Early Christian Architecture - History of Architecture 1

1. HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
4TH CENTURY A.D.

2. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION
Geographical Influence
Christianity had its birth in Judea,
Eastern province of the Roman Empire.
Early Christian Architecture was
influenced by the existing Roman Art.

3. Geological Influence
The ruins of the Roman buildings provided quarry
where materials were obtained. This influence of
the style for construction, decoration for columns
and other architectural features as well as fine
sculpture and mosaic from other buildings which
were turn into basilican churches of the new faith.
Columns and other architectural features and
marbles from the older buildings were worked into
the design of new Basilican churches of the
Christians
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

4. Climatic Influence
The climatic condition of Roman provinces where
Christianity was established naturally modified the
styles.
The fiercer the sun and hotter climate necessitated
small windows and other Eastern features.
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

5. Social and Political Influence
Constantine assumed sole control over the empire in
A.D. 324. Rome, however, was losing its luster for
him, he removed his empire from Rome to Byzantium
and developed a new style of Architecture.
In 364 A.D., the division of the Roman empire took
place. Conflicts between east & west. Italy passed
through several wars.
In 476 A. D., the empire was reunited, Constantinople
was the capital.
Many kings then took over ruling the empire in Italy
and north Africa.
In 800 A.D., The power of the Pope has increased in
Rome, and it has been named the holy empire of
Rome until 1806 A.D.
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

6. Religious Influence
Christianity spread out rapidly and was an important
factor in the development of early Christian
architecture and inspired the building of some of the
greatest architectural monuments.
The rise of Christianity inspired the construction of
Churches.
In 323 A.D., Christianity became the established
religion of the Roman empire.
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

7. Historical Influence
The final phase of Roman Architecture from 4th to 6th
Century, primarily in church building.
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

8. Architectural Character
Early Christian Architecture is basically Roman in
character but executed it through:
1. Simplicity in design
2. Coarseness in execution
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

9. Important Features of Early Christian Architecture
1. They contributed in the development of “ribbed
vaulting and arcades and timber trussed roof”.
2. They used bell tower or “campanile” in their exterior.
3. They had either closely spaced columns carrying
the entablature (trabeated) or more widely spaced
columns carrying semi-circular arches known as
“archivolt”
4. They were usually with 3-5 aisles covered by a
simple trussed roof. Uses long rows of “off-repeated”
columns from entry to sanctuary for a long Church
appearance.
5. An “arch of triumph” (transaction thru death to life
eternal) gave entrance to sanctuary with the high altar
at the corner.
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | INTRODUCTION

10. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Basilican Churches
In the construction of basilican churches, there is a
rule that it should be built right over the burial place of
the saint to whom the church was dedicated.
Unlike Greek and Roman temples which sheltered
gods, the purpose of the Christian church was to
shelter worshippers.
Came in a complex, with cathedral, belfry or
campanile, and baptistery

11. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Basic Parts of Early Christian Basilica
The earliest Christian churches in Rome were all built
with the entrance to the east, like the Jewish temple in
Jerusalem.

12. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Parts of an Early Christian Basilica
1. Propylaeum
2. Atrium
3. Narthex
4. Nave
5. Side Aisle
6. Crossing
7. Transept
8. Apse

13. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Parts of an Early Christian Basilica
1. Propylaeum - the entrance building of a sacred
precinct, whether church or imperial palace.
2. Atrium - the forecourt of a church; as a rule
enveloped by four colonnaded porticoes.
3. Narthex - the entrance hall or porch preceding
the nave of a church.
4. Nave - the great central space in a church. In
longitudinal churches, it extends from the entrance
to the apse (or only to the crossing if the church
has one) and is usually flanked by side aisles.

14. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Parts of an Early Christian Basilica
5. Side Aisle - one of the corridors running
parallel to the nave of a church and separated
from it by an arcade or colonnade.
6. Crossing - the area in a church where the
transept and the nave intersect.
7. Transept - In a cruciform church, the whole arm
is set at right angles to the nave. Note that the
transept appears infrequently in Early Christian
churches.
8. Apse - a recess, sometimes rectangular but
usually semicircular, in the wall at the end of a
Roman basilica or Christian church. In the Early
Christian basilica, the apses contained the
"cathedra" or throne of the bishop and the altar.

15. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura
5. Side Aisle - one of the corridors running
parallel to the nave of a church and separated
from it by an arcade or colonnade.
6. Crossing - the area in a church where the
transept and the nave intersect.
7. Transept - In a cruciform church, the whole arm
set at right angles to the nave. Note that the
transept appears infrequently in Early Christian
churches.
8. Apse - a recess, sometimes rectangular but
usually semicircular, in the wall at the end of a
Roman basilica or Christian church. In the Early
Christian basilica, the apses contained the
"cathedra" or throne of the bishop and the altar.

16. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Parts of an Early Christian Basilica

17. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura

18. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura
The basilica was founded by the Roman Emperor
Constantine I over the burial place of Saint Paul,
where it was said that, after the Apostle's
execution, his followers erected a memorial, called
a cella memoriae.

19. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Santa Maria Maggiore
The largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy.
The design of the basilica was a typical one during
this time in Rome: "a tall and wide nave; an aisle
on either side; and a semicircular apse at the end
of the nave.“
The key aspect that made Santa Maria Maggiore
such a significant cornerstone in church building
during the early 5th century were the beautiful
mosaics found on the triumphal arch and nave.

20. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
San Clemente al Laterano
Archaeologically speaking, the structure is a
three-tiered complex of buildings:
the present basilica built just before the year 1100
during the height of the Middle Ages;
beneath the present basilica is a 4th-century
basilica that had been converted out of the home
of a Roman nobleman, part of which had in the 1st
century briefly served as an early church, and the
basement of which had in the 2nd century briefly
served as a mithraeum;
the home of the Roman nobleman had been built
on the foundations of republican era villa and
warehouse that had been destroyed in the Great
Fire of AD 64.

21. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Santa Sabina
Santa Sabina is the oldest extant Roman basilica
in Rome that preserves its original colonnaded
rectangular plan and architectural style. Its
decorations have been restored to their original
restrained design.

22. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Baptistries
Used only for sacrament of baptism, on festivals
of Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany
Large separate building from church, sometimes
adjoined atrium

23. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Lateran Baptistry
This baptistery was founded by Pope Sixtus III in
440, perhaps on an earlier structure, for a legend
grew up that Constantine the Great had been
baptized there and enriched the structure.

24. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Lateran Baptistry
This baptistry was for many generations the only
baptistry in Rome, and its octagonal structure,
centered upon the large octagonal basin for full
immersions, provided a model for others
throughout Italy, and even an iconic motif of
illuminated manuscripts, "The fountain of Life".

25. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Tombs or Catacombs
Christians objected to cremation, insisted on burial on consecrated ground
Land for burials had become scarce and expensive
Monumental tombs became expressions of faith in immortality
Usually domed and enriched with lavish mosaic decorations
Walls and ceilings were lavishly decorated with paintings mixing pagan symbolism with scenes from
the bible

26. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE | STRUCTURES
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Is a cruciform chapel or oratory that originally
adjoined the narthex of the Church of the Holy
Cross (Santa Croce) in Ravenna.
It was added to the World Heritage List together
with seven other structures in Ravenna in 1996.

27. END OF PRESENTATION