Constantine - Important to solidification of Christian church - Set up church counsels to determine correct way of practicing Christianity Difference between

Christians and worshippers in ancient Greece and Rome - Architecture o Greeks: used temples for ceremonies as a backdrop, ceremonies were out in the open o Christians: house worshippers, attract pilgrims Early Christian Sculpture

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus 359 4x8 Paganism was still dominant religion Beginnings of iconography Visual language Syncretism Marble Miniature sculpture in the round Depicts different moments from the life of Christ Detailed sculptures Putti harvesting grapes motif on columns symbolizes blood of Christ

Old St. Peters 320 CE - Original is no longer there - New St. Peters is built on top of Old St. Peters - Where St. Peter was martyred - Narthex o Place for people who havent been baptised - Planned for procession of worshippers - Where the nave and transept meet o is where dome is built - Prototype for Longitudinal plan church

Church of Santa Constanza 350 Central-planned church Circular No dominant point of entry (that basilica does) Originally a tomb for Constantines daughter Constanza Ambulatory

Colonnade Dominant axis is no longer along the plan o Rather, vertical access through the dome

Harvesting of Grapes 350 Fusion of Roman imagery and Christian Symbolism Mosaic inside Dual reference: o Dionysus god of wine o Blood of Christ To help convince pagan followers o Overlap of different traditions

Hagia Sophia 532-537 Holy Wisdom Celebration of church and state under Justinian Hired 2 mathematicians to act as architects o Experts in Geometry Mechanics Theories of curved surfaces, parabolas, vaulting systems Built in only 5 years Display of Justinians power Blend of central plan and longitudinal plan church Naos (circular center) instead of nave Pendentives o Triangular pieces o Carry weight of dome to columns Dome seems to be floating o Gold

Many windows that give light Literally sitting on a band of light o Creates spiritual space Colonnade hides piers for the dome Emphasis is on verticality o Similar to Santa Costanza Masonry and brick construction o Different from Pantheon Capital

Virgin and Child with Angels and Saints. Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt 6th century - Distinctly byzantine style o Position of figures o Flat halo o Flat frontal pose o Flat facial features - Iconoclasm o Icon - image o Klao to break or destroy

Iconoclasts