History of architecture | world architecture

sculpture and mosaic from older building

w/c were turn into basilican churches of
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE the new faith.
4th Century A. D.
CLIMACTIC INFLUENCE

• The climactic condition of Roman

provinces where Christianity was
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
established naturally modified the style.
• The fiercer the sun & hotter climate
necessitated small windows & other
Eastern features.

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

• In 63 BC, the Romans conquered Judea in

the Eastern Mediterranean
• Main inhabitants were the Jews
• Jews believed that one day the “Messiah”
or “Christ” would free them from the
Romans
• Christianity spread out rapidly and was an
important factor in the development of
• Christianity had its birth in Judea, Eastern
early Christian architecture & inspired the
provinces of the Roman Empire.
building of some of the greatest
• Early Christian Architecture was influenced
architectural monuments.
by the existing Roman art.

GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

• Constantine & Licinus issued their

celebrated edict of Milan giving
Christianity equal rights with other
• The ruins of the Roman buildings provided
religions and Constantine made it the
quarry where materials were obtained.
official religion.
• This influence of the style for construction,
decoration for columns, & other
architectural features as well as fine

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SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE • They used bell tower or “campanile“ in

their exterior.
• Constantine was the prime character but
was not proclaimed Emperor; he removed
his empire from Rome to Byzantium and
developed a new style of Architecture.
• The final phase of Roman Architecture
from 4th to 6th Century, primarily in
church building

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

• They had either closely spaced columns

carrying the entablature (trabeated) or more
• Early Christian Architecture is basically widely spaced columns carrying semi-
Roman in character but executed it circular arches known as “archivolt”.
through:
- Simplicity In Design
- Coarseness In Execution

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE EARLY

CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE

• They were usually with 3-5 aisles covered

by a simple trussed roof.
• Uses long rows of “off-repeated” columns
from entry to sanctuary for a long Church
appearance.
• An “arch of triumph” (transaction thru
death to life eternal) gave entrance to
• They contributed in the development of Sanctuary with the high altar at the corner.
“ribbed vaulting & arcades & timber
trussed roof”

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CHIEF CHURCHES BASILICAN CHURCHES PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH

• In the construction of a basilican church,

there is a rule that it should be built right
over the burial place of the saint to whom
the church was dedicated.

• Atrium – open rectangular forecourt,

surrounded by arcades, which formed as
the approach to the church with a fountain
at the center, containing water used for
“ablution” (a form of cleansing).
• Narthex – covered area between the
atrium & the church and which was
• And over this burial place, “crypt” was the assigned to the penitents.
high altar covered by a “ciborium”

• Nave and the Aisle – the nave is the central

aisle usually lighted by a clear storey of
• Ciborium, also known as tabernacle or small windows, with an aisle on either side
“baldachino”. usually half the width of the nave.

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• Sanctuary – preceded by the “arch of
triumph” with a high altar in the center
standing free under its “baldachino”
upheld by marble columns.
• Choir – placed in front of the & was
enclosed by a low screen walls known as
“cancelli” (hence chancel) & was provided
w/ a pulpit or “ambo” on either side use
for reading the epistle and gospel.
• Apse – terminal of the church, where
“sanctuary“ is located and the bishop took
the central space.
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• Apse orientation at the east, while the
entrance, at the west
BASILICAN CHURCHES
• Roman basilicas as models
• Usually erected over the burial place of the
saint to whom it was dedicated
• Unlike Greek and Roman temples that
sheltered gods, the purpose of the Christian
church was to shelter worshippers
• Came in a complex, with cathedral, belfry
or campanile, and baptistery
• Fine sculptures and mosaics worked into
new basilicas
• Paid little regard to external architectural
effect
• Entrance at west
• Priest stood behind altar, facing east
Examples:
- St. Paolo Fuori Le Mura, Rome – largest &
most impressive among all basilican
churches.
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- Church of Nativity, Bethlehem – founded
by Constantine, built over the traditional
birth of Christ.
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem –
founded by Constantine, built over the
reputed tomb of Christ.
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BAPTISTERIES
• Used only for sacrament of baptism, on
festivals of Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany
• Large separate building from church,
sometimes adjoined atrium
Examples:
- The Baptistery of Constantine, Rome – by
Sixtus III, dedicated to Constantine, oldest
among the Italian Baptisteries
TOMBS OR CATACOMBS
• Christians objected to cremation, insisted
on burial on consecrated ground
• Land for burials had become scarce and
expensive
• Monumental tombs became expressions of
faith in immortality
• Cemeteries or catacombs were excavated
below ground
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• Several stories extending downwards • Antepodium – a seat behind the choir

• Usually domed and enriched with lavish reserved for the clergy.
mosaic decorations
• Walls and ceilings were lavishly decorated
with paintings mixing pagan symbolism
with scenes from the bible

Example:

• Bema – a stage reserved for the clergy.

- Tomb of Galla Placidia, Ravenna – earliest • Chevet – the apse, ambulatory, & radiating
building of “ cruciform” plan terminal of a church.

TERMINOLOGIES:

• Clerestory –an upper stage in the church

• Ambulatory – a passageway around the with windows above the adjacent roof
apse of church.

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 History of architecture | world architecture
• Clergy – priest with the religious elders.
• Dais – a raised platform reserved for the
seating of speakers or dignitaries.
• Oratory – a small private chapel furnished
w/ an altar and a crucifix.
• Reredos – an ornamental screen or wall at
the back of an altar.
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• Transept – the portion of a church crossing
the main axis at the right angle & forming
a cruciform plan.
• Tribune – a slightly elevated platform or
Dais for the speaker.
• Triforium – roof over the aisles below the
clerestory
• Sepulcher – a tomb or receptacles for relics
especially in a Christian altar.
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