The document discusses Byzantine architecture, highlighting its history, key features, and interior details. It notes the significance of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, designed as a Greek cross with distinctive domes and elaborate mosaics. The architecture is characterized by massive domes, rounded arches, and ornamentation using bricks, plaster, and light-filtering alabaster windows.

1. BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE
Presented by- Bhawna Walia

2. Brief history
• The early Greeks settlers from manga were led by some
byzais from whom the name Byzantion was derived . Later it
was Romanized to Byzantium.
• The city of Byzantium was renamed as Constantinople in
330 after the founder Constantine .
• It was made as the new capital of Christian empire .
• It took six years of preparation .
• Presently known as Istanbul.

3. Characteristic features
• Massive domes on
square base pendentive.
Pendentive - pendentive
are used to raise dome over
square base.
It enables the transfer of
the total load of the dome
to the four corners of the
building.
Walls can be opened up as
they don't carry load.

4. • Rounded Arches

5. • Greek cross plan in
church architecture.
• Greek cross plan:
 Square plan
Nave, chancel,
transepts areas of equal
length.
Dome over crossing.
Has narthex or vestibule.

6. • Bricks and plaster were used on addition to stone in the
decoration.

7. • Mosaics replaced carved decoration.

8. • Complex domes rested upon massive piers.

9. • Window filtered light through
thin sheets of alabaster to light
up interiors.

10. Interior Details
• Lofty and towering interior
spaces, with high windows.
• Windowed domes were made
to look like a crown with
jewels of light which
symbolized the ‘vault of
heaven’.
• The columns were made of
marble with inlay work.
• The ceilings were sometimes
coffered using gold and most
empty spaces were covered
with mosaic.

11. Typical example
Typical example
Hagia Sophia
Istanbul, Turkey

12. It was constructed for Justinian by two
genius architects Anthemius and
Isidorus.
• The church was designed in the
form of a Greek cross 91.5x99m with
the top of the dome at 54.3m from
above the ground .
• It has a central space of 32.6m sq.
With 4 massive stone piers support
four semicircular arches to form aisles
and galleries .
• The dome is 32.6m in diameter
.There are 40 windows on the base of
dome.
• On both ends are two large hemi-
cycles covered with semi domes
forming on oval nave of 68.6m long
and 32.6m wide.
• There are 107 columns which
support the galleries.
• The interiors are decorated with
mosaics.

13. Plan & Section
of Hagia Sophia

14. Presented by- Bhawna Walia