Olmec culture
Lasted form 1500-400 BCE In south-central Mexico Agriculture Among first Mesoamerican civilizations Ceremonial centers Platforms and courts Ritual ball games Colossal Heads (basalt)
Teotihuacan
Mexico later Aztecs; "city of the Gods" imitates sacred mountain (Cerro Gordo) 1st large city-state in Americas Major urban area orthogonal planning Observe astronomical signs "Avenue of the Dead" (Pyramid of the Sun and Moon)
Mayan culture
In Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala Chichen Itza Sacrifice
Talud Tablero
Found on temple of the feathered serpent (Quetzalcoatl) First is a slanted vertical piece of stone going up the pyramid Second is rectangular piece of stone jutting out over the first
Tikal (Guatemala)
Location of "Temple I: tomb in bedrock (Ruler A) 9 levels (Mayan underworld?) temple at the top "roof comb"
Rome: Old St. Peter's
Demolished 16th century CE Plan = Basilica (Lawcourt) Type Built over grave of St. Peter A = Atrium B = Narthex C = Nave D = Aisles E = Transept F = Apse
Rome: Church of Santa Sabina
Basilica Plan A = Nave B = Apse C = Triumphal Arch D = Clerestory E = Arcade F = Aisles
Rome: Santa Costanza
Central-Plan Church Originally Mausoleum of Constantia later converted to church (10th century) Composite Capitals - Corinthian + Ionic
Ravenna: S. Apollinare Nuovo
Mosaic shows miracle of loaves & fishes Jesus as young man Wears purple cloak = symbolism of Roman Emperor Below clerestory = Female Saints on left | Male saints on right Roof = Miracles on left | Passion on right Architectural decoration: mosaics
Ravenna: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Exterior has continuous arcade of blind arches Central dome on pendentives Interior barrel-vaulted arms Cruciform (cross-shaped) Mosaic of Good Shepard
Ravenna: Orthodox Baptistery
Octagonal plan, with niches Central-plan Domed octagon Eight as symbol of regeneration Decorative use of blind arches on exterior Baptismal Font Dome shows baptism of Christ, surrounded by 12 apostles
Hagia Sophia | Istanbul, Turkey
Early Byzantine Period Dome supported on pendentives Two half domes Four smaller half-domes at corners Sanctuary apse PATRONS: JUSTINIAN & THEODORA ARCHITECTS: ANTHEMIUS & ISIDORUS
Ravenna: San Vitale
Early Byzantine Period Central-Plan | Domed octagon A = Apse mosaic of Christ enthroned, flanked by angels, Saint Vitalis and Bishop Ecclesius, with model of the church B = North wall of apse | Emperor Justinian, church officials, soldiers C = South wall of apse | Empress Theodora & attendants D = Bishop Ecclesius with model of the church
Hosios Loukas Monastery | Greece
Katholikon - Early 11th century Theotokos Late 20th century Middle Byzantine Period Kufic (or kufesque) brickwork Kufic = patterns inspired by Arabic Kufic script but used in Middle Byzantine church Decorative | Exotic | Adaptations to Christian audience? Cloisonne masonry Thetokos - Cross-in-square plan | Dome on pendentives Katholikon - Dome on squinches | Theotokos Panakranta ("all-merciful") Dome fresco - Christ Pantokrator (replaces original mosaic)
Dome of The Rock | Jerusalem, Israel
First monumental architecture in Islam Exterior Tiles - 16th century Interior: Original Mosaics Geometric & floral motifs (arabesques) Calligraphy Qur'an (Koran) Central plan | derived from Roman & Byzantine precedents | well-suited to circumambulation
Great Mosque of Damascus
Built on site of roman temple of Jupiter As well as church of St John the Baptist 1 = Qibla wall (towards Mecca) 2 = Mihrab (prayer niche, towards Mecca) 3 = Courtyard (sahn) with fountain surrounded by arcade 4 = Hypostyle prayer hall (haram) Use of squinches
Great Mosque (Mezquita) of Cordoba
Abd al-Rahman I On location of earlier Visigoth Christian church Raised ribs | Calligraphy Mihrab dome | Squinches w/ lobed arches | Mosaic decoration (floral) Mihra | Maqsura | Arcade Interlaced arches | Lobed Arches Horshoe arches w/ polychrome voussoirs Haram = Prayer Hall Reused Roman & Visigoth columns (spoila)
Friday Mosque (Masjid-I Jami) | Isfahan, Iran (Four Iwan Plan)
Large towers = minarets Entrance - Pointed Arch | Muqarnas ABCD = Iwans (FOUR IWAN PLAN) Iwan = Chamber w/ arched opening Qibla Iwan
Palatine Chapel
Aachen, Germany Carolingian Architecture | Central plan: domed octagon Octagonal cloister vault (eight curving triangular segments in dome) Symbolism of 8 Throne for emperor Charlemagne in gallery 8 piers on ground floor | polychrome stone revetments book-matches marbles | arcade of rounded arches polychrome voussoirs | Latin inscriptions 2nd floor gallery with arches opening 2 tiers of Corinthian columns (possible reused from Roman palace in Ravenna) = spoila = symbolism of recycled elements
Plan of St. Gall
Plan of IDEAL monastery from Library at St. Gall, Switzerland made by Abbot Haito of Reichenau for Abbot Gozbert of Saint Gall
OLDEST surviving architectural drawing from medieval period Church at heart of monastery connected to dormitory Double-ended basilica with a western hemicycle flanked by twin cylindrical towers Program sets forth major components of religious community
St. Michael's at Hildesheim, Germany
Early Romanesque Architecture Tower, Nave & Clerestory, Aisles, Apse Bishop Bernward Double Apse | East: Altar | West: raised platform for emperor Flat ceiling (with wooden truss system), clerestory windows, aisles separated from nave by arcade with piers and column Alternate-support system
St Michael's Bronze Doors
16 panels (8+8) Scenes based on illustrated Bible L: Genesis | Original Sin R: Life of Jesus | Redemption
Speyer Cathedral | Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St. Stephen
Lombard bands | Blind arches Original wooden ceiling replaced by groin vaults separated by transverse arch bands Alternating engaged columns and pilasters connect aisle to clerestory
San Miniato al Monte
Florence, Italy (Tuscany) Interior arcade | Clerestory | Diaphragm arches | Wooden truss | Ceiling | Polychrome marbles | Revetment Facade design: Arcade on Corinthian columns Nave is higher than aisles facade looks like small temples w/ Corinthian pilaster & pediment, small aedicula in center Use of dark and light stone also goes back to ancient Roman architecture Notice trompe l'oeil "doors" between real doors
San't Ambrogio
Milan, Italy (Tuscany) Lombard bands Ribbed groin vaults used above nave Octagonal dome with windows at east Atrium to west | 2-story narthex with arches | 2 western bell towers | nave has vaulted bays | aisles have galleries above | octagonal dome | central apse with smaller chapels at back
St Foy
Romanesque Architecture of France Conques, France Reliquary of St. Foy Romanesque church was built under the leadership of Abbot Odoloric Situated along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela Portal w/ sculpted tympanum depicting the Last Judgement To right of Christ is Mary, St. Peter, Charlemagne, and his family Heavenly city (left) Hell (right) western facade w/ towers
Cathedral of Saint-Lazare
Autun, France Benedictine church, founded from the Benedictine Abby at Cluny A = trumeau B = Pilaster C = Colonette D = Capital E = Tympanum F = Archivolt
Church of Ste. Madeleine
Vezelay, France Sculpted capital from the south aisle ("Mystic Mill") Moses (left) and Paul are shown grinding grain, an allegory for the reconciliation of the Old and New Testaments through the actions of Christ
Cistercian Abbey at Fontenay
Cistercian order Stricter observance of Benedictine Rule 12th century, Bernard of Clairvaux Monasteries away from any settlement Orderly plans based upon square module
Durham Cathedral | Cathedral of St. Cuthbert
Durham, England Anglo-Norman Romanesque style A = Nave B = Cylindrical columns C = Compound piers D = Arcade E = Pointed arches septpartite (7-segment) ribbed vaults between transverse pointed arches F = Quadrant Vault Romanesque but with innovations: Pointed Arch | Rib vaulting | buttresses above the aisles => Foreshadows the "Gothic" style
Abbey Church of St. Denis (St. Dionysios)
Abbot Suger Inspired by descriptions of the temple of Solomon and Hagia Sophia, writings of St. Denis Rib vaults | Pointed arches | slender columns
Cathedral of Notre Dame
Paris, France Gothic Style (FLYING BUTTRESS) Ile de las cite | basilica-plan church | Bishop Maurice de Sully
Watson Brake
Louisiana | c. 3500 BCE (Archaic Period) 11+ earthen mounds & connecting ridges = earliest monumental architecture in North America (so far) built over centuries by hunter-gatherer society season occupation, function? Similar to: Stonehenge | Newgrange | White Temple at Uruk
Poverty Point
Louisiana | c. 1700-1100 BCE (archaic period) Artificially made mounds 5 concentric semicircles w/ houses Plaza for ceremonies Earthen mounds ABCE Orientation: Bayou Marcon N-S axis of mounds EAB Solar alignment at solstices? Mound A: T-shaped from above Bird? Earth Island? Constructed by hg society, evidence of trading network
Serpent Mound
Adams County, Ohio c. 300 BCE (Early Woodland: Adena Culture) c. 1000 BCE (Fort Ancient Culture) Layer of clay, ash, rocks, & soil | no burials in mound itself, but some nearby | possible alignments | symbolism for agricultural society
Cahokia
Illinois c. 1000 CE Mississippian Culture largest city north of Mexico "Monk's Mound"
Cliff Palace at Mesa Verse
Colorado Ancestral Pueblo culture 150 rooms rectangular rooms; stone masonry subterranean, circular kivas A = sipapu B = fire pit C = deflector D = vent E = banquette F = roof support
Pueblo Bonito
New Mexico Ancestral Pueblo culture 600-800 rooms rectangular rooms, stone masonry subterranean; kivas T-shaped doorway
Temple of the Inscriptions (House of the Nine Sharpened Spears)
Palenque, Mexico "palace" temple at the top stairway down to tomb Lord Pacal
Chichen Itza
Yucatan, Mexico Postclassic Northern Maya Itza Culture El Caracol "The Snail" El Castillo "The Castle"