The Baptism of Constantine painted by Raphael's pupils (1520–1524, fresco, Vatican City, Apostolic

Palace). Eusebius of Caesarea records that (as was common among converts of early Christianity)

Constantine delayed receiving baptism until shortly before his death
Chapter–11
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

The Byzantine Empire was the predominantly Greek-speaking continuation

of the Roman Empire during Late Antiquity (Generally, it can be thought of as from
the end of the Roman Empire's Crisis of the Third Century (c. 235 – 284) to the re-organization of
the Eastern Roman Empire under Heraclius and the Muslim conquests in the mid-7th century)
and the Middle Ages. Its capital city was Constantinople (modern-
day Istanbul), which was originally known as Byzantium
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

CONSTANTINOPLE

SICILY
 STUDY METHODOLOGY

RCHITE EARLY BYZANTINE BYZANTINE

CHRISTAIN RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS SECULAR
CTURAL ARCHITECTUR
RELIGIOUS E EOF
x aTHE
mples ARCHITECT ARCHITE
HARAC ARCHITECT URE AFTER
TIME OF CTURE
TER URE JUSTINIAN JUSTINIAN

RLY CHRISTIAN ●
CHURCHES,
●
CONSTANTINO
TH CENTURY PLE & GREECE
COMMEMORA
ANGES ●
SERBIA &
TER BYZANTINE TIVE
MACEDONIA
URCHES STRUCTURES
TER CHURCH
●
ARMENIA &
AND COVERED
DLING IN THE GEORGIA
CEMETERIES
ST ●
ITALY &
CULAR ●
MAUSOLEA SICILY
CHITECTURE ●
BAPTISTERIES ●
ETHIOPIA
Architectural Character
Early Christian
 integral part of architecture of later Roman Empire
 architecture in service of Christian church did not
begin with Constantine’s formal recognition of
Christinaity, nor did large scale secular building end
with it.

 In Rome, Constantine was responsible not only for

the first large new churches but also for the
completion of Basilica Nova begun by Maxentius
(2 to 5) (for the large imperial baths) and for several 2. Remains of the Basilica of
other similar projects started by previous emperors, Maxentius and Constantine. The
building's northern aisle is all that
such as construction of two monumental arches.
remains.

 what is a basilica………?
The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek - Royal Stoa,
the tribunal chamber of a king), has three distinct
applications in modern English. The word was originally
used to describe a Roman public building, usually located
in the forum of a Roman town. By extension it was applied
to Christian buildings of the same form and continues to
be used in an architectural sense to describe those
buildings with a central nave and aisles. Later, the term
came to refer specifically to a large and
important church that has been given special ceremonial 3. Reconstruction of the plan.
rights by the Pope.
 Basilica Nova

5. Detail of the coffered

vaults of concrete

4. Location of the basilica in the Roman Forum.

6. Remains of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in

Rome. The building's northern aisle is all that remains.
The Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (sometimes known as the Basilica Nova -
meaning "new basilica" – or Basilica of Maxentius) is an ancient building in the Roman
Forum, Rome, Italy. It was the largest building in the Forum. Construction began on the
northern side of the forum under the emperor Maxentius in 308, and was completed in 312
byConstantine I after his defeat of Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
 Early Christian
 In Constantinople, he (Constantine) undertook secular buildings, as did his
successors
But it was new buildings for the church – places of worship, memorial
structures and baptisteries – that the only new forms were created and evolved in
the following centuries, and it is in these that the chief interest of the period after
Justinian lies
 what is a baptistery………?
In Christian architecture the baptistry or baptistery (Latin baptisterium, from Greek) is the
separate centrally-planned structure surrounding the baptismal font (fixture used for
baptism). The baptistry may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral and be
provided with an altar as a chapel. In the early Church, the catechumens (one receiving
baptism)  were instructed and the sacrament of baptism was administered in the baptistery.
 what is a baptism………?
Baptism (from the Greek noun ; itself derived from baptismos, washing ) is
a Christian rite of admission (or adoption), almost invariably with the use of water, into
the Christian Church generally and also a particular church tradition. Baptism has been
called a sacrament and an ordinance of Jesus Christ. In some traditions, baptism is also
called christening, but for others the word "christening" is reserved for the baptism of infants
 First Christians, already had the synagogue ( also spelled synagog (from Greek), meaning "house
of assembly"; or "house of prayer; could also mean "learning together" as their place of worship (felt
no need of anything more)

 grew in numbers, met for prayer/central act of of worship – formalised liturgy (is the
customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions) of
the eucharist ( refer slide)– in whatever rooms made available to them be group members
 Eucharist
The Eucharist ,also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the
Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance. It is reenacted in accordance
with Jesus' instruction at the Last Supper, as recorded in several books of the New Testament, that his
followers do in remembrance of him as when he gave his disciples bread, saying, "This is my body", and
gave them wine saying, "This is my blood."

The Eucharist has been a key theme in the depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art, as in
this 16th-century Juan de Juanes painting
 Early Christian
 buried their dead, just as most of their pagan
(from the Latin paganus, an adjective originally
meaning "rural", "rustic", or "of the country."
As a noun, paganus was used to mean
"country dweller, villager) contemporaries did
 met for commemorative meals at the cemeteries.
In Rome/few other places, these cemeteries were
mostly underground catacombs (with no special
significance – consequence of high price land and
favorable being an easily tunneled rock below the
surface permitting burials one above the other,
down to considerable depths). Simple structures
were built nearby to accommodate meals.
Catacombs are human-made
subterranean passageways for religious
practice. Any chamber used as a burial
place is a catacomb, although the word
is most commonly associated with
the Roman empire. Many are under
cities and have been popularized by
stories of their use as war refuges,
smugglers' hideouts, or meeting places
for cults.

 By third century, purpose-built

churches/adaptations of existing buildings were
being commissioned.
 too small & architecturally insignificant –
deliberately so, not to challenge official state
religion – to serve as a model for Constantine’s
architects.
 a pagan temple could not serve a s a model,
hence, something distinctively different was
needed to serve a different kind of use.
 when large numbers of peoples participated in
religious ceremonies they did so in open air but A procession in
the Eucharist called for a different kind of the San Callistus 
participation – in which only initiates were admitted catacombs in Rome.
 Early Christian
 By third century…….cont. An 1890 sketch for St.
 Baptism also had its special requirements, as by Vladimir's
Cathedral, Kiev: The
this time it was performed by immersion.
Baptism of Saint
 Only tombs and other provisions at cemetery made Vladimir by Viktor
no new demands Vasnetsov. Attendants
(left) hold Vladimir's
 Completely new types of building do not, however, golden royal robes, which
come into existence overnight as there was no he has removed, and the
simple white baptismal
experience
robe, which he will put on.
 Constantine wished to impact his new church
commissions, and so did churchmen who wished to
take advantage of the new official recognition of
Christiniaty.

 For the Church, form chosen was that which was

suitable with no major modification, built rapidly at
low cost.
 This was the basilica, at was generally known, until
it was reinterpreted by Maxentius in Basilica Nova
– a timber-framed rectangular hall with a colonnaded
central space with aisles and perhaps galleries
above them. Main space, built higher than the aisle
galleries, had clerestory lighting. The only limitation
was on the width of the central space, which had to
be within the spanning capacity of known forms of
timber roof. Clergy could be seated in the apse (as it
had been for magistrate) and a Christian altar in
front (previously used as altar for libations)
 Early Church
 By third century…….cont.
 Thus the commonest form of early church &
contemporary synagogues, for eg. at Sardis was-

a rectangular hall, timber-roofed, usually with one/two

aisles to each side of central nave,

and with an apse at one side facing the principal

entrances at the other.

Courtyard/atrium with fountain (frequently)–

corresponding to sacred enclosure in front of
temple/atrium of an early Roman house

One/more semicircular rows of seats against the wall

of apse for clergy with a raised throne in centre for the
bishop. An open screen in front of them marked off a
sanctuary from the rest of the nave, and within this
was the altar. To give greater emphasis, it was usually
surrounded b, known as baldachino/ciboriumy The Euphra
four/more columns and surmounted by a canopy, sian
known as baldachino/ciborium Basilica, Ist
ria, now
Looking down the length of the nave, in Croatia.
one sees long rows of columns, Columns
Sometimes with flat entablatures/ 6th century
sometimes with series of arches. and canopy
Above these & between clere- 1277
Schematic illustration of a plan
Storey windows, the walls
view of a cathedral, with the
Maybe faced with marble/ coloured area showing the nave.
Mosaics of colored glass
 Early Church
 there may be mosaics on ‘triumphal arch’ which terminates the
nave proper, and on the semi dome of the apse which opens
into it. These mosaics will mostly be either narrative scenes
from Bible/single figures seen against stylised
landscapes/plain gold grounds

 coffered/richly gilded
nave ceiling

Monreale Cathedral, Sicily, is decorated Typical early Christian

with mosaics in the Byzantine manner Byzantine apse with a
hemispherical semi-dome in
The choirstalls,  floor- pavement of grey-white and black the Basilica of
screen marble, inlaid with geometric patterns of Sant'Apollinare in Classe.
and lectern of
colored marbles
Albi Cathedral,
France

It should be remembered that much of what is seen is often the

result of later changes

 the ceiling, for instance, is likely to be a Baroque

refurbishment and the marble paving from the eleventh/twelfth
century