DR ABDURRAHMAN MOHAMEDDR ABDURRAHMAN MOHAMED

A WORLD HISTORY OF ARCHITECTUREA WORLD HISTORY OF ARCHITECTUREMarian MoffettMarian MoffettMichael Fazio Michael Fazio Lawrence WodehouseLawrence Wodehouse

5. Early Christian Architecture5. Early Christian Architecture

UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAINCOLLEGE OF ENGINEERINGDEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTUREBSc. in ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMSUMMER 2012ARCG 211– HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE I

Christianity, the religion developed by followers of Jesus Christianity, the religion developed by followers of Jesus Christ, began as a reforming sect of Judaism. Christ, began as a reforming sect of Judaism.

Over three centuries after the death of Christ, the religion Over three centuries after the death of Christ, the religion developed into an organized church with a hierarchy of developed into an organized church with a hierarchy of bishops and clergy. bishops and clergy.

The earliest expression of its beliefs is found in the Nicene The earliest expression of its beliefs is found in the Nicene Creed (325 CE), still used by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Creed (325 CE), still used by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and some Protestant the Roman Catholic Church, and some Protestant denominations.denominations.

Not until the emperor Constantine proclaimed toleration for Not until the emperor Constantine proclaimed toleration for

all religions of the Roman Empire in the Edict of Milan in all religions of the Roman Empire in the Edict of Milan in 313 did Christians have authority to construct buildings for 313 did Christians have authority to construct buildings for public worshippublic worship

Christian architecture after 313 derived from Roman Christian architecture after 313 derived from Roman

precedent. precedent.

Stylistic developments in this period contributed to later Stylistic developments in this period contributed to later buildings in the medieval period, thus creating a transition buildings in the medieval period, thus creating a transition between the classical past and the medieval era in western between the classical past and the medieval era in western Europe. Europe.

EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICAS EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICAS

Church building began on the basis of Roman basilica Church building began on the basis of Roman basilica where assembly hall and court of justice suited the new where assembly hall and court of justice suited the new religion.religion.

With minor modifications, the Roman basilica form was With minor modifications, the Roman basilica form was adapted to Christian ritual. adapted to Christian ritual.

The altar was placed in the apse, entrances were set in the The altar was placed in the apse, entrances were set in the opposite short wall and an atrium accommodated opposite short wall and an atrium accommodated gatherings before services and enabled the gatherings before services and enabled the unbaptizedunbaptized to to hear but not participate in the Mass. hear but not participate in the Mass.

The longitudinal arrangement of atrium, nave, and apse The longitudinal arrangement of atrium, nave, and apse formed an impressive axis for processions that terminated formed an impressive axis for processions that terminated at the altar. at the altar.

Cathedral is a church that contains the seat or cathedra of a Cathedral is a church that contains the seat or cathedra of a bishop. While cathedrals are often larger than ordinary bishop. While cathedrals are often larger than ordinary churches, not every large church a cathedral.churches, not every large church a cathedral.

The Basilica The Basilica didi San Clemente (Basilica of San Clemente (Basilica of St. Clement) St. Clement)

an early Christian basilica in an early Christian basilica in RomeRome dedicated to Pope St. Clement dedicated to Pope St. Clement (d. 99 AD). (d. 99 AD).

It was developed over the centuries from a private home used forIt was developed over the centuries from a private home used for clandestine Christian worship in the first century to a grand puclandestine Christian worship in the first century to a grand public blic basilica by the 6th century.basilica by the 6th century.

When Christian persecution ended under Constantine (313 AD) When Christian persecution ended under Constantine (313 AD) and Christianity became the official religion of the empire (380and Christianity became the official religion of the empire (380s s AD), it became a fullAD), it became a full--fledged church fledged church

It had paired aisles on either side of a lofty nave, which was It had paired aisles on either side of a lofty nave, which was concluded by an apse containing seats for the bishop (the concluded by an apse containing seats for the bishop (the cathedra) and priests. cathedra) and priests.

Clerestory windows high in the nave wall illuminated the centralClerestory windows high in the nave wall illuminated the central space, while smaller windows above the first aisle colonnade space, while smaller windows above the first aisle colonnade provided light for the ancillary spaces. provided light for the ancillary spaces.

Open wooden trusses spanned the nave and aisles, supported on Open wooden trusses spanned the nave and aisles, supported on brickbrick--faced concrete walls and marble columnsfaced concrete walls and marble columns

San Clemente San Clemente Basilica interior Basilica interior

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San Clemente Basilica San Clemente Basilica from the Piazza from the Piazza didi San San Clemente Clemente

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MARTYRIAMARTYRIA

A A MartyriaMartyria is a building erected as memorials to commemorate is a building erected as memorials to commemorate saints or sites of special importance to the Christian faith. saints or sites of special importance to the Christian faith.

Its importance was always attached to the tomb or shrine around Its importance was always attached to the tomb or shrine around which it was built. which it was built.

Old St. Peter's in Rome (318Old St. Peter's in Rome (318--22), predecessor of the present Basilica 22), predecessor of the present Basilica of St. Peter, began as a of St. Peter, began as a martyriummartyrium marking the tomb of St. Peter and marking the tomb of St. Peter and used for several centuries as a place of burial for other Christused for several centuries as a place of burial for other Christians as ians as well (Figs. ). well (Figs. ).

Its plan is that of a basilica, with double aisles on each side Its plan is that of a basilica, with double aisles on each side of the of the nave and a transept projecting beyond the sidewalls and extendinnave and a transept projecting beyond the sidewalls and extending g across the nave in front of the apse. across the nave in front of the apse.

Placed at the junction of transept and apse was the tomb of SI. Placed at the junction of transept and apse was the tomb of SI. Peter.Peter.

The transept spaces accommodated those coming to venerate the The transept spaces accommodated those coming to venerate the shrine, while the enormous nave (300 by 64 feet) and aisles shrine, while the enormous nave (300 by 64 feet) and aisles functioned as a covered cemetery with space for burials and functioned as a covered cemetery with space for burials and commemorative funeral meals.commemorative funeral meals.

A spacious atrium preceded the A spacious atrium preceded the martyriummartyrium, and the whole scheme , and the whole scheme provided the model for a number of churches built later, both inprovided the model for a number of churches built later, both in Rome and elsewhere. Rome and elsewhere.

Plan of Old st. Peter's Rome, 318-21

Perspective section of Old St. Peter's, Rome, 318-22

BAPTISTERIESBAPTISTERIES

from the dead on Baptism is an important from the dead on Baptism is an important Christian rite, and in the early Christian period Christian rite, and in the early Christian period special buildings were often erected for it. special buildings were often erected for it.

Most were centrally planned around the baptismal Most were centrally planned around the baptismal pool, for at the time baptism was by pool, for at the time baptism was by comcomplete plete immersion, and baptistery plans were frequently immersion, and baptistery plans were frequently octagonal to reflect the number eight. which octagonal to reflect the number eight. which symbolized Regeneration or the Resurrection.symbolized Regeneration or the Resurrection.

The Baptistery of Constantine, Rome is The Baptistery of Constantine, Rome is octagonal, and the roof is supported by a screen octagonal, and the roof is supported by a screen of eight columns two stories in height.of eight columns two stories in height.

MAUSOLEUMMAUSOLEUM

MausoleaMausolea, buildings were erected to contain the tombs of , buildings were erected to contain the tombs of important people important people

Following Roman practice, these were often centrally planned, Following Roman practice, these were often centrally planned, and they served as models for later domed churches. and they served as models for later domed churches.

The mausoleum of Constantine's daughter Constantia (now The mausoleum of Constantine's daughter Constantia (now known as the church of S. known as the church of S. CostanzaCostanza) in Rome (350) is a circular ) in Rome (350) is a circular monument with a crossmonument with a cross--section paralleling that of the basilica, section paralleling that of the basilica, having lower aisle spaces flanking the higher naive lit by having lower aisle spaces flanking the higher naive lit by clerestory windows (Figs.).clerestory windows (Figs.).

The The basilicanbasilican crosscross--section was rotated about the section was rotated about the centercenter axis to axis to create a circular building. create a circular building.

Originally the resulting dome with encircling ambulatory focusedOriginally the resulting dome with encircling ambulatory focused the visitor's attention on the sarcophagus placed in the the visitor's attention on the sarcophagus placed in the centercenter. .

Twelve paired sets of columns Twelve paired sets of columns

It is believed that Constantine built a funerary hall beside theIt is believed that Constantine built a funerary hall beside the mausoleum dedicated to the virgin martyr St. Agnes and mausoleum dedicated to the virgin martyr St. Agnes and resembled others built by Constantine in this period. resembled others built by Constantine in this period.

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