Early Christian Architecture
Early Christian Architecture
(313 – 800 )
GEOGRAPHICAL
·
Christianity
ha its birth in Judea, an eastern province of the Roman Empire
·
It
was naturally carried by St. Peter and St. Paul and other missionaries in Rome,
as the center of the world empire
·
In
spite of the opposition and persecution, the new religion took root and grew,
till it was strong enough to become the recognized universal religion of the
whole Roman empire
·
Early
Christian architecture was influenced and was the logical outcome of existing
Roman empire and it was modified in other parts of the empire according to the
type already recognized as suitable or the geographical situation of those
countries such as Syria, Asia Minor, North Africa and Egypt
GEOLOGICAL
·
Geological
influences may be said to have acted indirectly rather than directly on Early
Christian architecture for the ruins of the Roman buildings often provided the
quarry whence material were obtained
·
This
influenced the style, both as regards to construction and decoration, for columns
and other architectural features, as well as fine sculptures and mosaic from older buildings, were worked
into basilican churches of the new faith
CLIMATIC
·
The
climatic conditions of the Roman provinces as Egypt, Syria and North Africa
were Christianity was established naturally modified the style
·
The
fiercer the sun and hotter the climate necessitated small windows and other
eastern features
HISTORICAL
AND SOCIAL
·
The
Early Christian period is generally taken as lasting from the reign of
Constantine to the coronation of Charlemagne
·
The
incursion of the Huns into Europe about 376 eventually brought about invasion
from north into Italy
·
In
410 Rome was sacked by the Goths under Alaric
·
In
451, when the defeat o Atilla, king of the Huns at the Battle of Chalons aided
in the consolidation of Christianity in Europe
·
In
568, the Lombards penetrated into Italy and held the northern part for 200
years
·
In
800, Charlemagne was crowned by the pope in Rome, and from this date the Empire
was styled the Holy Roman Empire, a title which lasted until 1806
·
From
800 to 1000 the dominant architectural influence was no longer Rome but
Lombardy, and the style which developed there was Romanesque
·
Constantine
changed the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium in 330 when the old
Roman political system came to an end and this royal convert reigned as an
absolute monarch till his death in 337
·
In
364, the division of the Roman Empire took place when Valentinian became the
Emperor of the west and his brother Valens in the east
·
Theodosius
the Great ( 379-395) reunited for the first time the eastern and the western
empires and in 438 Theodosius II published his legal code, an important work in
the constitution of the emperors
·
In
AD 476 series of emperors in the west came to an end and the Eastern and
Western Empires were nominally reunited by Zeno, who reigned in Constantinople
·
Then
again the seat o power was changed and
Theodoric the Goth reigned in Italy during a period of peace and prosperity
Ø
Byzantine
art influence Early Christian art by way of Ravenna
Ø
Kings
were now elected for separate states of Spain, Gaul, Northern Africa and Italy
Ø
Emancipation
of western Europe from the direct imperial control resulted in the development of Romano-Teutonic
civilization which facilitated the growth of new states and nationalities
o
Gave
fresh impulse to Christianity
o
Strengthen
the power of the bishops of Rome
o
Resulted
in the growth and development of Romance and Teutonic language which for
general use, largely replaced Latin
RELIGIOUS
·
Christianity
has inspired the building of some of the greatest architectural monuments
·
The
number of Christian communities established by Apostle Paul in his missionary
journeys round the Eastern Mediterranean, in Syria, Asia Minor, Greece and
Italy produced numerous Early Christian
basilican churches all throughout the district
·
Unlike
those o the old Greeks and Roman temples which were built to shelter the statue
of the gods, the purpose of the Christian churches was to shelter worshippers
who met for prayers and praise to an unseen deity
·
In
313 Constantine and Licinus issued their celebrated Edict of Milan, giving
equal rights to Christianity with other religion
·
In
326 Constantine Constantine made Christianity the official religion o the Roman
Empire
ARCHITECTURAL
CHARACTER
·
The
Early Christians, as Roman craftsmen continued old Roman tradition, but
prosperity was declining and it was natural that for their buildings, they
should utilize as far as possible the materials from Roman temples which had
become useless for their original purpose
·
Churches
were modeled after Roman basilicas, they used old columns that were brought to
a uniform height
·
Basilican
churches had either closely spaced columns carrying entablature or more widely
spaced columns carrying semi circular arches
·
Basilican
churches with three or five aisles, covered by a simple timber roof, is typical
of the Early Christian style
·
The
architectural character of the basilican churches is rendered impressive and
dignified by long perspective of columns which carry the eye along to the
sanctuary
·
The
“ Arch of Triumph “, figurative of the transition through death to eternal life
gave entrance to the sanctuary with the high altar at the center standing free
under its “baldachino” upheld by marble columns
·
The
apse is lined with marble slabs and crowned with a semi dome encrusted with
glittering golden mosaics in which Christ appears surrounded by prophets,
saints and martyrs
·
Timber
roofs covered the central nave and only simple forms of construction, such as “king
and queen post trusses” were employed
·
The
narrower sides were occasionally vaulted and the apse was usually domed
·
Walls
were still constructed according to Roman methods of using “ hand laid rubble
concrete “ faced with brick or stone or sometimes plaster
·
Mosaic
decoration was added internally and sometimes externally on the west façade
·
The
introduction of color with the use of glass mosaic gave richness and mystery to
interiors
·
Early
Christian basilicas were usually decorated with mosaic
Ø
In
the apse semi dome and wall
Ø
On
the triumphal arch
Ø
On
the wall above nave arcade
Ø
Sometimes
on piers and arch soffits
·
Mosaics
are set up purely for decorative purpose rather than as pictorial explanation
of the Bible
·
Pavements
were formed from the abundant storage of old marbles in Rome
EXAMPLES
A. BASILICAN CHURCHES
·
Basilicas
( Gk. Basilikos-kingly ) or Roman halls of justice probably served the Early
Christian models or their churches
·
Form
a connecting link between buildings from pagan Classic times and those of the
Romanesque period which followed
·
Some
believed that Early Christian churches to have evolved from Roman dwelling
house, where the community had been in the habit of assembling, or from
“scholae” or lecture room of the philosophers or even from pagan temples
·
A
basilican church usually stand/erected over the burial place o the saint to
whom the church is dedicated
·
The
approach of the church was through the atrium or open forecourt surrounded by
arches
·
Next
came the narthex between the atrium and the church which was assigned for the
penitents
·
The
Narthex open into the Nave lighted by a clearstory of small windows, with
aisles on both sides
·
Some
churches have bema, a feature that may have been the germ of the medieval
transept which later converted the plan into a Latin cross
·
A
choir, which became necessary owing to the growth of ritual was enclosed by low
screen walls or “ cancelli” and was provided with an “ambo” or pulpit on either
side, from which Gospel and Epistle were
read
·
The
“apse” or sanctuary where the bishop took the central place which had been that
of the “preators” in the basilicas
·
The
“altar” , in front of the apse, which in the basilica has been used or
libations or sacrifices to the gods was placed immediately over the burial
place of the titulatory saint
·
A
“ciborium” , also known as “baldachino” or “tabernacle” was erected on columns
over the altar
1. S. CLEMENTE, ROME
·
Was
rebuilt over much earlier church, some of the
foundation still survive in the crypt
·
The
atrium or open rectangular forecourt , surrounded by arcades forms an imposing
approach to the church
·
This
is followed by narthex, or entrance porch which opens into the nave and single
aisles
·
In
the apse semi dome is an early 12th century mosaic depicting the
triumph over cross
2. THE BASILICAN CHURCH OF ST.
PETER ROME
·
Erected
by Constantine near the martyrdom site S. Peter in the circus of Nero
·
Was
pulled down to make way for the present cathedral
·
The
atrium lead through the narthex to the great nave with double aisles terminating
in five arches, the center o which was the so called “ Arch of Triumph”
·
The
priest as in all Early Christian basilican churches stood behind the altar and
faced the east , as the chancel was in this case at the west end
3. SAN PAOLO FOURI LE MURA, ROME
·
Founded
in 380 AD, was destroyed in 1823
·
Was
rebuilt on the original design and is the largest and the most impressive of
all basilican churches
·
The
nave has eighty great columns of Simplon granite, with mosaic mural medallions
of the pope above
·
The
Arch of Triumph with fifth century mosaics, the double bema, the apse with the
mosaic of the thirteenth century, and the remarkable High Altar with its double
baldachino over the confession of S. Paul, all contribute to the grandeur of
the interior
4. STA. MARIA MAGGIORE, ROME
·
Was
built by Pope Sixtus III
·
Is
the only basilican church of which there is evidence that it was originally a
pagan basilica
·
The
interiors is the most beautiful of the single aisled basilicas, with it ranges
of Ionic columns of Hymettian marbles and entablature surmounts by the original
mosaics of Pope Sixtus III dealing with Old Testament history, culminating in
the Arch of Triumph, High Altar, and baldachino, beneath which is the confessio
5. SAN AGNESE FOURI LE MURA, ROME
·
Was
founded by Constantine in 324 over the tomb of St. Agnese
·
It
shares with San Lorenzo fouri Le Mura the peculiarity of having aisles in two
storeys
·
The
apse with altar and baldachino is at the western end and mosaics in the semi
dome represent S. Agnes between two popes
·
The
exterior with simple clearstorey windows is plain and the apse is flanked by
campanile
6. SAN STEFANO ROTONDO, ROME
·
Is
the largest circular church in existence having a diameter of 64.00 m (210 ft)
·
The
central circular area is encompassed by concentric inner and outer ambulatories
·
Its
high central and lower aisle roofs are supported by two rings of columns from
older buildings
·
Two
central columns and a cross wall give additional support to the main roof
timbers
7. SYRACUSE CATHEDRAL, SICILY
·
Still
clearly shows a pagan temple of Athena was converted in 640 AD into a Christian
church by construction o a wall between its peristyle columns and the formation
of openings in its cella walls
8. CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY,
BETHLEHEM
·
Founded
by Constantine over the traditional birth place of Jesus Christ
·
One
of the number of basilican churches in Palestine and Syria erected between 3rd
and 7th century before the Moslem hordes overran the country
·
It
is surmounted by high walls which encloses the precincts of the Latin, Greeks
and Armenians who jointly own the church
9. CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE,
JERUSALEM
·
Erected
by Constantine over the reputed tomb of Christ
·
Defaced
and damaged by Persians and Moslems
·
Rebuilt by the Crusaders
·
Appeared
to date back from the twelfth century for its architecture resembles that of
Sicily in that period
·
The
entrance leads into the transept, to the left of which is the rotunda, rebuilt
by the crusaders in 1099 AD, with the Holy Sepulchre itself was reconstructed
in the recent times
·
On
the right is the church of the Cruaders
·
Its
plan was copied at S. Gereon, Cologne
and other church in Europe
·
Models
of the church before its partial destruction in 1808 AD are in the Bodleian
Library, Oxford and in the British Museum
B. BAPTISTERIES
·
Separate
buildings used only for the sacrament of Baptism
·
Roman
circular temples and tombs were occasionally used
·
These
buildings had to be of considerable size and they sometimes adjoined the atrium
or fore court of the church
·
The
introduction of infant baptism, the baptistery was replaced by a font in the
church, close to the entrance
1. BAPTISTERY OF CONSTANTINE,
ROME
·
Built
near the Lateran church by Pope Sixtus III and not by Constantine to whom it is
generally attributed
·
Is among the oldest Italian Baptisteries
·
Is
octagonal and the roof is supported by a two storeyed ring of eight porphyry
and marble columns taken from old pagan temples
·
The
center is an old Roman bath of green basalt converted into a font
2. ORTHODOX BAPTISTERY, RAVENNA
·
Was
completed and decorated under Bishop Neone for the orthodox community
·
It
is octagonal with wall arcades one above the other similarly placed to the
superimposed columns in the Mausoleum of Diocletian
3. BAPTISTERY, NOCERA
·
It
is 24.4 m (80 ft) in diameter
·
Has
ring of thirty antique columns in pairs supporting the dome which covered
externally by a wooden roof
·
A
barrel vaulted ambulatory encircles the whole domed area
3. TOMBS
·
Resulted
to Christian objection to cremation and insistence on burial in consecrated
grounds
·
An
expression of the Christian faith in immortality and a memorial to the dead
·
Usually
domed and often enrich with lavish mosaic decorations
1. SAN CONSTANZA, ROME
·
Erected
by Constantine for his daughter Constantia
·
Was
converted into a church in 1256
·
The
entrance leads to a central space 12.2 m (40 ft) in diameter, encircled by
twelve pairs of coupled granite columns which support the dome
·
The
surrounding aisle is covered by barrel vault
2. TOMB OF GALLA PLACIDIA,
RAVENNA
·
Is
very early example of a building
cruciform in plan
·
The
square tower, roofed by a shallow pyramid, conceals the unusual dome in which
both dome and pendentives are part of the same sphere
3. TOMB OF THEODORIC, RAVENNA
·
Is
in two storeys, of which the lower is a decagon externally 13.7 m ( 45 ft ) in
diameter encloses a cruciform crypt
·
The
upper storey is circular internally and has traces of external arcade
·
The
extraordinary roof is formed o one huge slab of stone weighing 470 tons and
hollowed into a flattish dome, 10.7 m ( 35 ft ) in diameter
·
The
ashes of the founder were deposited in an urn above the dome
TERMINOLOGIES
1. Bema – a raised stage reserved
for the clergy in the Early Christian churches
2. Ambo – a raised pulpit from
which the Epistle and Gospel were read
3. Baldachino – a canopy
supported by columns generally placed over the altar or tomb, also known as
“Ciborium”
4. Chancel – the space for clergy
and choir separated by a screen from the body of the church
5. Aisles – the lateral divisions
parallel with the nave in a basilica or church
6. Ambulatory – the cloister or
covered passage around the east end of a church behind the altar
7. Apse – the circular or multi
angular termination of a church sanctuary, first applied to Roman basilica
8. Nave – the central aisle of
the basilican church
9. Narthex – a long arcaded
entrance porch to a Christian basilican churches, originally appropriated for
penitents
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
A.
PLANS
·
T
he Early Christians followed the basilican model for their new churches and may also have used old
Roman halls, baths, dwelling houses and even pagan temples as places of worship
·
The
campanile or bell tower dates from this period became prototype of Medieval towers
·
An
isolated circular baptistery was
generally attached to the chief basilican church or cathedral of a city
B.
WALLS
·
Still
constructed according to Roman methods of using rubble or concrete, faced with
plaster, brick or stone
·
Mosaic
decoration was added internally and sometimes externally on west façade; though
little regard was paid to external architectural effect
C.
OPENINGS
·
Arcades,
doors, and windows were either spanned by a semi circular arch
·
Nave
arcades often rested directly on capitals without entablatures or were span by
lintels
·
Ornate
character of marble doors was sometimes attempted
·
Windows
filled in with pierced slabs of marble, alabaster or plaster were small
D.
ROOFS
·
Timber
roofs covered the central nave and only simple forms of construction such as
king and queen post trusses were employed
·
Narrower
side aisles were occasionally vaulted
·
Apse
is domed and lined with beautiful glass mosaics, which formed a fitting
background to the sanctuary
E.
COLUMNS
·
Differ
both in design and size as they were often taken from earlier Roman buildings
which had either fallen into ruins or been purposely destroyed
·
Fine
marble columns, whether Doric, Ionic or Corinthian, in the churches of Rome
were taken from ancient Roman buildings, except those of S. Paolo fouri le Mura
·
Carved
capitals are governed by Roman pagan precedent
and sometimes by that of Byzantine
F.
MOULDINGS
·
Course
variations o the old Roman types and the carving though rich in general
effect is crude
·
Technique
of the craftsman had gradually declined
·
Enrichments
were incised on mouldings in low relief and the acanthus ornament, although
still copied from the antique became more conventional in form
G.
ORNAMENT
·
Introduction
of color gave richness and glimmering mystery to the interior
·
Mosaic
was used generally and applied on specific portion of the church or basilica
·
Colored
pavements were largely formed of slices of old Roman porphyry or marble columns
·
The
Cross, the symbol of Christianity, is accompanied by other Christian symbols
such as the emblems of Evangelist and Saints had replaced the attributes of
heathen deities and became usual features of the decorative scheme
o Angel of St. Mathew
o Lion of St. Mark
o Ox of St. Luke
o Eagle of St. John
o Dove, peacock, anchor, olive
branch and monogram o Christ ( the Chi-rho )
·
Pictures,
emblems and symbols are all used heterogeneously to represent the various
aspects of Christian faith
·
More
ornamental work in ivory and precious metals for diptychs, crosiers, pyxes,
chalices and pattens was given utmost
attention.
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