Byzantine architecture originated in the Byzantine Empire and was characterized by Greek-cross-plan churches with four equal arms surrounding a central square space. A distinctive feature was the use of domes supported by either squinches or pendentives to allow the dome to rest above the square base. Byzantine structures featured decorative elements like marble, mosaics, and gold ceilings. Pendentives are triangular segments that fill the upper corners of a square base to support a circular dome. Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century, made pioneering use of large pendentives to support its massive central dome and establish the architectural style of Byzantine churches.

2. INTRODUCTION
 Byzantine architecture is the architecture of
the Byzantine Empire, also known as the Later
Romanor Eastern Roman Empire.
 Their combination of the basilica and symmetrical
central-plan (circular or polygonal) religious
structures resulted in thecharacteristic.
 Byzantine Greek-cross-plan church, with a square
central mass and four arms of equal length.

3.  The most distinctive feature was the domed roof.
 To allow a dome to rest above a square base, either of two devices was used: the squinch (an
arch in each of the corners of a square base that transforms it into an octagon) or
the pendentive.
 Byzantine structures featured soaring spaces and sumptuous decoration:
i. marble columns and inlay,
ii. mosaics on the vaults,
iii. inlaid-stone pavements,
iv. sometimes gold coffered ceilings.
The architecture of Constantinople extended throughout the Christian East and in some places,
notably Russia, remained in use after the fall of Constantinople (1453)

4. 
 Pendentive, ia triangular segment of a spherical surface,
filling in the upper corners of a room, in order to form, at
the top,a circularsupportforaDome.
 supporting a dome over an enclosed square or polygonal
space
One of the earliest examples of the use of the pendentive
is also one of the largest—that of Hagia SophiA
(completedAD 537)atIstanbul.
WHAT ARE PENDENTIVES?

5. HOW TO PUT A
ROUND DOME ON
FLAT WALLS
USE A PENDENTIVE! –
 TRIANGLE-SHAPED PIECE OF MASONRY
WITH THE DOME RESTING ON ONE LONG
SIDE, AND THE OTHER TWO SIDES
CHANNELING THE WEIGHT DOWN TO THE
PIERBELOW.
 PENDENTIVE ALLOWS DOME TO BE
SUPPORTED BY FOUR PIERS, ONE IN EACH
CORNER OF THE BUILDING. WALLS
BETWEEN PIERS DON’T SUPPORT THE
DOME – CAN BE OPENED UP FOR MORE
WINDOWSPACE!!!

6. CONSTRUCTION
OF PENDENTIVES

7. HagiaSophia
 Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving
examplesof Byzantinearchitecture
 Its interior is decorated
with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings
ofgreatartisticvalue
 it was to remain the largest cathedral for
1,000 years up until the completion of
thecathedralin Seville in Spain
 Thevastinteriorhasa complexstructure.
 The nave is covered by a central dome which
at its maximum is 55.6 m (182 ft 5 in) from
floor level and rests on an arcade of 40 arched
windows

8.  Repairs to its structure have left the dome somewhat
elliptical, with the diameter varying between 31.24
and 30.86m
 The dome is carried on four spherical
triangular pendentives, an element which was first
fully realized in this building.
 The weight of the dome remained a problem for most
of the building's existence
 The original cupola collapsed entirely after the quake
of 558; in 563 a new dome was built by Isidore the
younger,a nephewof Isidore of Miletus.
 Hagia Sophia is famous for
the light that reflects
everywhere in the interior of
the nave, giving the dome the
appearance of hovering
above. This effect was
achieved by inserting forty
windows around the base of
the original structure.

10. SECTIONAL ELEVATION
PLAN
DETAILING OF DOME

11. HAGIA SOPHIA (‘HOLY WISDOM”)
DESIGNED BY ANTHEMIUS OF TRALLES AND ISIDORUS OF MILETUS 532-377
. ISTANBUL
IT WAS BUILT IN 5 YEAR

12.  is a religious building of Angoulême, Charente, France, an example
of Romanesque architecture and sculpture in France. It is the seat of
the Bishop ofAngoulême.
History
 A first cathedral was built on the site of a primitive, pre-Christian sanctuary,
in the 4th century.
 The edifice was destroyed when the town was taken by Clovis after
the Battle of Vouillé (507).
 Another cathedral was consecrated in 560, but this was also set on fire by
the Vikings/Normans some twocenturies later.
 A third cathedral was then constructed under bishop Grimoard, abbot
of Saint-Pierre de Brantôme. The new church was consecrated in 1017.
However, at the beginning of the 12th century the citizens started to
consider ittoosmall fortothe wealth ofthe county.

13. 
 The façade is decorated by more than 70 sculptures, organized into two decorative themes, the Ascension and
the Last Judgement
 Christis portrayedwithin mandorlas while twotall angels address the apostles.
 All their faces, as well as those of the other faithful under the arches, look toward the Redeemer; vice versa, the
damned, pushed back in the side arches andturnedinto Satan's victims, suffer their punishment.
 The interior of the nave is covered with three domes, a transept of great length with lofty towers over the north and
south ends, andanapsidal choir with four chevet chapels.
 At the crossing with the transept, is a larger dome over pendentives, which has replaced the original one destroyed
in the Protestant siege of1568.
 Once lighted by two lantern towers, the transept has maintained only the northern one , characterized by several
ordersof mullioned windows.
 The semicircular choir isflanked by small apses andcovered bya halfdome.
ARCHITECTURE

14. INTERIOR OF ANGOULÊME
CATHEDRAL
SECTIONAL FRONT ELEVATION

15. 
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