TIU Erbil

Architecture Engineering
2022-2023

History of architecture II
3rd lecture : Early Christian Architecture

Dalia Ali Rafeeq

E-mail: dalia.ali@tiu.edu.iq
Content
• Re-cap
• Introduction to early Christian architecture
• Art
• Architectural characteristics
• Buildings typology
Introduction
The early Christian architecture beginnings were in two main locations centered at Rome
and Constantinople.

The period that is usually described as the “the early

Christian architecture” is between 300 A.D. –600 A.D,
Constantine was the first Roman emperor to accept
Christianity.

At year 364 A.D. the Roman empire was divided

for the first time into two empires:
.The western- Roman, capital: Rome
.The eastern- Byzantine, capital: Constantinople

Division in politics was strengthened by a

division in belief, the western empire was
Catholic one, while the eastern was Orthodox.
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Introduction
This led to a quick need for places of worship; buildings that can be quickly used or re used.
Therefore, the first buildings came useful were the Roman temples, which were altered after removing all
the pagan symbols and appearances.

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Early Christian Art.
Religion is the main subject of art in this period.
Christianity was illegal so people used to pray in catacombs (underground burial places).
Iconography becomes the main mean of communication in art.

Early Christian art was :

Flat, clear, with no emotions,
symbolic, and it usually aims for
teaching.
Drawing was the main art element
it was mostly frescos, done
quickly with low quality.
Sculptures also showed a
deterioration in the quality as it
becomes very low, and mostly
reliefs.
Jesus healing the bleeding woman, The Good Shepherd, Catacomb of Priscilla
Roman catacombs 3
Early Christian Art.

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Architectural character.
➢ The early Christian architecture is a term usually used to
describe the architecture of the western Roman empire or
what was left of it.

The early Christian architecture was a gradual development of

the Roman style, after “Christianizing” it.

Later this style will develop into the Romanesque architecture

➢ Early churches were modified Roman Basilicas, and

therefore, they are called “Basilica churches”.

the basic building type in this architecture is (the church)

WHY ?

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Architectural character.
➢ Due to little money at their beginnings, it was
necessary to find a place of worship which led
them to adopt a readily constructed
structures (Temples, basilicas, etc.).
➢ Walls were constructed according to the same
Roman methods: rubble or concrete walls
covered with plaster and mosaic.
➢ Windows were usually small.
➢ Roofs were made of wood, flat or sloped if the
span was large.
➢ Columns were mainly Roman and inserted for
important buildings. They re-used these
columns by taking it from abandoned
buildings.
➢ They were not good craftsmen, have simple
skills.
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Building Types
1.Basilican Churches
➢ Early churches were modified Roman Basilicas, hence the name “Basilican churches”.
➢ The Roman elements of the buildings were reused (Naves, Apses, Altars).

➢ The Basilica churches had a nave and

multiple aisles, can reach four aisles.
➢ The columns were Roman, and spaced
closed to each other, connected with
semi circular arches and crowned with an
entablature.
➢ The roofs were made of wood, which
made the early ceilings flat.
➢ That‘s typical of the Early Christian style .

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Building Types
1.Basilican Churches
➢ Atrium: open space surrounded by
arcades, formed an imposing approach in
most of the Basilican churches.
➢ Narthex: covered portion next the church
was the place for penitents.
➢ In the center of the atrium was a fountain
or well, the water from which was used
for washing before entering the church a
custom which still survives in an altered
form amongst Catholics, who dip their
fingers into a stoop, or holy-water basin,
at the entrances of their churches.
➢ The nave, lighted by a clerestory of small
windows, had an aisle on either side, such
aisles being usually half the width of the
nave.
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Building Types
1.Basilican Churches S. Clemente, Rome
One of the
St. Peter examples
Basilica of 3 aisled churches.
/ Rome.
Built in the 5th century and rebuilt in the 11th

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Building Types
1.Basilican Churches S. Clemente, Rome

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Building Types
1.Basilica Churches S. Peter, Rome
It is not the same St. Peter today, since it is destroyed and re-built.
5-aisled church

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Building Types
1.Basilica Churches S. Maria Maggiore, Rome:

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Building Types
2. Baptistery
➢ Baptistery is another religious building type appeared in the early
Christian architecture in Rome.
➢ They were originally used only for the sacrament of baptism;
hence the name "Baptistery.“
➢ The form was derived from the Roman tomb mostly and circular
temples.
➢ Baptisteries started as an attachment to the forecourt of the
church, but later it became a separate building.
➢ They changed the Roman tomb a bit, by transforming the interior
columns from decorative columns to structural ones.

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Building Types
2.Baptisteries The Baptistery of Constantine, Rome
Is octagonal, and the roof is supported by a
screen of eight columns two stories in height.
Roof supported by a screen of eight columns
Two stories In height
The baptistry is now attached to

Elevation Section 14
Building Types
2.Baptisteries S. Stefano Rotunda, Rome
Built by simplifies 470AD, has a roods supported by two circular
rings of columns taken from older buildings and by a wall across
the center supported on columns

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Building Types
3.Tombs S. Constanza, Rome

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Note that :
• Early Christian architecture is the beginning of the Medieval art and architecture of Europe.
• It marks the beginning of shift from the Classical beauty to the Medieval beauty.
• Even though the outcome can be considered a bit poor, but the ideas started here will develop and
reshape the architecture of Europe for the next 1000 years.

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Thank you