BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE: HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS AND WORKS - ART - 2025

The Byzantine architecture was unique architecture style of the Roman Empire of the East, better known as the Byzantine Empire. This style of architecture has marked influences from Greek and Roman monuments from the late last millennium BC and the beginning of the current era.

This style of architecture originated when Constantine the Great made the decision to completely rebuild the city of Byzantium. After rebuilding it, it changed its name to Constantinople. In addition, he was in charge of building a large number of churches during his stay as emperor, which had the unique characteristics of this architectural style.

At the time, this empire was not known by the name of Byzantine. This name has been used by modern scholars to refer to the cultural change that occurred within the Roman Empire with the change of its capital from Rome to Constantinople. This Empire and its architecture stood for more than a millennium.

History

Byzantine architecture has its origins in the expansion of the Roman Empire into southwestern Europe and North Africa. The territories that the Romans conquered belonged to a great diversity of cultural groups, so the process of adaptation to the Empire was slow and problematic.

On the other hand, eastern Europe - also dominated by the Romans - had a much better structured organization. This was because the peoples of the Mediterranean were culturally unified by the former Macedonian Empire and Greek cultural influences.

On several occasions they tried to divide power between east and west, to organize the Empire more correctly. However, all attempts that were made failed, as the emperors of each region considered each other rivals.

However, each emperor had a set of designated tasks by means of which a division of powers was exercised. The Empire never stopped being considered the same; that is, although there was an emperor in the west and another in the east, they were still part of the Roman Empire.

Creation of Constantinople

After Diocletian established the last division between east and west in 293 by creating the tetrarchy (a system of two emperors and two Caesars, who succeeded them after his death), the system collapsed. When Constantine came to power, his first task was to re-unify the Empire, which he accomplished in 313.

In 330, Constantine relocated the capital of the Empire to Byzantium. This city was in a geographically privileged place for trade between Asia and Europe, in addition to its connection with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

When the capital was relocated, Constantine wanted to employ a series of big changes to the economic, military, and architectural policies of the city. Among the changes he made, he revolutionized all the structures of the city of Byzantium with new ideas. It was then that the city got the name of Constantinople.

The structural “renaissance” of Constantinople was the change that began the period of Byzantine architecture. In view of the fact that the inhabitants were Roman - like its architects - the Byzantine style had its bases in Roman architectural principles. Furthermore, Roman architecture had already been influenced by Greek.

Emperor Justinian

Another of the Byzantine emperors who had the most influence on the artistic renovation of architecture was Justinian. He was an emperor who also had as his main vision the cultural renewal of the Empire. In fact, his policies were very similar to those of Constantine, although Justinian took power in 518.

His main works were the various reconstructions of fallen churches throughout the Roman Empire.

Justinian's ideal was to manage the Empire without requiring the use of force. Similarly, he did not want to impose a single religion on the Romans, but his constructions tended to be similar to traditional Christian architecture.

characteristics

Similarities with Christian architecture

Many of the cities of the Byzantine Empire became great exponents of architectural works similar to old Christian buildings. This is seen especially in the cities located in the west of the Empire, such as the emblematic city of Ravenna.

It is in this city where one of the most important churches built by Justinian is located: the church of San Vital de Ravenna. This church is considered one of the best existing representations between Byzantine and Christian architecture.

Among the most outstanding similarities between both architectures are the use of mosaics in the decorations of various surfaces, the architectural focus on highlighting the apse of the structures and the use of windows located high on the walls to allow access of light.

Centralized planning

Despite the similarities that Byzantine and Christian architecture had, it also had a number of unique characteristics. This style began to be reflected in the middle of the 6th century, when the structures began to detach from tradition thanks to the creative freedom of the architects of the time.

At this time in history, churches with domes and a much more centralized design became more popular than the one that had been used at the time. This period marks the separation of Byzantine architecture with Roman architecture located in the eastern part of the Empire, which continued to have the influences of Constantine.

These architectural designs are also reflected in the Christian beliefs of the members of each region of the Empire. In the west, the cross had its vertical piece more elongated than the horizontal. The churches were long with a slightly less elongated design at the top.

On the other hand, in the Byzantine East a cross with identical proportions was used both horizontally and vertically. This made the influence of the architecture in the churches was centralized by imitating the aesthetic form of the crosses.

The architecture with central tendencies can be appreciated in its entirety in one of the most important religious buildings in Turkey: the church of Hagia Sophia (also known as Hagia Sophia).

Use of pendentives

Although many of the Byzantine architectural works have been lost with the passing of time, the Church of Hagia Sophia presents a series of very particular characteristics that reflect the style of the architects of the time.

One of these characteristics is the use of pendentives. These are small curvatures that are created in buildings when a dome intersects its supporting arches.

In many of the Byzantine buildings these curvatures served as support for the domes and allowed them to be raised to a much greater height than other Roman structures. For example, a Byzantine dome usually rested on four arches, and the bases of these arches have an inward curvature.

For this to be possible, an additional support must be used. In Byzantine architecture pendentives were used under the bases of the dome to become a kind of "support for the support."

In essence, pendentives are small domes without the top used to support a larger dome.

New columns

Byzantine columns were another element that not only characterized this architectural style, but also differentiated it from the traditional Roman order. Byzantine columns had a new style of decoration that had never been used by the Romans until now.

These new columns were based on the traditional ones of Rome, but with some subtle changes that turned them into a kind of mixture between Ionic and Corinthian columns. In addition, a new style of decorative patterns began to be used on the surface of the same, to give an air of grandeur to the structures.

Byzantine columns evolved over time, and in many structures it was possible to appreciate how elements of traditional Roman culture began to be used. In fact, the method of the more elongated and non-centralized churches was also retaken as the architectural style progressed.

Use of mosaics

As was the ancient Greek tradition, the art of Byzantine architecture used to be adorned with a series of mosaics along the most important places of the structures. For example, churches had a large number of religious representations in their mosaics.

Mosaics of the Basilica of San Apollinaris the New

Main works

Basilica of San Vitale

The Basilica of San Vitale was built in Ravenna during the 6th century on the direct orders of Emperor Justinian. It is considered a masterpiece and one of the most important creations of the entire Byzantine architectural period. The construction of this church was supervised by the archbishop of the city.

One of its most outstanding features is the presence of countless mosaics throughout its interior. The Byzantines used mosaic decorations on both the walls and the ceiling of this basilica.

Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna

This religious building was dedicated to the patron saint of Ravenna, San Vital. At the time of its construction, Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, which made this construction much more significant.

A large amount of marble was used to cover the entire basilica, and the typical domes of Byzantine architecture were made of terracotta.

Its famous mosaics were based on figures from the New and Old Testament, which depicted passages from Christ's journey.

In addition, the basilica was also adorned with mosaics of Roman emperors and Catholic priests. These works were mostly influenced by other similar artistic works that had been done in Constantinople.

Church of Hagia Sophia

The Church of Hagia Sophia, also known as Hagia Sophia or the Church of the Holy Knowledge, is the most iconic cathedral built in Constantinople during the rule of the Byzantine Empire.

Its construction was supervised by Emperor Justinian and it is considered the most important structure built by the Byzantines. In addition, it is one of the most important monuments on the entire planet.

Hagia sophia

The construction of this religious monument was completed in a very short period of time, considering the technological implications of the time.

It was completed in just six years under the supervision of two renowned architects, who had a great deal of mathematical and mechanical knowledge: Antemio de Trales and Isidore de Mileto.

This building combines the traditional ideas of a very long basilica with a uniquely centralized building. In addition, it has an incredibly large dome, which is supported by the use of the pendentive and a couple of smaller domes. However, according to architectural plans, the building is almost entirely square.

The church has a large number of columns that run through the corridors with galleries that extend from floor to ceiling.

The Church of the Holy Peace

Also known as Hagia Irene, the Church of Holy Peace is one of the most imposing structures of the Byzantine Empire. However, the Hagia Sophia exceeds it in size.

The Church of the Holy Peace has been exposed to a host of structural changes over time, making it a less recognized structure than the Hagia Sophia.

In fact, its original architectural style was damaged after the building was burned during the Niká riots, which represented a popular rebellion that took place in Constantinople.

Originally the church did not present elements in the form of a dome, but after being destroyed in the riots, it was rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. The emperor added to the church the Byzantine peculiarity of the dome.

The structure received even more damage during the 8th century earthquake in Constantinople. It had to be repaired again by Emperor Constantine V, who implemented further changes to the church.

It is a huge basilica, with three corridors and galleries that extend from the central space and towards the sanctuary located in the east. It is characteristic of the Byzantine architectural style that emerged during the 5th century in the region.

References

1. Byzantine architecture, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009. Taken from britannica.com
2. A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method, by Sir Banister-Fletcher, New York, 1950, pp. 238, 240, 242. Taken from buffaloah.com
3. The Byzantine State under Justinian I (Justinian the Great), Met Museum, 2009. Taken from metmuseum.org
4. Church of San Vitale, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018. Taken from britannica.com
5. Hagia Sophia, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018. Taken from britannica.com
6. Hagia Eirene, The Byzantine Legacy, 2016. Taken from thebyzantinelegacy.com
7. Byzantine Empire, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2011. Taken from ancient.eu
8. Byzantine Architecture: History, Characteristics & Examples, M. Pfginsten, (nd). Taken from study.com