What are the architectural elements of early Christian architecture?
Characteristics of the early Christian church building
- The house church.
- The atrium.
- The basilica.
- The bema.
- The mausoleum: centrally-planned building.
- The cruciform ground plan: Latin or Greek cross.
What themes appear in early Christian art and architecture?
Early Christian art
- Themes of death and resurrection. A striking aspect of the Christian art of the third century is the absence of the imagery that will dominate later Christian art.
- Christianity’s canonical texts and the New Testament.
- Early representations of Christ and the apostles.
What are examples of early Christian architecture?
Constantinian Basilicas:
- Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran.
- St Mary Major.
- Old Saint Peter’s Basilica.
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
- Church of the Nativity.
- Saint Sofia Church, Sofia.
What impact did Christianity have on architecture?
This meant that Roman temple architecture was largely an architecture of the exterior. Since Christianity was a mystery religion that demanded initiation to participate in religious practices, Christian architecture put greater emphasis on the interior.
What are the characteristics of Byzantine architecture?
Byzantine architects were eclectic, at first drawing heavily on Roman temple features. Their combination of the basilica and symmetrical central-plan (circular or polygonal) religious structures resulted in the characteristic Byzantine Greek-cross-plan church, with a square central mass and four arms of equal length.
What are the influences that lead to the development of church architecture?
Apart from changes in the liturgy, the other major influence on church architecture was in the use of new materials and the development of new techniques. In northern Europe, early churches were often built of wood, for which reason almost none survive.
Why is church architecture important?
The history of architecture is concerned more with religious buildings than with any other type, because in most past cultures the universal and exalted appeal of religion made the church or temple the most expressive, the most permanent, and the most influential building in any community.
How did religion influence Roman architecture?
Influences in Roman Religious Architecture Romans took the characteristics and proportions of columns, known as classical orders, from ancient Greece and expanded them. They also incorporated some of the Greek proportions. Roman architecture maintained and enhanced Greek temples.
Why was Byzantine architecture important?
Byzantine Architecture Influences Architects and builders learned from each of their projects and from each other. Churches built in the East influenced the construction and design of sacred architecture built in many places.
What are the materials used in Byzantine architecture?
Byzantium employed stone (including marble), brick (of mud or clay), mortar (of varying qualities), and timber as its main building materials the use of which was determined by availability and local tradition, along with structural, economic, and aesthetic considerations.
What type of architecture is a church?
Most cathedrals and great churches have a cruciform groundplan. In churches of Western European tradition, the plan is usually longitudinal, in the form of the so-called Latin Cross with a long nave crossed by a transept.
What is important about religious architecture?
Sacred objects together with their associated functional environment, have a significant impact on the composition of the urban city. Sacred objects create the image of public spaces. Constitute an attractive and open to different activities functional structures.