Blog Post #4 - Early Christian and Byzantine

 

In the early years, Christians met in churches in homes because of intense persecution. However, everything changed when Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 CE – Christians could now build their own churches. They drew much inspiration from Roman structures, such as the basilica and dome, but devoted many of their buildings to a new purpose: glorifying God. Some favored the basilica for its simplicity, hoping to set Christian places of worship apart from grand pagan temples. Although not a church itself, Constantine’s palace in Trier, Germany is a clear example of a basilica’s structure. The palace, called Aula Palatina or the Basilica of Constantine, has a large universal space to serve multiple functions. There is essentially no ornamentation on the walls; only two rows of large windows. In contrast, others believed that churches should be as beautiful as possible to honor our beautiful God. This belief took the form of a centrally planned church with elaborate ornamentation. An example of this is San Vitale, which features a large dome and walls covered with mosaics depicting the life of Christ. 

The term “Byzantine Empire” refers to society as a whole between 330 and 1453 CE. Mosaics as an art form were prevalently developing, and ivory was commonly used to create furniture and other items. Some significant pieces of furniture include the Throne of Maximian, a barrel-shaped chair with ivory inlays depicting the life of Joseph, and the monoxylous three-legged stool made from a single piece of wood with the legs consisting of natural branches. 

 

 

The Basilica of Constantine has a very simple interior.

 

Two rows of arched windows make a simple but powerful statement.

 

San Vitale is centrally planned, which is evident from the exterior.

 

The interior mosaics of San Vitale.

 

 

The two domes above from Abu Dhabi draw inspiration from the domes of centrally planned early churches.

 

 

The mosaics above are a product of Early Christian mosaics.

 

 

One Step Further

Two accomplished Byzantine men are credited with designing Hagia Sophia, a stunning church in Constantinople: Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. Isidore was a renowned scientist, mathematician, and professor. Since he studied and wrote a commentary about vaulting, he is primarily believed to be responsible for the domes on Hagia Sophia. Anthemius was an engineer as well as an architect and was said to have experimented with simulating earthquakes and lightning in his home, much to the annoyance of his neighbors. These two designers combined the basilica and centrally-planned structure to create a strong building that looked beautiful and could withstand the region’s earthquakes.

Hagia Sophia has many impressive domes.

 

A dome is added to the center of this otherwise rectangular floor plan, combining the two Early Christian church styles.

 

Gold and black dominate the interior for a unified look.

 

Vertical lines through the mosaics point upward, towards the heavens.

 

 

Closing Reflection

 

Overall, this era was defined by a battle between basilicas and centrally planned churches. I believe both can be glorifying to God in different ways. Simple churches such as basilicas can leave a blank canvas for worshippers to focus on God alone and not be distracted. On the other hand, elaborate domed churches can mirror God’s beauty and help people grasp how big and powerful God is.