Module 10: Early Christian Europe & Byzantium

Paganism

A non-Christian or pre-Christian religion

Monotheism

The doctrine or belief that there is only one god

Polytheism

The belief in or worship of more than one god

Apse

a semicircular or polygonal extension to a larger contemporar

Narthex

Transverse entrance hall

Transept/Crossing

transverse arms of a cross shaped church, usually between the nave and chancel

Spolia

Columns taken from earlier roman buildings

Mausoleum

free standing tomb marking burial place of person

Drum

vertical wall supporting a dome; it may be circular, square, or polygonal in plan and is usually interposed between the dome

Pendentive

a triangular, concave-curved architectural element that allows a circular dome to be placed over a square room by creating a smooth, structural transition between the two shapes

San Giovanni in Laterano

Rome, Italy, 320 CE

Old St. Peter’s Basilica

Rome, Italy, 330 CE

Santa Constanza

Rome, Italy, 350 CE

San Vitale

Ravenna, Italy, 525-550 CE

Hagia Sophia

Constantinople, Turkey, 530, CE

Emperor Constantine

First Roman emperor to convert to Christianity; makes Christianity legal

Emperor Justinian

Recaptured land in Italy and sponsored the building of San Vitale in Ravenna and Hagia Sophia in Constantinople to demonstrate his piety and political power

How did Roman authorities view the teachings of Jesus?

They thought it undermined authorities and rulers

Who was the first Roman emperor to convert to Chirstianity?

Emperor Constantine

What city did Constantine make the capital of his empire?

Byzantium 337 CE

What Roman building type became the model for Christian churches, and why?

Basilica because the other Roman building types had negative connotations to them

Identify the new architectural features introduced to the basilica at Old St. Peters

Narthex and transept

Identify churches built on a basilica plan

San Giovanni

Identify churches built no a central plan

Santa Costanza

Identify domes built on a drum

Santa Costanza

Identify domes built on pentatives

Saints Sergiu’s + Bacchus

Who is pictured in the mosaics at San Vitale in Ravenna?

Jesus, Emperor Justinian, and Empress Theodora

Why does the dome of Hagia Sophia appear to float?

There is a ring of windows close together at the base of the dome bringing in light