A.D.
Featured a cross-shaped
plan
Small but perfectly
preserved
Photo: Sullivan

21. Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan

22. 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

23. Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan

24. Early Christian Architecture:
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

25. Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan

26. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Hagios Demetrios
Salonika, Greece
Considered the most imposing early Christian church in
the Greek-speaking eastern Mediterranean
Has been restored after a fire in 1917 A.D.

27. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan

28. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
St. Simeon Stylites
Located in Qalat Siman, Syria
Built around 470
Constructed of heavy ashlar masonry
Grandiose in size, but simple in scheme

29. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan

30. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Church in Qalb Louzeh
Located in Syria
Built around 500 A.D.
Hints at the beginnings of the Romanesque style of
architecture

31. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan

32. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
The early Christian structures in the Rhineland laid
the foundations for later Medieval architecture
Rhineland maintained close architectural ties with
Milan
St. Gereon
Located in Cologne
Originally constructed as a double cathedral
Underwent major reconstruction in 380

33. Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan

34. References
Sullivan, Mary; http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/
http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/wdpt1.html
Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to
Postmodernity
Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture

35. Early Christian and
Byzantine Architecture
Architectural History
ACT 322
Doris Kemp