BYZANTIUM OR EAST ROMAN EMPIRE

330 C.E TO1453 C.E

• Byzantium or Byzantine Empire or East Roman
empire or later Roman Empire, denote the
Roman Empire after its division into east and
west empire.
EARLY PERIOD TIMELINE
• 330- Emperor Constantine founds a new
capital at Greek town of Byzantium, renaming
the city after himself , Constantinople.
• 395- Death of Emperor Theodosius.
• 527-565-reign of emperor Justinian is great
expansion of Byzantine empire.
• 1453- fall of Byzantine empire.
BACKGROUND OF BYZANTIUM
GEOGRAPHY
• Located between East empire and Asia Minor.
• surrounded by Aegean Sea, Black Sea, Gulf of Cyprus and
Caspian Sea.
• Constantinople stood at division of Mediterranean sea and
Black Sea.
RESOURCES
• Good building stones were not available in Constantinople.
• Clay for bricks and rubble for concrete were used.
• Constantinople was chief Marble working centre and supplied to
other parts of Roman Empire.
• Stone was imported from other regions- Porphyry from Egypt,
green marble from Thessaly, black stone from Bosporus and
yellow stone from Syria.

CLIMATE
• Climate is hot dry, humid summers, almost desert .
• Winters are wet and cool.
• Desert region receives little rainfall.
CULTURE
• Byzantine empire was multi-ethnic during most of its history.
• Greek element was predominant.
• Language spoken is Hellinc Greek, Slav is spoken along Dunab
river, Turkish in South Russia.

ECONOMY
• Empire prospered as a centre of trade and high culture.
• Agriculture was the driving force of economy.
• It was major centre of trade due to its location.
• Grapes, olives, wheat, barley were cultivated.
• Many people herded sheep, goats and camels.
RELIGION
• Emperor was viewed as messenger of Christ.
• Church remained as stable element in Byzantine Empire.
• Eastern or orthodox church headed by emperor and bishops
headed west, appointed by emperor.
ART
Religious expressions and translation of church theology into art
forms.
ARCHITECTURE
Byzantine architecture is the continuation of Roman
architecture, also called as Late Roman Architecture.
• Geometric complexity increased in buildings.
• Classical orders were used free.
• Carved decorations were replaced by mosaics.
 PLANS
• The plans are basically of two types-
BASILICAN or AXIAL type and CIRCULAR or
OCTAGONAL type.
• Earlier type are often vaulted as found in 6th
century and later type are roofed by a central
roof.
• The central space was made to form a cross.
• Buildings are formal and symmetrical with
compact functional plans.
• Square bases surmounted by massive
domes, semicircular arches, spires, glass
mosaics.
• Semi domes covered the central space of the
aisles buttressing the central domes on all
four sides.
• No roman concrete used. Dome was made
in brick only. Ashlars in piers, solid brickwork
set in mortar.
 BYZANTINE COLUMN
• Columns were highly
ornamented and support the
galleries.
• The capital was simple
transition from square abacus to
circular shaft.
• Annulets above the base and
below the capital were made in
bronze.
• Bronze annulets prevented the
column from splitting out.
• Capitals are of endless variety
• examples- S.Sophia in
Thessalonica
- S. Mark's Venice
- S. Apollinare-in-
classe,rome.
 ARCHES AND DOMES
• Dome was most important feature
of Byzantine architecture.
• Dome was placed over the base of
square plan by means of Squinch
and Pendentive in contrast to
Roman domes.
• Domes were often octagonal
rather than circular in plan.
• Built of light weight materials such
as brick or pumice or pottery.
• Windows were placed in the
lower portion of dome.
• Domes were seated on high
drums in later period.
 INTERIORS
• Church architecture was much
concerned by decorations inside.
• interiors featured- marble
columns, vaults, mosaics, inlaid
stones pavements, frescoes and
gold coffered ceilings.
• decorative mosaic bands
replaced moldings.
• Alter , frescoes paintings were
often used instead of mosaic.
• The door and window frames
were made in marble.
EXTERIORS
• Well decorated.
• Brickwork was in more use
• Walls were decorated in
patterns, bands and covered with
marble, mosaic and fresco.
• Domes and semi domes roofed
important structured and their
surfaces were covered with lead
and tilling of Roman variety.
• Domes were seated on high
drums in later period.
• Basilica type churches of Rome
had no decorations in their
exteriors.
• Group of small domes and semi
domes were effectively placed
around the large central dome.
 TYPES OF STRUCTURES
• Religious - church, basilica type
or axial type having one long
nave with columns supporting
timber framed pitched roof , side
aisles, apse at opposite ends,
atrium .
- circular type, having central
space maybe a square or
octagonal or eight piers type. thick
walls of central space have deep
recesses inside.
• Secular- The great palace, walls
and gates of city, underground
cisterns, aqueducts,
hippodrome.
 HAGIA SOPHIA, CONSTANTINOPLE, 532-537 C.E
• Hagia Sophia means holly
wisdom, also known as Sanct
Sophia in Latin or Ayasofyain
Turkish.
• Located in Constantinople,
modern day Istanbul , Turkey.
• Built by emperor Justinian
and competed in 5 years.
• The designers were Isidore
of miletus, Anthemius of
Tralles, professors at
constantinople university.
• The structure was oriented
on northwest -southeast
axis.
PLAN
• The church was entered on west through a noble atrium.
• It was entered into am outer narthex and then into an inner
narthex covering the entire width of the building.
• Each narthex comprise nine vaulted bays. Inner narthex contains
nine doors , three access to the nave, other three lead to aisles.
• Main central dome called as Imperial door served as ceremonial
entrances.
• Beyond the inner narthex is a large central oval hall.
• The central square of 30m was enlarged to 60m in length by adding
two semicircular east and west end.
• The unbroken long all measures 80 by 30m.
• The square central space in its corners has four massive stone piers
of 7.6 m by 18.3 m. at the extreme east end is apse.
• North and south of nave are two storeyed aisles over 15.2m wide.
• The upper one being Gynoecium or women's gallery reached from
outside by ramp at each corner.
INTERIORS
• Hall is covered by system of
dome.
• The nave is covered by dome ,
height of 55.6 m from floor level.
• There are 40 arched windows
around the base of domes, lights
interior an daloso reduces weight
of dome.
• Exedras are covered by semi
domes
• Upper gallery is horseshoe shape
that surrounds nave to apse.
• The dome was built of bricks with
major joint of 50 mm thick.
• Walls and piers are decorated
with marble of white, green, blue,
black and purple periphery.
• There are 107 columns to support
the groined vaults under gallery.
CONSTRUCTION OF DOMES
 EXTERIORS
• The exterior of the
structure is less impressive
than the interiors but highly
complicated.
• All the elements in exterior
are geometrical rising from
their structural, functional,
spacious requirements.
• There are no any masonry
additions of beauty or
aesthetics.
• It is symmetrical, and
massive in its proportions.
• The brick walls are
plastered in stucco and
distempered.
DOME OF THE ROCK, JERUSALEM (685-691
C.E)
• The mosque is located on an artificial platform which is known
today as the (Al Haram Al Sharif), established in the times of King
Herod, The site's significance stems from religious traditions
regarding the rock, known as the Foundation Stone, at its heart,
which bears great significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
• Historical Importance:
• Highlight the victory of Islam as a religion that completes the
preceding religions of Christianity and Judaism.
• Compete with the other great churches established in Al Quds city
at that time.
• Celebrate the Umayyad Dynasty.
Architectural analysis notes :
• Central Dome:
• Dimension: 20 meters in diameter, 25 meters in Height.
• contains two wooden structural ribs for extra strengthening.
• Internal dome with 16 windows.
• Base is placed over a circular series of arches of 4 supports and 12
pillars.
• Walkways:
• Two circular walkways separated by a group of 8 arches each
containing 4 supports and 16 pillars.

• Exterior features:
• each edge of the octagonal shape is divided into 7 narrow rectangular
shapes, separated each by supports.
• Entrances in all four elevations each preceded by a lobby.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Q1.EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND OF BYZANTIUM IN TERMS OF
GEOGRAPHY,RESOURCES,CLIMATE,CULTURE,ECONOMY,RELIGION AND ART.

Q2.EXPLAIN ARCHITECTURE OF BYZANTIUM WHICH INCLUDES TYPICAL

PLANS,COLUMN,ARCHES AND DOMES.

Q3.EXPLAIN THE INTERIOR AS WELL AS EXTERIOR STRUCTURE OF THE

BYZANTINE PERIOD.

Q4.THE DEEP CARVED STONE DECORATING THE PILLARS AND OTHER

STRUCTURAL SURFACES OF HAGIA SOPHIA,COMBINED WITH CLOSE SPACING
OF THE WINDOWS AT THE BASE OF THE DOME ,SUGGEST WHAT ABOUT THE
BUILDING ?

Q5.WHY WOULD THE ISLAMIC TURKS COVER THE MOSAIC ON THE INTERIOR
OF HAGIA SOPHIA STRUCTURE WITH PLASTER?
• Q5.IN THE LONG HISTORY OF THE BUILDING (HAGIA SOPHIA), WHAT HAS
CONSISTENTLY BEEN A CONCERN OF ARCHITECTS?

• Q6.THE DOME OF THE HAGIA SOPHIA CATHEDRAL IN

CONSTANTINOPLE,BUILT IN 537 CE,WAS THE FIRST DOME TO BE BUILT
USING WHAT KIND OF ELEMENT?EXPLAIN WITH SKETCHES.

• Q7.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

(A) WHAT IS TRIBUNE?
(B)WHAT IS DRUM OF A BUILDING?
(C)WHAT IS FINIAL?
(D)WHAT IS MIHRAB?
(E)WHAT IS AN AMBULATORY?
• Q8.EXPLAIN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF THE HAGIA SOPHIA DOME?
SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER WITH SKETCHES.

• Q9.EXPLAIN AND DRAW A LABELLED PLAN OF HAGIA SOPHIA .

• Q10.EXPLAIN THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF THE DOME OF THE ROCK.