Lecture 14- Early Christian Architecture

ARC 2701/5711: History of Design from Antiquity to the Middle Ages/ Instructor: Elliott Sturtevant. Review for lecture 14: 10.29.2025. Some questions are added because it helps build context for the era, look at notes provided to expand on why the info was included in this stack and how it connects to the themes of this lecture overall.

Site/ Location/ Built

Site: Basilica of Constantine (Aula Palatina)

Location: Trier, Germany

Built: ca. 300–310 CE

what kind of drawing is this? Of what?

Section of Basilica of Constantine

what kind of drawing is this? Of what?

axonometric view of Basilica of Constantine

what kind of drawing is this? Of what?

Plan of Basilica of Constantine,

What is location A?

Atrium

What is location B?

Main Hall

What is location C?

Peristyle Court

What is location D?

Apse

Site/ Location/ Built

Site: Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine

Location: Rome, Italy

Built: ca. 306–312 CE

what kind of drawing is this? Of what?

Plan, Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine

Martyr definition

A person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce religion

martyrium

A building or chamber used by the early Christians as a burial place- A place where the relics of martyrs are preserved

Reasons for fall of the Roman Empire

• Weakened army and foreign mercenaries

• dwindling tax base

• plagues and earthquakes

Basilica definition

rectangular walled structure with an open hall extending from end to end , usually flanked by side aisles set off by colonnades and a raised platform at one or both ends 

nave defintion

The central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the narthex to the transepts or  to the chancel

nave in a basilica defintion

In a basilican church, which has side aisles, the nave refers only to the central aisle

aisle

The portion of a church or basilica that parallels or encircles the major sections of the structure, such as the nave, choir, or apse

narthex

A long, narrow, enclosed porch, usually colonnaded or arcaded, crossing the entire width of a church at its entrance

Site/ Location/ Built

Site: Hagia Sophia

Location: Constantinople, present-day Istanbul, Turkey

Built: ca. 532–537 CE

what kind of drawing is this? Of what?

section, Hagia Sophia 

what kind of drawing is this? Of what?

plan, Hagia Sophia 

Site/ Location/ Built

Site: Debre Damo

Location: present-day Ethiopia

Built: 6th century