Art History Test 5 Early Middle ages

Arches of the Great Mosque, Cordoba

8th-10th centuries

786-787

Columns are 9’9” h

Horse shoe arch

candystriping

double lobed arches; two sets of arches stacked up on one another

Sinan the Great Mosque of Suleyman I

Turkey

Begun in 1550

Sinan = greek who converted to islam; became “architect of the empire” supervisor of building in istanbul/overseer of all public works

central mosque plan with dome

4 minarets (towers calling the faithful to worship) greek style central plan

The Luftullah Mosque

Iran 1602-1616

3 types of byzantine patterning, floral, calligraphic, and geometric with byzantine colors

Warrior Entering Valhalla

Gotland (east side of sweden)

8th-9th century limestone relief (newly repainted)

5’9” high

Warrior named Hjoruv, rides Odin’s eight legged horse Sleipnir, into valhalla. above are two female aid, with long hair and a long skirt, welcomes hjoruv into valhalla by extending a drinking horn to the man with an axe. On the lower half of the stone is a Viking ship filled with warriors and a sail decorated with diamond shapes

Shows the importance of the journey into valhalla by warriors and the importance of warring and raiding in viking society. importance of ship burials like those mentioned in beowulf and the belief that the deceased sail into the after-life

Restored Abbey Church of Saint Michael’s Exterior

1001-1031

Main apse faces west instead of east. this type of plan is called west work and was sometimes used in germany

1 large apse, 3 smaller apses at rear of church

2 transepts with central towers above each transept

4 entrances on sides of church

4 smaller towers at each end of transepts

stone exterior

Restored Interior of Saint Michael’s

Round arch with candystriping, islamic influence

painted ceiling shows biblical scenes to teach people who could not read

simple white walls above nave with clerestory windows to let light in

Looking toward main apse and altar

Bronze doors: scenes from the old testament teach people who could not read biblical stories; focus on God as judge and believers as sinners

Section and Plan of St. Michael’s church

latin style basilica

Barrel Vault

Groin Vault

Pointed Arch

Horse Shoe Arch

History of Early Middle Ages

600-900 AD, Follows the decline of the Roman Empire

Islam grows in Spain from the Moors who ruled the Roman Province in NW Africa including morocco and algeria

Islam continues to grow in spain until 1400’s when Christians re-conquer it

Islamic Religion

Arabia was united after Muhammad’s death under the first caliph ruler

Over the next 20 years, Islamic Armies conquer large portions of the byzantine empire and middle east

The split of Sunni and Shiite Muslims happens due to a rift between the caliphs

Islam accepts moses and jesus as forerunners of Muhammad; images are built on non-figurative images to avoid idols

What did Muhammad do

570 AD, Islam is founded by prophet muhammad who was born in Mecca in Western Arabia. Muhammad moves to Medina and establishes Islam. He writes the Koran, which was divinely inspired and he died in 632 AD

Beliefs of Muslims

Follows the Koran, Written in Arabic (Kufic) language

1. There is no god but allah and muhammad is his messenger

2. Ritual prayer in the direction of Mecca five times a day

3. Charitable giving to the poor

4. Fasting and abstinence during the holy month of Ramadan

5. Hadj: an annual pilgrimage to Mecca taken at least once during lifetime

Dome of the Rock Subject Matter

First Islamic place of worship in Jerusalem built in the late 7th century

Centrally planned octagonal structure which was built around a large boulder

built by a caliph who wanted to “dazzle the minds” of muslims and prevent them from seeing beauty in monuments dedicated to other faiths.

Dome of the Rock Formal Qualities

Octagonal - 8 sides and centrally planned around a large boulder

faced with cut marble and mosaics

3 types of byzantine and persian patterning including geometric, floral, and calligraphic

Golds, Yellow, and blues

gilded dome

Dome of the Rock Symbolism

Islam: site from which gabriel let muhammad through the heavenly spheres to allah

Judaism: abraham’s sacrifice of isaac, location of first temple built by solomon and believed to be the site where adam was created from the torah and pentateuch

christianity: abraham’s sacrifice of isaac; location of first temple built by solomon, and is belived to be the site of the creation of adam from genesis

History of the Vikings

800-1000 AD

Vikings are Scandinavian warriors from Norway, Sweden and Denmark known for raiding. Stories are recorded in icelandic sagas from iceland. Scandinavia was an agricultural society divided into small communities and ruled by royal families who were elected to the throne

800 AD - Vikings developed sailing ships which made extensive travel possible including trips to byzantium, baltics, france, british isles, and north america

Artistic influences of vikings

Artistic influences: Islamic, Byzantine, and Ancient Near Eastern influences are shown in the animated human-like animal forms and geometric designs with natural organic shapes

Religion of Vikings

World sprung from a formless mass from which ice giant, ymir emerges. He is killed and from his blood his giant ancestors emerge. Giants are in conflict with gods and goddesses, but they also make alliances with them.

Asgard

dwelling of gods and location of Valhalla (heaven)

Midgard

middle of earth, inhabited by humans, the earthly realm

Utgard

outer earth, home of trees and cult of tree gods

odin

god of wisdom, created the first human couple, god of Vikings

Thor

god of thunder, protector of cosmos

Njord

sea god

Frey

god of virility

Freja

goddess of fertility

Rune stones and Picture stones

used by vikings, anglo saxons, goths and germanic people

upright stones used for writing events and drawing pictures of events - memorials, voyages, battles and daily activities

the 16 letter runic alphabet is from 300 AD, Stones preserved the mythical, literary and cultural history of Scandinavians.

Northern European Art: The carolingian period: 800 AD

Pope crowned Charlemagne as Roman Emperor of St. Peter’s in Rome. He rules France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Northern spain, and italy to the south of rome

charlemagne created a cultural revival of ancient rome where monasteries expand the network of learning throughout europe. This expansion includes the creation of libraries and educational reform with an emphasis on the liberal arts

Latin is the language of manuscript texts