Early Christian Architecture

4th Century A .D.

HISTORY OF
ARCHITECTURE 1
 Early Christian Architecture
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
Christianity had its birth in Judea,
Eastern provinces of the Roman
Empire.
Judea-a Jewish - ruled
Kingdom that became
a province of the Roman
Empire in 63 B.C.E.
 Early Christian Architecture
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
To govern the small, distant region,
Roman leaders put pro-Roman
Jewish rulers in charge of states
in which large numbers of Jews
lived.
However, after numerous
groups of Jews revolted against
Roman control, Rome appointed
a pro-Roman Jewish convert
named Herod to be King of Judea
in 37 B.C.E.
 Early Christian Architecture
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
Early Christian Architecture was
influenced by the existing Roman art.
 Early Christian Architecture
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
The ruins of the
Roman buildings
provided quarry
where materials
were obtained .
 Early Christian Architecture
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
This influence of the
style for construction,
decoration for columns,
 Early Christian Architecture
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE
other architectural features as well
as fine sculpture and mosaic from
older building which
were turn into
basilican churches
of the new faith.
 Early Christian Architecture
CLIMACTIC INFLUENCE
The climactic condition of Roman
provinces where Christianity was
established naturally modified the
style.
 Early Christian Architecture
CLIMACTIC INFLUENCE
The fiercer the
sun & hotter
climate
necessitated
small windows
& other Eastern
features.
 Early Christian Architecture
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Christianity spread out rapidly and was
an important factor in the development
of early Christian
architecture &
inspired the
building of
some of the
greatest architectural monuments.
 Early Christian Architecture
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Constantine &
Licinus
issued
their celebrated
edict of Milan
giving Christianity
equal rights with other religions &
Constantine made it the official religion.
 Early Christian Architecture
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE
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.
 Early Christian Architecture
HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
The final phase of Roman
Architecture from 4th to 6th
Century, primarily in church bldg.
 Early Christian Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Early Christian Architecture is
basically Roman in character but
executed it through:
1. SIMPLICITY IN DESIGN
2. COARSENESS IN
EXECUTION
 Early Christian Architecture
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
1. They contributed in the development of
“ribbed vaulting & arcades & timber
trussed roof”.
 Early Christian Architecture
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
2. They used bell
tower or “campanile”
in their exterior.
 Early Christian Architecture
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
3. They had either closely
spaced columns carrying
the entablature
(trabeated) or more
widely spaced columns
carrying semi-circular
arches known as “archivolt”.
 Early Christian Architecture
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
4. 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.
 Early Christian Architecture
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
5. An “arch of triumph” (transaction thru
death to life eternal) gave entrance to
Sanctuary with the high altar at the corner.
 Early Christian Architecture
EXAMPLE OF EARLY CHRISTIAN
STRUCTURES
A. CHIEF CHURCHES: BASILICAN
CHURCHES- 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.
 Early Christian Architecture
EXAMPLE OF EARLY CHRISTIAN
STRUCTURES
A. CHIEF CHURCHES
And over this burial place,
“crypt” or confessio
was the high altar
covered by a “ciborium”
also known as tabernacle or
“baldachino”.
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
1. ATRIUM –
open rectangular forecourt ,surrounded
by arcades which formed as the approach
to the church w/ a fountain
at the center, containing
water used for “ablution”
(a form of cleansing).
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
2. NARTHEX –
covered area between the atrium & the
church and which was assigned to the
penitents.
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
3. NAVE and THE AISLE –
the nave is the central aisle usually
lighted by a clear storey of small
windows, w/ an aisle on either side usually
half the width of the nave.
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
4. SANCTUARY –
preceded by the “arch of triumph ” with
a high altar in the center standing free
under its
“baldachino”
upheld
by marble
columns.
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
5. 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.
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
6. APSE –
terminal of the church, where “ sanctuary “
is located and the bishop
took the central space.
Apse orientation at the
east , while the entrance,
at the west.
 Early Christian Architecture
PARTS OF BASILICAN CHURCH
 Early Christian Architecture
BASILICAN CHURCHES
- modeled from Roman Halls of Justice
- evolved from Roman dwelling houses
- erected over the burial place of a Saint to
whom the church was dedicated.