History of Architecture Ar. Ramesh Kumar

History of Architecture
Ar. Ramesh Kumar

Lecture 1
–Historical Background
•Location and period
•Social characteristics and beliefs
–Architecture of the Civilization
•Early Christian Architecture
Lecture 2
•Byzantine Architecture
Lecture 3
•Byzantine Architecture
–Architectural Characteristics
•Buildings and other architectural elements
•Building materials, construction and technologies
•Architectural Organizing principles
Learning Outcomes
•We should expect to learn the following about the civilization
–The evolution of the Christian place of worship and the architecture of

the Early Christian periods
–Architectural response to religious requirements and worship modes
–Byzantine structural and architectural developments and principles
–Examples of Byzantine architecture

–Historical Background
•Location and period
•Social characteristics and beliefs
–Architecture of the Civilization
Historical Background
Location
•The Early Christian
and Byzantine
architecture started in
two prominent
locations centered at
Rome and Byzantium
or Constantinople
•Early Christian architecture occurred in Rome and in areas around
Rome
•Byzantine architecture was centered at Byzantium
•From the two focal points Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture
spread to other areas in the European and Asian region
Period
The following is a time line of events for the Early Christian and
Byzantine 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 at Byzantium
–364 A.D. Rome finally splits into two; the Western and Eastern
Empire
–476 A.D. Rome is sacked by Visgoth and Vandals
–632 A.D. Muslim begin an advance on the Byzantine empire
–1453 A.D. Byzantium falls to Sultan Muhammad II ending the
Byzantine Empire
Social Characteristics & Beliefs
The Roman Empire and the Christian Religion
–The single most important social phenomenon of the early
Christian and Byzantine period was the spread and acceptance of the
Christian religion
–Early
–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
–The religion was tolerated but it was still illegal
–The Empire was split into a Western and Eastern Empires
–In A.D. 313, the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of
Milan making Christianity legal
–He also adopted it as a state religion and he became the first
Christian emperor
–The acceptance of the religion by the emperor fueled its
expansion
–It also led to the early development of places of worship for the
new religion
–Constantine was able to unite the Roman Empire during his
reign
–The third century was for the Roman Empire a period of
political instability and decline
–He established the capital of the new empire at Byzantium,
renamed Constantinople or the city of Constantine
–After his death, the Empire was again split
–The Western Empire was sacked by Vandals and Visigoths in
476, leading to its disintegration
–The Eastern Empire with Constantinople as its capital survived
for a thousand years,
–Although the Eastern Empire was not yet "Byzantine" under
Constantine, Christianity would become one of its defining
characteristics
–The empire was a multinational state
–Greek became the everyday language as well as the language
of the church and everyday commerce in this empire
–The general identity of the Eastern Roman Empire was a
combination of Roman statehood, Hellenistic culture and Christian
religion
Architecture of the Period
–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
–Requirement for church design was centered on worship and

burial
–The requirements include:
•A path for processional entry and exit of the clergy
•An alter area, where the clergy celebrate mass
•A space for the segregation of the clergy from the
congregation during procession and communion
•Burial space
–The focus of both Early Christian and Byzantine architecture is
on the Christian church
–Before the legal recognition of the new faith, Christian places
of worship were of necessity inconspicuous with no fixed architectural
form
–Afterward, however, imposing cult edifices were erected in
many parts of the Roman Empire, especially in its major cities
–Early Christian builders adapted structures that had been used
in the Roman world
–The basilica, consisting of a nave flanked by lower aisles and
terminated by an apse, was adopted as the standard structure in
Christian congregational worship
–This was not however the only form adopted
–More centralized plans which were of round, polygonal, or
cruciform shapes were adopted occasionally
–Martyria were erected on sites connected with certain events
in the life of Jesus and other places held to be sanctified by the sacrifice
of the martyrs
–In such buildings the martyrium structure and basilica were
combined, creating a new formal synthesis of great significance for
Christian religious architecture
–Development of the Christian church continued during the
Byzantine era
–In the Byzantine period focus shifted from the rituals or
practices of worship to the building as an embodiment or symbols of
the majesty of the faith
–Innovative structure was combined with light and decoration to
create fascinating interiors
Architecture of the Civilization
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 centralized 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
•Apart from administering to the spiritual needs of the living,
some churches also provided burial spaces for the dead
•The early churches were generally simple and functional in
their design
•The emphasis was centered 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
Basilica Church Type
•It also had one or two aisles on each side of a central nave and
an apse at one end facing the principal entrance located at the other end
•The apse of the basilica was used as a location for the alter
•The nave was used as a sitting for the clergy
•Common people sat in the aisles
•The early churches may have a courtyard or atrium in front of it
•A fountain is usually located in the center of such an atrium;
This was used for baptism
•Most of the early churches had clerestory lighting
•Clerestory windows were developed to give light to the central
part of the interior
•Gradually, the clerestory windows became a symbol of the
transcendence and grace of god
•Variations in the character of the early church reflected
differences in local resources and traditions
Birth and Spread of Christianity
•Christianity found its birth in the city of Bethlehem. Until the
birth of Christianity the universal religion in all civilizations was
based on pagan beliefs and the worship of nature.
•Christianity began in and around the region of Jerusalem and
Palestine spreading to the Roman Empire around the 3rd c. AD
•Christianity spread chiefly among the underprivileged in those
commercial centers visited by Jewish traders.
•By the early 2nd c. AD its adherents were found in all parts of the
society
•By the 3rd c. AD it had become numerous enough to be a threat in
the Roman Empire during the period of Diocletian
•The most significant happening, which led to the spread of
Christianity, was the role of Constantine’s decision to recognize
Christianity as a religion equal to all others in 313 AD
•Choosing to rule primarily from Constantinople (Byzantium) in the
eastern empire in 324 AD
Spread of Christianity:
•Constantine’s decision to recognize Christianity & ruling from the
East
•Revival by Charlemagne under the name of the Holy Empire by
Pope Leo III in 800
•Growing prestige of the S Peter in the Christian West- a prestige
confirmed by the growing wealth and temporal power filling the
vacuum left by the Roman Empire
•The only threat for the spread was from the Persians on the East
despite the existence of semi independent Christian state of Armenia
•Expansion of the Byzantine empire to cover Northern Africa,
southern Spain and Italy
•They were affected badly due to the Arab attacks leading to the
loss of Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem, N.Africa, Armenia & Asia
Minor, even Spain by the 7th c.AD
Spread of Christianity:
•They were affected badly due to the Arab attacks leading to the
loss of Damascus, Syria, Jerusalem, N.Africa, Armenia & Asia
Minor, even Spain by the 7th c.AD
•Thus the Byzantine empire fell to the Turks
•But this was not the end for the Orthodox church which survived
through the Turkish occupation
•Also survived in Russia
•The coronation of Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in

800 marked the beginning of the new era with the Romanesque
period in Europe
•Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine
empire. The empire emerged gradually after AD 330, when
Constantine moved the capital of the Roman empire to Byzantium,
which was later renamed Constantinople and is now Istanbul.
•a style emerged which was influenced more by the architecture of

the near east, and used the Greek cross plan for the church
architecture which mostly stands today.
• Brick replaced stone,

• classical orders were used more freely,
• mosaics replaced carved decoration, and
• complex domes were erected.
•The various building typologies in EARLY CHRISTIAN were as
follows:
•Churches
•Commemorative structures
•Covered cemeteries
•Baptisteries
•The other periods are:

•BYZANTINE DURING JUSTINIANS PERIOD (6th C.)
•BYZANTINE AFTER JUSTINIAN/ LATER BYZANTINE

Evolution of Church Forms
The invention of the Christian church was achieved by a process of
assimilating and rejecting various precedents, such as the
•Greek temple,
•Roman public building,
•Private Roman house, and the
•Synagogue.
Early Christian Architecture consisted of various building

typologies in:
•Churches
•Commemorative structures
•Covered cemeteries
•Baptisteries
Evolution of Church Forms
Evolution:
•The 1st Christians had the Synagogue as a place of worship
•When the Jews severed their ties with the Christians, there was a
need for a large space for prayer, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist
•By the 3rd c. purpose built churches and adaptations of existing

buildings
•There were requirements for spaces for activities such as the

Eucharist, Baptism
•Thus forms were chosen which was suitable without much of

modification
•Thus the Basilica was chosen

Parts of Typical Church
1. Narthex.(covered porch)
2. Facade towers.
3. Nave. 7. Altar.
4. Aisles. 8. Apse.
5. Transept. 9. Ambulatory.
6. Crossing. 10. Radiating chapels.
Parts of Typical Church
Typical Layout in Typical Layout in Typical Layout in a

Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Protestant “Free
Churches Lithurgical Churches Church” Baptist Church
Of West
Iconotaisis
Lactern Font
Pulpit Nave
Early Christian Architecture - Church Forms
1. BASILICAL CHURCH developed from Roman secular
basilica or axial, type, represented by the basilica at the Holy
Sepulchre
2. CENTRALISED type from Roman tombs.
These were nearly always vaulted, with a central dome
The central space was sometimes surrounded by a very thick
wall, in which deep recesses, to the interior, were formed, as at
the noble church of St George, Salonica Vaulted aisle, as at
St. Costanza, Rome (4th century)
Annexes were thrown out from the central space in such a way
as to form a cross, in which these additions helped to
counterpoise the central vault, as at the mausoleum of Galla
Placidia, Ravenna (5th century).
The most famous church of this type was that of the Holy
Apostles, Constantinople. Vaults appear to have been early
applied to the basilican type of plan; for instance, at St Irene,
Constantinople (6th century), the long body of the church is
covered by two domes.
Basilical plan modified for liturgical requirements; congregation
and clergy segregated in nave and aisles vs. transept and apse.
Different variants in East and West.
Basilican Church Form
•Developed from Roman secular
basilica or axial, type, represented by
the basilica at the Holy Sepulcher
•These were timber roofed
rectangular halls with colonnaded
central space with aisles and galleries
above
•The main space was higher than the
aisles giving options of clerestory
lighting and 1 or more apses for legal
transactions
•This form could be varied in size and form
•The only limitation was the span of the central space.
•Seating could be provided in the apse for the clergy as it had been
for the magistrate
Basilican Church Plan
•The altar could be placed in the
front there had been a small altar
for libations
•An atrium was added in front of
the temple (typical of the roman
house) with a fountain at the
center
•In the interiors a open screen
separated the nave from the
sanctuary known as the Iconostasis
•This was surmounted by a canopy
known as the Baldachino or the
Ciborium
Centralized Church Plan
•The possible prototypes for this form could be the circular temple
(Pantheon) and the centralized audience hall or garden pavilion
(Minerva Medica) which was typical of a roman palace
•This form varied from a completely circular form to a more
complex lobed (tetraconch or 4 lobed) form set within a square or
an octagon
•These were nearly always vaulted, with a central dome
•The central space was sometimes surrounded by a very thick wall, in
which deep recesses, to the interior, were formed, as at the noble
church of St George, Salonica Vaulted aisle, as at San Costanza,
Rome (4th century)
•Annexes were thrown out from the central space in such a way as to
form a cross, in which these additions helped to counterpoise the
central vault, as at the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna (5th
century).
•The most famous church of this type was that of the Holy Apostles,
Constantinople
•A simple circular, octagonal or
centralised form was chosen for the
Baptistery
•In the west the aisle continued around the
apse forming an ambulatory
•In addition to all these the cross shaped plan
was also adopted with 4 arms leading to the
Constantinople transept and the crossing usually
surmounted by a dome
•There are 2 types of cross plans in
churches
•The one with equal arms referred to as the
Greek cross and the other known as the
Roman cross
Baptistery
Basilican Church Plan
S.Peters, Rome
S.Clemente, Rome
Early Christian Architecture
Lateran Basilica , Rome
•Constantine's 1st church commission
•Basilica with a wide nave terminating in an
apse
•Double aisles at each side
•The inner aisles were taller than the outer
•Shallow projecting wings which cut the
ends of the outer aisles short
•Serving purpose similar to that of modern
sacristies
•Tall nave colonnade carrying horizontal
entablatures
•Lower aisles carry arcades
•No galleries
•Gilt ceilings, silver altars ,
•Coloured marble columns, Wall facings
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
•The nave terminated in a triumphal
arch that framed the curve of the apse
•Some of the early churches were built over the tomb of martyrs and
are known as martyrium
•St Peters is one of the earliest and most important of the matyrium
churches
•It was built over what was believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter
who was a disciple of Jesus
•The present church was rebuilt on a totally
different design
•On an enlarged scale
•Church:
•Constructed over a cemetery
•Extended over an earlier circus
•CIBORIUM like canopy had
barley sugar twisted columns
•These columns are now set into great piers
that carry Michelangelo's dome
•Dome:Raised over S Peters tomb
•A broad platform – BEMA,
extended to each side of the dome
•Apse projected westwards
•Basilica- 210’ x 295’
•Double aisles
•22 huge antique columns support nave walls
•22 shorter columns divide aisles from aisles
S. Clemente, Rome (4th c/rebuilt in early 12th c)
•The most interesting e.g.. Of the continued use of
•Roman Basilican Plan
•The original church in 380 AD was rebuilt in 12the c
•A substantial portion of the earlier church still exists
•Below the floor
•The width of the structure was reduced during the rebuilding
•The fine marble floor and the mosaic do not belong to the early
Christian GOSPEL AMBO
AMBULATORY AISLE
ATRIUM
PORCH FOUNTAIN NAVE CHOIR SANCTUARY
AISLE
CHANCEL EPISTLE ALTAR

ENTRANCE AMBO
TO
CONVENT
PLANNING:
•The entrance is on the E through a small porch
•The porch leads to the Atrium with a fountain at the center
•From the Ambulatory is an entrance to the convent
•Behind the atrium is the rectangular nave where the crowd
gathered
•An aisle on both sides flanks the nave
•There is a colonnade separating the nave and the aisle
•Towards the end of the nave is the Choir with the
•Epistle ambo on the right
•Gospel ambo on the left
•Behind the choir to the west lies the Sanctuary at the apsidal end
•In front of the sanctuary is the Altar
•There is a balustrade between the choir and the sanctuary
The Mithraeum beneath the
church of S. Clemente is one of the
artificial underground caves where
those who were initiated in the cult
of Mithras celebrated their festivals,
such as the birth of the god on 25
December.
•The Mithraeum underneath the S.
Clemente was built inside a late-first
century house in the late second
century. The relief shows how the
god killed the devilish bull, the
central part of his myth.
Presbyterium
Centralised Church Plan
S. Vitale, Ravenna
S. Hagia Sophia, Constantinople
St. Marks, Venice
Byzantine Architecture
S Vitale, Ravenna 540-548AD
•Followed the Centralised plan
•Strong Byzantine character
•Italy was ruled by Ostragoths in 521-
532
•Fell under Justinian a decade later
Planning:
•Domed octagonal core
•Ground level ambulatory with a gallery
•Dome:
•The crown is 6m high
•Impression of the height is reinforced
by emphasis on the verticality of the
piers
•Contrast with the emphasis on
horizontal by cornices at the piers at the
gallery level
•The central space is 54’9” in dia.
•Large exedrae open from the central
space
•There is one exedra between each
pair of piers except at the east end
where deeper opening is provided
with an apse
•The outer wall of the ambulatory is
octagonal
CONSTRUCTION:
•The dome of the church is
constructed out of hollow tubes
•It has a tiled timber roof wherein the
normal practice in Constantinople was
to cover the vault and the dome with
lead laid on brickwork
•It was only by raising a dome on a
drum that it could have greater height
•This church has retained most of its
original character in mosaic and the
vaults at the chancel
•There is a lifesize representation of
Justinian with his consort Theodora
S Hagia Sophia 532-537AD
Layout
Basilica with a double aisle and
gallery
The 2nd church had an atrium
and propylae
Designed by Anthemius and
Isodorus
Features: masterly geometric
ordering of space and vaults
the dome collapsed 30
yrs. later and rebuilt
Justinian's principle commission
•Dedicated to Christ
•Known as Megale Ecclesia or Great Church
Site:
•Located on the site of 2 earlier churches
•Along the principal axis of the city square
•The 1st church by Constantine in 360 burnt in 404
•The 2nd by Theodorus II 415 burnt 532
•Greatest vaulted space without intermediate supports
through the history of the byzantine empire
•Between the main piers and the

secondary piers the hemicycles open into
smaller semicircular Exedrae
•There is a single aisle on each side
•Above the aisle and the inner Narthex
are Galleries
•The inward projection of the
piers was a later addition
when the horizontal forces
generated above had begun to
push the piers aside
•The inner boundaries are
different in different bays
because of the great
hemicycles, exedrae
Planning:
•70m x 75m
•Projecting apse at the E end
•Double Narthex
•Atrium on the W ( destroyed)
•The planning of the Hagia Sophia is based on the centralised plan
& basilican
•At the Center is a square 31.2m with a dome carried on pendentives
•These Pendentives are between semicircular arches carried on piers
just outside the square
•Other piers face these piers across the aisle
•These help to resist the outward thrust of the dome in NS
•There are 2 Semidomes of equal dia. To the main dome carried on
piers along the EW walls
•Below the semidomes are great Hemicycles that double the EW extent
of the nave
Columns:
•These run between the piers around the nave to carry the aisle and
gallery vaults
•There are further columns between the aisles and the galleries
•Monolithic shafts with bronze collars of white Proconnesian marble
•The columns at the nave are of green Thessalian marble
•Red Porphyry at the exedra at the gr. Level
•The capitals are of different designs with carved cornices
•The arrangement of the columns at the 2 levels runs around the nave
at the gallery level
Colonnades:
•Central colonnade-straight
•Around exedrae- curved
•These are closely spaced
Cornice:
Above the 2nd cornices
are the springing of the
main semi domes, smaller
semi domes over the
exedrae and the arches
that carry the dome
•The semi domes are ¼ of a
sphere with a flattened crown
with 5 windows
•Originally 40 windows lit the
main dome
•Below the main axis at N & S
are window filled walls called
Tympana
Materials:
The main structure was partly built of large
well fitted blocks of Limestone and local
Granite
Partly Brick
Pier – Ashlar for lower levels
Brick for higher levels
Vaults- Brick
Brickwork – mortar joints were
almost as thick as the bricks
-Contributed to the collapse
•No Pastophoria (rooms of apses for the
clergy)
•Preparation for the consecration in a
separate chamber in the N called the
Skeuophlyakion
•Multicoloured marble facings
•Gold and mosaic at the aisles and the

Narthex vaults
•Bulky buttresses added to the outer

walls
•Original furnishings in gold & silver

with precious stones have disapperared
The nave is divided into horizontal bands
by colonnades and cornices Aisle varied
bay shapes, columns, colours, heights,
varying glimpses of the nave
•The Altar was canopied behind the
Chancel screen
•The great Ambo was set further under

the dome connected to the chancel by a
screened passageway
•Buttresses were added to the exterior

for the dome and the vaults later
•Provisions for the Mosque
•Flying buttresses also added

The museum garden has replaced the
atrium
Additions for reconstruction:
•The original dome was lower
than present
•The square base the dome
stands on were also lower
•The heights were increased
later
•The main Semidomes were
constructed later DECORATION IN INTERIORS
•Western semidome - 10th c.
•Eastern dome – 14th c.
•Patriarchal palace in the SW corner of the church and south side
•No Pastophoria (rooms of apses for the clergy)
•Preparation for the consecration in a separate chamber in the N
called the Skeuophlyakion
METHODOLOGY OF CONSTRUCTION OF DOMES –
Pendentive System
•Drawing a circle inside a square leaves 4 rough triangles at the
corners
•When a dome was constructed over a square, it was these 4
corners that had to bridged either in stone, brick or concrete
•On a small scale various devices were used
•Eg. A simple stone slab from wall to wall
•On a large scale a structural element was essential
•This resulted in the “Pendentive”
•The pendentive is a small triangular segment of the dome rising
from each corner of the square
•These meet to form a circle upon which the true dome is built
•The transformation from a square to circle is the pendentive
system used in the Byzantine
METHODOLOGY OF CONSTRUCTION OF
DOMES – Pendentive System
•The ribbed vault, buttress were used in gothic
architecture
•This led to large no. of permutations and
combinations of dome buildings
•Instead of one central dome, a whole series
of square bays each with its own dome could
be set producing a cluster of domes
S Mark, Venice 1063-1073 & Later AD
•The church is an enlarged reconstruction of an earlier one with a

cross shaped plan built in 830 AD
•It was built to receive the relics of the Apostle Mark from
Alexandria
•The layout is similar to the Holy apostle Church at
Constantinople
•The plan is of 5 domes on a group of 4
piers
•It originally had a simple covering of
lead as weather protection
•By mid 13c. It was given a more
impressive external profile by addition
of outer timber framed domes
•The narthex was extended around each
side of the nave
•The Baptistery is on the S making the
aisles dark
•The galleries were hence reduced to
walkways the interiors were rich in
surface and finish
•Mosaics cover the arches, vaults and the domes – 12-16c.
•Exterior façade modified in 13c.
•4 antique bronze horses in front of the large central window in the W
gallery
•Late Gothic canopied niches, ogee arches, crocket pinnacles and
sculptures of saints and angels

History of Architecture Ar. Ramesh Kumar

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History of Architecture

Ar. Ramesh Kumar

–The evolution of the Christian place of worship and the architecture of

–Architectural response to religious requirements and worship modes

–Byzantine structural and architectural developments and principles

–Examples of Byzantine architecture

–Mode of worship was the most important determinant of the

–Requirement for church design was centered on worship and

•This is further divided into two types;

•With Christianity accepted as a state religion in Rome and

•A building used for Christian worship had to provide a path for

•Thus the Byzantine empire fell to the Turks

•Also survived in Russia

•The coronation of Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor in

•a style emerged which was influenced more by the architecture of

• Brick replaced stone,

•The other periods are:

•BYZANTINE AFTER JUSTINIAN/ LATER BYZANTINE

Early Christian Architecture consisted of various building

•By the 3rd c. purpose built churches and adaptations of existing

•There were requirements for spaces for activities such as the

•Thus forms were chosen which was suitable without much of

•Thus the Basilica was chosen

Typical Layout in Typical Layout in Typical Layout in a

CHANCEL EPISTLE ALTAR

•Between the main piers and the

•Gold and mosaic at the aisles and the

•Bulky buttresses added to the outer

•Original furnishings in gold & silver

•The great Ambo was set further under

•Buttresses were added to the exterior

•Provisions for the Mosque

•Flying buttresses also added

•The church is an enlarged reconstruction of an earlier one with a

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