HISTORY3: EARLY CHRISTIAN & BYZANTINE

Early Christian Period

Art was produced in the catacombs where the early Christians would gather.

Edict of Milan

By Constantine. Institutionalizing Christianity as official religion of Rome. Conversion of Basilicas to Churches.

Catacombs

Underground burial chambers.

Christian symbolism

symbolisms of ancient Christians such as the cross and fish became the initial basis for byzantine art.

Atrium

a forecourt surrounded or flanked by porticoes

Narthex

a portico before the nave for the penitents

Nave

The middle aisle of a church extending from the narthex to the choir

Apse

was a semi circular space in front of the nave

Bema

raised platform transverse open space separating the nave and the apse

Transept

as wide as the nave, forming a square at the crossing, consisting of the choir and the apse (now referred as the altar)

Choir

a part of the church occupied by the singers

Ambo (Ambulatory)

semicircular walkway with chapels off it surrounding the sanctuary

Pulpit

appointed place of preaching

Altar

was placed at the center of the apse. a table upon which the Eucharist is celebrated

Byzantine period

period in the reign of Constantine I in 324 AD after the death of Marcus Aurelius, he built a new capital for the Roman Empire in Byzantinium. He called it Constatinople (Greek for city of Constantine or Nova Roma in new Rome)

Pendentives

an inverted concave triangle that springs from a corner of the square curving up to meet the other pendentives

Squinch Arch

corbel type arches piled on top of another, placed diagonally across the internal angles of a tower or base of a drum to convert the square form into an octagonal base to support an octagonal spire or circular dome

Minarets

a slender towers added by Muslim invaders

Basilica

formerly a hall of justice, was redesigned to be a place of worship

Martyrium

sanctuaries that enshrine a relic or tomb of a martyr

Mausoleum (byzantine)

type of architecture during the byzantine period where it is a large tomb, almost temple like that houses an elite

Baptisteries

place used for the sacrament of baptism

Church of San Vitale

A large building with a dome over the central core. Famous for its mosaics. Dedicated to St. Vitalis.

Hagia Sophia

(holy wisdom) built as the major cathedral of Constantinople. It is a basilica with a Narthex at the west and an altar framed by an apse at the east

Hutch

A chest to store family values

Ark Chest

a gabled type chest

Boarded chest

a 6 plank or 6 sided chest

Chair of Estate

byzantine chair for lords and masters

Chair of Dagobert

example of Sella curulis reserve for people with high ranking and divinity

Cathedra

Byzantine chair used by women with implied power