Byzantine art. Architecture
The Greek city of Byzantium that had had preponderance as a Roman province, ascends, by decision of Constantino el Grande, to the range of imperial capital with the name of Constantinople In the year 330 of our era. Today that city is named Istanbul.
Culture Byzantine develops For prolonged time, which begins in the fourth century and culminates with the fall of Constantinople in the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1453, in the fifteenth century.
Byzantium evidence to have all the characteristics of an original, theocratic monarchy (where the clergy and the church have a preponderant role of control and overwhelming through religion) and totalitarian and repressive power through political authorities.
The Byzantine culture is based on important elements of classical Greco-Roman art such as the basilicas that adapted more to their needs of liturgy and congregation that could house more people in its large central room.
The geographical situation of Byzantium In narrow and continuous contact with the kingdoms of the East, they influence it; maintains the Greco -Roman influence; that is to say, classical philosophy and culture, but also shows great influence of the Asian world, which is largely reflected in its art.
Emperor Theodosius half a century later in 395 divides his kingdom between his two children, and creates two independent states:
- The Empire of the West, with Rome as capital.
- The East Empire, with Center in Byzantium.
This culture can be better studied taking into account the three fundamental periods in which they were classified as they were of so temporarily extensive proportions, we are talking about ten centuries of evolution and validity of this interesting cultural heritage Byzantine
- Initial period. First Golden Age (VIII centuries)
- Intermediate period. Second Gold Age (IX to XII centuries)
- Final period. Third Golden Age (XIII-XV centuries)
Architecture:
The Byzantine basilica takes all its constructive aspects of the Roman style.
The fall of the Empire of the West around the year 476 of our era, influences Byzancio who welcomes to himself the spiritual and philosophical inheritance of Rome in relation to political and artistic power reaching his greatest heyday with the famous Justinian who was a great benefactor of the arts and under whom many constructions were executed both in Constantinople and in Ravenna. In Constantinople, the church of Santa Sofia dedicated to divine wisdom was built the most important construction of Byzantine architecture; The masterpiece of this art. Its architects were two outstanding exponents of this art who had already worked for the emperor in military constructions.
– TRALLES ANTEM
– Isidoro de Mileto
The Church of Santa Sofia has four minarets that were added in 1453 by the Turks, when they turned this church into a Muslim mosque.
In the intermediate period (Second Golden Age) the Greek Cruz Plant Churches predominate, covered with beautiful domes that are located on polygonal drums on which they rest.
The countries with which Byzantium was more in contact or that were part of the same historical and cultural tradition, inspire the constructive engineering bases with which their constructions are carried out. Of course we will find elements taken from the Romans, the Greeks, of Syria or Persia, combined with others of their own invention; no less important that show ingenious constructive creativity.
Centralized plant churches are more in the eastern part of the Byzantine Empire. Such is the case of the Church of the Nativity of Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
In the final period; (Senior Golden Age) Byzantine art continues to spread through the Valleys of the Danube, by Romania and Bulgaria, even reaching the Russian lands. They left in this region their cultural footprint in important architectural works such as the Church of the Assumption of Kremlin in Moscow.
Among the most important constructive elements we have:
- The dome,
- The tubes
- The pechinas,
- The vault,
- The arc,
- The buttresses
- The columns
- The towers.
The characteristics distinctive of Byzantine architecture are:
– Of course the construction of the domes,
– The use of brick as constructive material replacing the stone,
– The intensive use of mosaics replacing sculptures.
– Greater elevation in the height of the buildings for the use of the domes,
– The use of square plant support that allows the end to be finished by a drum (Structural architectural element located at the base of a round dome as a prolongation).
Video by Art Creha