EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE

History of Architecture –III, AP-223

Ar. Seema Sharma

Assistant Prof. SOA, DTC
SYLLABUS
European
Unit-1 Early Christian Romanesque Architecture Byzantine, Focus: Gothic
Architecture in Continental Europe and England. Great Cathedrals - Notre
Dame, Canterbury
Unit-2 Renaissance Early Renaissance, St. Maria Del Fiore, Florence Late
Renaissance, Michelangelo, Palladio. St. Peters Rome Baroque, St.Pauls
London, Neo Classical.
Colonial Architecture
Unit-3 European Architecture in Colonial India -I Goa Portuguese French
Pondicherry Focus Forts Church
Unit-4 European Architecture in Colonial India-II Madras, Calcutta,
Bombay Cantonments Hill Stations Focus: Port Fort Church, Institutions,
Bungalows, Barracks.
SUGGESTED READING

• 1. Lang & Desai Architecture and Independence- The Search for Identity –
India 1. 1880 to 1980. Oxford University Press, India, 1997

• 2. Watkin, D., “A History of Western Architecture”, Thames and

Hudson,1986

• 3. Fletcher, B., “A History of Architecture”, 20th Ed., Butterworth

Heinemann,1996

• 4. Moffet, M., Fazio, M. and Wodehouse, L., “A World History of

Architecture”, McGrawHill,200
OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE

To Recognize the most

important Categories of pre
industrial Architecture of
Europe during Medieval Period
and Renaissance.
It is 2 credit course.
Early Christian Architecture
 EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE:
EVOLUTION
I.
GEOGRAPHICAL
• Christianity had its birth in Judaea, an eastern
province of the Roman Empire, spread and carried
by St. Peter, St. Paul, and other missionaries to
Rome, as the centre of the World-Empire.
• In spite of opposition and persecution, the new
religion took root and grew, till it was strong
enough to become the recognized universal religion
of the whole Roman Empire.
• Early Christian architecture at Rome was
influenced by, and was the logical outcome of :-
2. Modified in other parts of the Empire according to the type already recognized
1. Existing Roman architecture
as suitable for the geographical situation of those countries, such as Syria, Asia
Minor, North Africa, and Egypt.
II. GEOLOGICAL
• Geological influences may be said to have acted indirectly on Early Christian
architecture for the ruins of Roman buildings often provided the quarry where
materials were obtained.
• This influenced the style, both as regards construction and decoration.
• Columns and other architectural features, as well as fine sculptures and
mosaics from older buildings, were incorporated into basilican churches of the
III.new
CLIMATIC
faith.
• North Italy has the climate of the temperate region of Europe Central Italy
is genial and sunny
• Southern Italy is almost tropical.
• This variety of climatic conditions is sufficient to account for diversity of
architectural features and treatment in the peninsula itself.
• The climatic conditions in Roman provinces as Egypt, Syria, and North Africa
where Christianity was established were varied, and naturally modified the style
in those countries where the fiercer sun and hotter climate necessitated small
windows and other Eastern features.
 IV. RELIGIOUS
• In all human history there is no record so striking as that of the rise of Christianity a
phenomenon so outstanding as the rapidity with which it was diffused throughout the
civilized world, and, not only in this period but also in all subsequent ages.
• Christianity has inspired the building of some of the greatest architectural monuments.
• The number of Christian communities established by the Apostle Paul in his missionary
journeys round the Eastern Mediterranean, in Syria, Africa, Greece, and Italy, might lead us
to expect many more ruins of Early Christian basilican churches throughout these districts.
• In this connection, however, it must be remembered that the God preached by S. Paul was "
not like unto gold or silver or stone graven by art and device of man," nor a God that
dwelled " in temples made with hands " like those of the old Greeks and Romans which
were built to shelter the statues of the gods.
• Purpose of the Christian church was to shelter worshippers who met for prayer and praise to
an unseen Deity, and, during the unsettled conditions at the beginning of Christianity,
various places were adapted for this worship.
• Building of pagan temples ceased before any attempt was made to build Christian churches.
• In A.D. 313 Constantine issued his celebrated decree from Milan, giving Christianity equal
 V.
•SOCIAL
Constantine changed the capital of the Empire from Rome to Byzantium in A.D.
324, when the old Roman political system came to an end, and reigned as an
absolute monarch till his death in A.D 337.
• Christianity suffered disabilities upon the division of the Roman Empire, which
first took place in A.D. 365 when Valentinian became Emperor of the West and
his brother Valens of the East.
• Theodosius the Great (A.D. 379-395) reunited, for a time, the Eastern and
Western Empires, and in A.D. 438 Theodosius II published his legal code, an
important work on the constitutions of the Emperors from the time of
Constantine.
• The series of Emperors in the West came to an end in A.D. 475, and the Eastern
and Western Empires were nominally reunited by Zeno, who reigned at
Constantinople.
• Then again the seat of power was changed, and Theodoric the Goth reigned in
Italy (A.D. 493–526) during a period of peace and prosperity
• Byzantine art influenced Early Christian art by way of Ravenna, which rivaled
•Kings were now elected for the separate states of Spain, Gaul, Northern
Africa, and Italy, where King Odoacer recognized the supremacy of the one
Roman Emperor at Constantinople.
•Emancipation of Western Europe from direct Imperial control resulted in the
development of Romano-Teutonic civilization, it facilitated the growth of new
states and nationalities, gave a fresh impulse to Christianity, and eventually
strengthened the power of the Bishops of Rome.
VI. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Early Christian architecture started in
two prominent locations centred at Rome
and Constantinople.
•Early Christian Architecture occurred in
Rome and in areas around Rome.
•From the two focal points Early
Christian Architecture spread to other
areas in the European and Asian region.
VII. TIMELINE
The following is a time line of events for the Early Christian period:-

• 29 A.D. Passing of Isa(AS) and beginning of Christian Religion.

• 286 A.D. Emperor Diocletian reorganizes the Roman Empire splitting it into
two; the Eastern and the Western part.

• 313 A.D. Emperor Constantine recognizes the Christian religion and adopts it as
a state religion.

• 324 A.D. Emperor Constantine reunited the Roman Empire with a new capital.

• 364 A.D. Rome finally splits into two; the Western and Eastern Empire.
VII. TIMELINE( Whole Christianity)
 300 AD 800 AD 1200 AD 1500 AD 1700 AD

EARLY CHRISTIAN & ROMANESQUE GOTHIC RENAISSANCE

BYZANTINE
• In these phases, architectural development experienced the
formulation phase, alterations & development in plans,
profile surroundings & concluded with imitation of
classical structures & mannerism.
• The development of Christian architecture in general
proved beneficial in establishing new norms, new
construction features, new materials, different types of
façade treatments & also versatile construction analysis.
• The phases proved beneficial not only for the religious
architecture but also for secular, domestic, commercial &
Mediterranean development.
• Examples for Early Christian Architecture:
• St. Clemente, Rome
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS & BELIEFS….

• The single most important social phenomenon of the Early Christian period was
the spread and acceptance of the Christian religion.

• During the period from the first century to the third century after the death of
Jesus, Christianity was a secret society.

• It was considered dangerous and subversive by the government Christians met

secretly in tombs and private houses.

• Gradually, however, it spread and became widely accepted in Asia minor and in
Rome itself.

• By the third century, Rome had a population of 50,000 Christians.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS….
• With Christianity widely accepted as a state religion in Rome it was necessary
for architecture to respond to the demands of the religion for worship space.

• Mode of worship was the most important determinant of the form of the
church.

• The requirements include:-

▪ A path for processional entry and exit of the clergy
▪ An altar area, where the clergy celebrate mass
▪ A space for the segregation of the clergy from the congregation during
procession and communion
▪ Burial space.
INTRODUCTION…..
The term early Christian architecture refers to the architecture of the early
Christian churches of the roman era

• This is further divided into two types; the basilica church and the alternative
church plans.

• With Christianity accepted as a state religion in Rome and expanding in

influence, it became necessary for architecture to respond to the space demands
of the new religion.

• A building used for Christian worship had to provide a path for the processional
entry and exit of the clergy, an alter area, where the clergy celebrated mass, a
space for the segregation of the clergy from congregation during the procession
and communion.
BASILICA CHURCH TYPE......
• The early churches were generally simple and functional in their design.
• The emphasis was centred on the act of Christian worship.
• The architecture of the church that developed was not a completely new style,
but the use of available Roman forms to satisfy a new program need.
• The form chosen for the early church was the Roman basilica.
• It was suitable for use as a church with no serious modification and it could be
easily and rapidly built at low cost.
• The Basilica was also preferred because of the emphasis on participation in
mass.
• The most common form of the early churches had a rectangular hall with a
timber trussed roof.
• It also had one or two isles on each side of a central nave and an apse at one
end facing the principal entrance located at the other end.
BASILICA CHURCH TYPE
A TYPICAL BASILICAN CHURCH
• Commonest form of the early church.
• Unlike the earlier Roman phase, the interiors were give more
importance than exterior.
• Rectangular hall, timber-roofed with coffers & richly glided
ceiling (hiding the roof truss) on nave.
Usually with one or two aisles to each side of the central nave
separated by rows of rustic marble columns, sometimes carrying
flat entablatures & sometimes, rows of arches.
• The width of aisles was half that of the central nave.
• Apse at one end facing the principal entrances at the other end.
• Bema / Transept – a raised platform where altar was placed &
from where the clergy officiated.
Plan of a typical EC Basilica
• A courtyard (atrium) having a central fountain for
TERMS :
1) Propylaeum- the entrance building of a sacred precinct, whether church or
imperial palace.
2) Atrium- the forecourt of a church; as a rule enveloped by four colonnaded
porticoes.

3) Narthex- the entrance hall or porch proceeding the nave of a church.

4) Nave- the great central space in a church. In longitudinal churches, it extends
from the entrance to the apse (or only to the crossing if the church has one) and is
usually flanked by side aisles.

5) Aisle- one of the corridors running parallel to the nave of a church and separated
from it by an arcade or colonnade.
6) Crossing- the area in a church where the transept and the nave intersect.
7) Transept- in a cruciform church, the whole arm set at right angles to the nave.

8) Apse- a recess, sometimes rectangular but usually semicircular, in the wall at

the end of a Roman basilica or Christian church. The apse in the Roman basilica
frequently contained an image of the Emperor and was where the magistrate
dispensed laws. In the Early Christian basilica, the apses contained the "cathedra"
or throne of the bishop and the altar.
9) Clerestory- a clear story, i.e. a row of windows in the upper part of a wall. In
churches, the clerestory windows above the roofs of the side aisles permit direct
illumination of the nave
EXAMPLES……
1.) S. GIOVANNI IN LATERANO (AD 313-320)
• A typical example of the early Christian church is S.
Giovanni in Laterano Rome.
• It was the first church commission by Emperor
Constantine.
• It was built as the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome
• It was remodelled several times.
• The church consists of a central nave flanked by two
narrow isles and separated from them by a monumental
colonnade.
• The central nave rose above the isle roof, and the inner isle
rose above the outer.
• The nave terminated at an apse.
• The structure was of brick faced concrete covered with
simple trussed-timber roof.
2.) S. PETERS, ROME (AD 333)
• St Peter was the most important of the basilica
churches built by Constantine.

• The church has a triple entrance gate leading to

an atrium.

• The church like S. Giovanni discussed earlier is a

five isles church.

• The Basilica had a wooden roof of interlocking

rafters.

• The nave did not lead directly to the apse but

instead ends in a transverse space that is as high
as the nave.
ALTERNATIVE CHURCH FORM.....
The rectangular basilica was not the only form adopted for the early church

•Alternative more centralized plans, with a focus on a central vertical axis

rather than a longitudinal horizontal one were also adopted occasionally.

•The centralized churches were of two broad types.

•There were the completely circular church.

•These had a circular or octagonal space surrounded by an ambulatory

Examples of these include Saint Constanza Rome, the Lateran Baptistery

Rome and Saint Stefano Rotondo.
BAPTISTERY CHURCH FORM....
The Baptistery of Constantine, Rome (A.D. 430–440) built near the Lateran
Church by Sixtus III, and not by Constantine to whom it is generally attributed, is
among the oldest of Italian baptisteries, of which it was probably the model.

•It is octagonal in shape according to plan.

• The roof is supported by a two-storeyed ring of eight porphyry and marble

columns taken from old pagan buildings, while in the centre is an old Roman bath
of green basalt converted into a font.
ROUND ALTERNATIVE FORM (ST. CONSTANZA).....
•This was a church originally
designed as a mausoleum for
Emperor Constantine’s daughter.
•It was designed as a centralized
monument.
•It is symmetrical in plan with a
domed central space.
•The domed central space was ringed
by an arcade with 12 pairs of double
colonnade.
•Beyond the arcade is an encircling
ambulatory.
•A barrel vault is used to roof the
ambulatory.