h3 EARLY CHRISTIAN & BYZANTINE Flashcards
(30 cards)
Early Christian Period
Art was produced in the catacombs where the early Christians would gather.
Edict of Milan
By Constantine. Institutionalizing Christianity as official religion of Rome. Conversion of Basilicas to Churches.
Catacombs
Underground burial chambers.
Christian symbolism
symbolisms of ancient Christians such as the cross and fish became the initial basis for byzantine art.
Atrium
a forecourt surrounded or flanked by porticoes
Narthex
a portico before the nave for the penitents
Nave
The middle aisle of a church extending from the narthex to the choir
Apse
was a semi circular space in front of the nave
Bema
raised platform transverse open space separating the nave and the apse
Transept
as wide as the nave, forming a square at the crossing, consisting of the choir and the apse (now referred as the altar)
Choir
a part of the church occupied by the singers
Ambo (Ambulatory)
semicircular walkway with chapels off it surrounding the sanctuary
Pulpit
appointed place of preaching
Altar
was placed at the center of the apse. a table upon which the Eucharist is celebrated
Byzantine period
period in the reign of Constantine I in 324 AD after the death of Marcus Aurelius, he built a new capital for the Roman Empire in Byzantinium. He called it Constatinople (Greek for city of Constantine or Nova Roma in new Rome)
Pendentives
an inverted concave triangle that springs from a corner of the square curving up to meet the other pendentives
Squinch Arch
corbel type arches piled on top of another, placed diagonally across the internal angles of a tower or base of a drum to convert the square form into an octagonal base to support an octagonal spire or circular dome
Minarets
a slender towers added by Muslim invaders
Basilica
formerly a hall of justice, was redesigned to be a place of worship
Martyrium
sanctuaries that enshrine a relic or tomb of a martyr
Mausoleum (byzantine)
type of architecture during the byzantine period where it is a large tomb, almost temple like that houses an elite
Baptisteries
place used for the sacrament of baptism
Church of San Vitale
A large building with a dome over the central core. Famous for its mosaics. Dedicated to St. Vitalis.
Hagia Sophia
(holy wisdom) built as the major cathedral of Constantinople. It is a basilica with a Narthex at the west and an altar framed by an apse at the east
