Byzantine Architecture Domes and Design

Prof. Abhijeet B. Shinde,
Pravara Rural College of Architecure,
Loni
BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

Byzantine Empire- Early PeriodTimeline:
• 330: Emperor Constantine founds a new capital of the Roman
Empire at the Greek town of Byzantium, renaming the city
Constantinopleafter himself
• 395: Death of Emperor Theodosius – Empire permanently split in
two halves. Constantinopleis capitalof the Eastern Roman Empire
Introduction
• 527-565: reign of Emperor
Justinian I. Greatest
expansion of Byzantine
Empire
• 1453: Fall of Byzantine
Empire

• By the end of the 5th century AD, Rome had completely declined
• It had been sacked twice and was then under occupation
• Its influence was significantly reduced and the Impetus for
architecturalinnovationshifted to the Byzantine Empire
• This shift also marks the movement from early Christian civilization to
the Byzantine civilization
• Under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, the Byzantine style of
architectureevolved
• His interest in church building led to the discovery of the groin vault
and the evolutionof the Byzantine style
Introduction
Constantinople(Istanbul)

• Although it is impossible to identify two similar Byzantine churches,
it is still possible to identify the basic characteristicsof an ideal
Byzantine church
• The attributesof the ideal church included:
– The use of a centralized church plan
– The use of surrounding isles
– The use of pendantivesand dome on pendentives
– And the use of a complex program of interior
structure,lighting and decoration to create fascinating interiors
Introduction

• Byzantine architecture gave us the pendentive domes and the
dome on pendentives
• The pendentive dome and the dome on pendentives provided the
Byzantine architects with a unique way of adjusting the circular form
of a dome roof to a square or polygonal plan
Domes and Domes on Pedentives

• This type of dome was invented by the
Romans but was rarely used by them
• It was the Byzantine builders who used it
to create dramatic interiors
• In the Pantheon in Rome, the Dome roof
had to be supported by a circular plan
Pantheon, Rome, 118-125 CE
• The walls of the
plan had to be
thick to
counterbalance
the forces from
the Dome
parts of the building
circular concept.

• The pendentive dome is
derived by trimming the sides
of a regular dome over a
square plan as shown in A.
• The pendentive dome enables
the transfer the total load of
the
• dome to the four corners of a
building, meaning that only the
• four corners need to be
reinforced
• This allows the dome roof to be
adapted for a square building
• as shown in B

• Additionally, the top of the
pendentive dome can be trim
to
• introduce another dome on top
• of it as shown in C
• The additional dome can
further be raised to introduce a
cylinder between the
pendentive dome and the
additional dome as in D
• Windows can then be
introduced in the cylinder
enabling architects to creating
dazzling interior light effects

• Byzantine architecture has its early
prototypes in two churches, San Vitale
(526-47), Ravenna and in Saint Sergius
• and Saint Bacchus in Constantinople
• Ravenna once served as the seat of
the Roman Empire
• The church is among the most
important monument of Byzantine
architecture
• It was also the prototype for the Hagia
Sophia which was built 10 years later
Early Prototypes (St Vitale Ravenna)
• The exterior is very plain – no interestin
impressing from the outside, but want to
impress through the interior design and
its meaning.

• The church is octagonal in
plan
• It has a domed octagonal
core surrounded by
ground level ambulatory
with a gallery above it
• The outer wall of the
ambulatory is also
octagonal
• It has an apse which
extends from the central
core to one of the 8 sides
of the outer octagon
Early Prototypes
(St Vitale Ravenna AD 526-547)
Plan
Section

• The domed roof of the church is raised
on a drum allowing it
• greater height and lighting
• The dome has a diameter of 17 meters
and a height of 30 meters
• The Byzantine characteristics of the
church include:
• Its central planning
• The structural arrangement of its
central dome
• The use of surrounding isles
• And the way structure, lighting and
decoration have been integrated in
the interior of the church
Early Prototypes (St Vitale Ravenna AD 526-547)

• Series of smaller arches supporting a
centrally domed space. At one end of the
plan there is an area that protrudes outward
for the altar space Filled with decorative,
colorful and vibrant mosaics.

• Central image of Christ. Emphasis on natural
landscape, with greenery and flowers. But,
behind him is a heavenly realm characterized
by a gold background. Shows Christ as the
ruler of the world, and he wears purple
garments.
• Panels that show the donors themselves. The
Emperor Justinian, wearing the same kind of
clothes that Christ is depicted as wearing,
shown presenting a liturgical vessel to the
bishop of the church. He is flanked by the
imperial troops that contain the chi ro symbol
– first developed through Constantine.
mosaic panelsshowing Emperor Justinian

Emperor Justinianand his wife,
Empress Theodora
• The second panel shows Justinian’s
wife wearing purple garments,
standing outside the church, showing
a fountain.
• She is with her entourage of
elaborately dressed women. The walls
are shown with jewel encrusted stone.
• These images are placed in the apse
area of the dome.
• This became a major political conditioningof architectureand art.
There is an extremely close connection betweenthe purpose of the
emperor and his role as leader of the church himself – connection
between church and state.

• It was built as a palace
church between A.D. 527-
536
• It is based on the four-
lobed alternative church
plan of early Christian
architecture
• The church in plan consist
of an octagonal core set in a
very loose rectangularform
• The form of the church
was not a perfect square
Early Prototypes (St. Sergius and Bacchus, Constantinople)
Nave
Narthex

Early Prototypes
(St. Sergius and Bacchus,Constantinople)
Northeast (rear) view of Little Hagia Sophia in 2013
By user:Bollweevil - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0,
By User:Ggia - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Colonnade

• The central space was covered by a
dome
• The octagon of the central dome has
a small but true pendentivedome
• This church was constructed very
shortly before Hagia Sophia and was
believed to be a experiment
• The dome, its adaptation to a
squarish form, the use of pendentive
and the lighting and decoration scheme
in the interior gives it its Byzantine
characteristics
Early Prototypes (St. Sergius and Bacchus, Constantinople)
General view from the gallery.
Looking south-west
By user:Bollweevil - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0,

• Hagia Sophia or the church of the
holy wisdom is the most
accomplished master piece in the
history of architecture
• The church was constructed in
532 A.D. by Emperor Justinian in
Constantinoplenow Istanbul
• Hagia Sophia was the greatest
vaulted space without
intermediate supports that has
ever been built and it remained so
throughout the history of the
Byzantine Empire
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople)

• Its architects were Isidore
of Miletus and Anthemius
of Tralles, professors of
geometry at the
University of
Constantinople
• The church provides an
expert solution to the
problem of how to place
a dome on a square base
• The solution was to use
pendantives
BYZANTINE
ARCHITECTURE
(Hagia Sophia, Constantinople)

• Hagia Sophia is covered by a
central dome 102 feet (31 m)
across, slightly smaller than the
Pantheon's
• The dome is carried on
Pendentives
• The weight of the dome
passes through the
pendentivesto four massive
piers at the corners
• Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches
• These four concave triangular sections of masonry solved the problem
of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base

• The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of
arched windows under it, which help flood the colorful interior with light
The Dome,
interior view

Section
Plan

• Between them the dome
seems to float upon four
great arches
• These four concave
triangular sections of
masonry solved the problem
of setting the circular base
of a dome on a rectangular
base
• The church form is a
combination of centralized
and longitudinal structure
• Longitudinal direction is
defined by domes to the
east and west

• At Hagia Sophia, two opposing
arches on the central square
open into semi domes, each
pierced by 3 smaller radial
semidomes
• At the west (entrance) and east
(liturgical)ends, the arched
openings are extendedand by
great half domes carried on
smaller semi-domed exedras
BYZANTINE
ARCHITECTURE
• Thus a hierarchy of domeheaded elements build up to create a vast
oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence never seen
before in antiquity

• Of great artistic importance was its
decorated interior with mosaics and
marble pillars and coverings
• The combination of interior
decoration with lights flooding from
its domes creates a glittering internal
environment
BYZANTINE
ARCHITECTURE
• The church form is a combination
of centralized and longitudinal
structure
• Longitudinal direction is defined by
domes to the east and west

• Hagia sophia dominated church
architectureafter the 6th century AD
• For over 900 years it was the seat of the
Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople and
a principal setting for imperial
ceremonies
The Dome, exterior view
• Hagia Sophia was onverted to a
mosque at the Fall of Constantinople
to the Ottoman Turks under Sultan
Mohammad II in 1453
• Its rich figurative mosaics were
covered with plaster and replaced by
Islamic motifs
• It was for almost 500 years the
principal mosque of Istanbul

• Hagia Sophia served as model for many of the great Ottoman
mosques of Constantinople such as the Shehzade Mosque, the
Suleiman Mosque, and the Rustem Pasha Mosque
• After continuing as a mosque for many years, it was in 1934 turned
by Turkish authorities into the Hagia Sophia Museum
Shehzade Mosque Suleiman Mosque

• Byzantine churches, each with a central dome opening into
surrounding semi domes and other vault forms and accompanied by
the characteristic iconography proliferated throughout the Byzantine
Empire Greece, Balkans, Asia manor, part of north Africa and Italy
• It also influencedthe design of churchesin western Christendom
• The later churcheshowever lacked the power and vigor of the Hagia
Sophia and were of a smaller scale compared to it
• As Byzantine architecturespread, it also developed with a regional
flavor
• Many cities built Byzantine churches that were reflective of regional
practices
• Some of the most prominent ones are Santa Sophia Kiev, Saint Basils
Moscow,Monastry of Hosios Loukas, and Church of Graenica
Yugoslavia
IN OTHER PLACES -

• Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev was
named after the Hagia Sophia cathedral
in Constantinople
• The first foundations were laid in 1037
by prince Yaroslav
• The church measures 37 X 55 meters
• The cathedral has 5 naves, 5 apses, and
13 cupolas (domes)
• It is surrounded by two-tier galleries
from three sides
• In 1934 the cathedral was confiscated
by the Soviets and turned it into an
architecturaland historical museum
St Sophia, KievIN OTHER PLACES -

• Commission by Ivan the Terrible
of Russia and built as the capitals
main parish church
St Basils, Moscow
St Basils, Moscow AD 1551-1536
• The ground plan is an eight pointed star
at the center of which is a rectangular
chamber and an apse
• Eight domed tower chapels are
distributedaround the central chamber
IN OTHER PLACES -

• In Saint Basil Moscow, the Byzantine
dome finally became onion shaped tops
of towers,
(In other Places) St Basils, Moscow
St Basils, Moscow AD 1551-1536
• The Byzantine
program of
interior lighting
and decoration
was also lost
• Instead, it was
replaced by the
use of brilliant
exterior colors

• Built around 1020 A.D.
• It has a complex plan with 8 piers
carrying its large central dome
• The church plan integrates a cross in
square with an octogan dome scheme
which resulted in effect of
interpenetrating space
Monastry of Hosios Loukas
• Combined with lights from its dome
and its decoration it give a clear
expressing of its Byzantine character
• On the outside, its construction
materials reflectlocal practices
IN OTHER PLACES -

• St Mark is also a notable example of
Byzantine architecture
IN OTHER PLACES -
St Mark Venice
• It lies on St Mark's Square, one of the
most famous squares in the world
• The church has five domes each toping a
square
• The church is based on a Greek cross
floor plan, based on part on the Hagia
Sophia and the Basilica of the Apostles,
both in Constantinople

• Each arm of the cross is of the same length and is covered by a dome
• A dome also covers the square space at the center
• While the basic structure of the building has been little altered, its
decoration changed greatly over time
• The front façade is Gothic and was added much later
St Mark VeniceIN OTHER PLACES -

• Early Christian and Byzantine architecture was a continuation of the
Roman Empire
• Buildings and building practices continued from the Roman period to
the Early Christian and Byzantine period
• All Roman civic and Residential buildings were used during the Early
Christian and Byzantine period
• The only new element Early Christian and Byzantine Arch. is the
Christian church
Building and Other Architectural Material
• The spread of Christianity in Rome led to the evolution of the Christian
place of worship
• The form of the early church was an adaptationof the Roman Basilica
• This form later evolved into an alternative church plan that was either
round or lobed
• The Byzantine church form evolved much later than the Early
Christian church forms

Material Construction and Technology
• The system of construction in concrete and brickwork introduced by
the Romans was adopted by the Byzantines.
• Where materials were not available, they were imported from
colonies of the empire
• The carcase (skeleton) of concrete and brickwork was first
completed and allowed to settle before the surface sheathing of
unyielding marble slabs was added, and this independence of the
componentparts is characteristic of Byzantine construction.
• Brickwork, moreover lent itself externally to decorative patterns and
banding, and internally it was suitable for covering with marble,
mosaic, and fresco decoration.
• The ordinary bricks were like the Roman, about an inch and a half in
depth, and were laid on thick beds of mortar.

• brickwork necessitatedspecial care in making mortar, which was
composed of lime and sand with crushed pottery, tiles, or bricks, and
much of it remains as hard as that in the best buildings of Rome, while
the core of the wall was sometimes of concrete,as in the Roman
period.
• The decorative character of external facades depended largely on the
arrangement of the facing bricks, which were not always laid
horizontally,but sometimes obliquely, sometimes in the form of the
meander fret, sometimes in the chevron or herring bone pattern,and
in many other similar designs, giving great variety to the facades.
• An attemptwas also made to ornament the rough brick exteriors by
the use of stone bands and v decorative arches.
• Walls were sheeted internally with marble and vaults and domes with
colored glass mosaics on a golden background

• In construction technology, the greatest
contribution during the Early Christian and
Byzantine era was the discovery of the
pendentivesand Dome on pendentives
Pendentives
• It is a curved support shaped like an
inverted triangle.
• It is used to hold a dome.
• Using pendentives, Byzantine architects
could build a higher and wider dome.

• Using pendentives and Dome on
pendentive, Byzantine architects
were able to adapt the circular
profile of a dome roof to a square
plan
• By using several overlapping
domes, Byzantine architects were
able to create an intricate interior
structural system and external roof
system
• Intricate interior structural systems
combined with decoration and
lighting created fascinating interior
effects

• The Early Christian and
Byzantine period saw the
most extensive use of
clerestory windows
• From early basilica
churches to Byzantine
churches, clerestory
windows were used to
provide lighting in the
interior of churches and
together with decoration
enabled the creation of
interestinginteriors

• It is possible to understand forces and principles shaping Early
Christian and Byzantine architecture by examining the following
issues:
– Religious Ritual
– Symbolism
– ConstructionTechnology
Principals of organizations

Religious Rituals
• The various ritual that comprise Christian religious worship played a
fundamentalpart in the evolutionof the Christian place of worship
• Design closely mirror rituals of the religion
• The initial choice of the Basilica was because of its easy adaptability
to a Christian church
• Later when practices started changing, the alternative church forms
evolved
• Ritual practices and function played a more significant influence on
church form during the Early Christian period than during the
Byzantine period
Principals of organizations -

Symbolism
• Symbolism also played a significant role in the evolutionof the form
of the Christian church
• Spirituality and mysticism were integrated into the experience of
church spaces
• During Christian architecture,Symbolism in the experience of space
become a predominant issue in design
• The use of light and decoration to create fascinating interiors but
functionstill predominated

Symbolism
• During the Byzantine period the Church itself became a symbol of
the faith
• The Church is viewed as a house of god and its design and
constructionas a reflectionof this symbolism
• The scale of the church was thereforeincreased and its decoration
became more complex
• In this respect we see a contrast between an overriding emphasis in
Early Christian architectureon function and rituals, and in Byzantine
architectureon symbolism

Construction Technology
• Constructiontechnology was a major influence on Church form
during the Early Christian and Byzantine period
• The Basilica was chosen during the Early Christian period partly for
its ease of construction
• Ease of constructionmeans places of worship could be provided for
the expanding believers
• During the Byzantine era, discovery of pendentivesand dome on
pedentiveschanged technology for church construction
• Provided means to achieve church forms that reflectedthe
significance of churchesas house of God

Reference :
1. http://opencourseware.kfupm.edu.sa/colleges/ced/arc/arc110/
files/Lecture_Slides_Module_8_ECB.pdf
2. http://www.slideshare.net/BinumolTom/byzantine-
architecture-14165924
3. https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/test-
3/deck/10586103
4. http://jayrichardson.onmason.com
5. www.wikipedia.com
6. www.google.com

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