ByzantineByzantine SyriaSyria && thethe CentralisedCentralised ChurchChurch THETHE BASILICABASILICA Scala 7622 (©1972) Santa Maria Maggiore
plan modern view reconstruction
James Fergusson, The Illustrated Handbook of Architecture (2 vols, London 1855), II, p 490 Scala 7622 (©1972) Richard Krautheimer, Rome: Profile of a City, 312-1308 (Princeton [New Jersey] 1980), p 48 St John Studios, Istanbul, 463: view & plan
Miles Lewis; Stewart, Early Christian, Byzantine and Romanesque, p 33 Metropolitan Church, Nessebar, Bulgaria, C5th-6th Miles Lewis Metropolitan Church, Nessebar plan, apse exterior, synthronon
Velizar Velkov, Nessebur (Sofia 1995 [1989]), p 39 Miles Lewis Hagios Demetrios, Salonika, late C5th Edition Photo Lykides, Thessaloniki, no 1 the Latin & Greek basilicas Miles Lewis St Peter’s, Rome (Latin) H Studios, Constantinople (Hellenistic)
in the Latin basilica:
1. the plan is (at first) occidented, to the west, rather than oriented to the east 2. the atrium contains a fountain or cantharus for ritual ablutions before entering the building 3. there is a porch, formed usually by one side of the atrium, whereas in the Greek basilica there is a narthex, more open to the interior than the exterior St Peter’s, Rome, reconstruction (note the atrium, cantharus and porch) MUAS 15,439
in the Latin basilica
4. the lighting is through the gable end, which may be square or pitched, and usually through three windows Sta Maria Maggiore, Rome (Latin)
Hagios Demetrios, Salonika (Hellenistic)
in the Latin basilica
5. there is commonly a colonnade dividing off the aisles, whereas in the east it is always (except in the Studios basilica) an arcade.
6. there is a triumphal arch between the nave and the apse
7. there is a raised platform or bema for the officiating clergy St John Lateran, foundations St Peter’s, Rome, reconstruction Sta Maria Maggiore chancel rail (Latin basilicas)
in the Latin basiilica:
8. there might be some sort of transverse space at the sanctuary end, but never (until much later) a true transept: nor was there in the Greek basilica
9. the altar was commonly portable - early altar probably set up in the nave at first, but location later it retreated to the apse, and was transverse space fenced off with a marble chancel rail
10. beneath the altar was commonly a confessio, or repository for holy relics.
later altar location Mancinelli, Catacombs and Basilicas, p 11 (confessio below) MUAS 10,278 James Fergusson, The Illustrated Handbook of Architecture (2 vols, London 1855), II, p 490 Latin & Greek basilicas
Miles Lewis
in the Latin basilica 11. at the back of the apse was the Bishop's throne, or cathedra (hence the word cathedral): the Hellenistic basilica had a curved seat for the clergy, or synthronon, with the cathedra at the centre.
12. the apse was semicircular and domed. The Greek one was semicircular internally but polygonal externally, and was timber roofed 13. the whole plan was long rather than square in proportion NORTHERNNORTHERN SYRIASYRIA the limestone massif and the two hundred dead cities Qirkbize, Northern Syria Miles Lewis Qirkbize, Northern Syria: bema & lectern Miles Lewis Church, Qirkbize Jean Lassus, The Early Christian and Byzantine World, p 12 Basilica A, Resafe, C5th: the bema Miles Lewis Northern Syria south courtyard; cistern or fountain; two south doors; central bema; iconostasis
Church and villa at Qirkbizé, isometric view, with the adjoining villa, and cutaway view of the church
Georges Tchalenko, Villages Antiques de la Syrie du Nord : le Massif du Belus à l'Époque Romaine(3 vols, Paris 1953), II, pl civ; pl x, 1 Cathedral of S. Thomé, Madras, India, C16th J F Butler, 'India and the Far East', in Gervis Frere-Cook [ed], The Art and Architecture of Christianity (Cleveland [Ohio] 1972 ) p 256, fig 2 JUDEAJUDEA && JORDANJORDAN ROME
JERUSALEM
BETHLEHEM eastern Christian sites, C4th- C6th, with the locations of the great Constantinian basilicas indicated MUAS 15,417 Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem, Jordan, 325-333 and later interior view & isometric reconstruction
Peter Bamm, The Kingdoms of Christ: the Story of the Early Church (London 1959), p 165 Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, p 37 Church at Eleona, founded by Helena, C4th, as restored by Père L H Vincent J W Crowfoot, Early Churches in Palestine (London 1941), p 33 Ridge Church, Petra, allegedly late C5th, from above
Jane Taylor, Petra and the Lost Kingdom of the Nabateans (London 2001), p 206 Ridge Church, Petra allegedly late C5th
view west
atrium & cistern
Miles Lewis Madaba: Church of the Virgin Mary, C6th, & Church of the Prophet Elias, 607
Michele Piccirillo et al, Byzantinische Mosaiken aus Jordanien (Vienna 1986), p 63 Madaba: Church of the Virgin Mary, C6th,& Church of the Prophet Elias, 607
Michele Piccirillo et al, Byzantinische Mosaiken aus Jordanien (Vienna 1986), p 65 Church of the Virgin Mary, Madaba, C6th: two sides of the ring crypt Miles Lewis St Peters Basilica, Rome
isometric reconstruction & plan the west (liturgical east) end as rearranged c 594
Toynbee & Perkins, The Shrine of St Peter, p 215 James Lees-Milne, Saint Peter's: the Story of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome (London 1967), p 80 St Peter's Basilica, cutaway perspective of the crypt area after c 594 Krautheimer, Rome, p 86 Santa Prassede, Rome, c 817 isometric drawing, showing the ring crypt
Krautheimer, Rome, p 123 Church of the Virgin Mary, Madaba, C6th, central mosaic AD 767: plan Michele Piccirillo et al, Byzantinische Mosaiken aus Jordanien (Vienna 1986), p 140 Church of the Virgin Mary, Madaba: central mosaic AD 767 Miles Lewis CENTRALISEDCENTRALISED PLANS:PLANS: THETHE BAPTISTERYBAPTISTERY octagonal & similar baptisteries in northern Italy & southern France
Albenga Nevers Como Milan Ravenna (Orthodox) Ravenna (Arian) Lomello Novara
S W Kostof, The Orthodox Baptistery of Ravenna (New Haven [Connecticut] 1965), fig 12 Baptistery at Qalat Siman, c 476-90, and associated church, c 500, from south Miles Lewis the Baptistery at Qalat Siman
Georges Tchalenko, Villages Antiques de la Syrie du Nord: le Massif du Belus à l'Époque Romaine (3 vols, Paris 1953), II, pl lxxvi font in the Baptistery at Qalat Siman Miles Lewis THETHE MARTYRIUMMARTYRIUM a heroum Mausoleum of Diocletian at Spalato or Split, 284: plan & elevation
Robert Adam, Ruins of the Palace of the emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia (London 1764) a heroum / martyrium Basilica of SS Marcellinus and Petrus, with the mausoleum of St Helena (mother of Constantine) originally intended for Constantine himself
Mancinelli, Catacombs and Basilicas, p 40 a herooum / martyrium
Coemeterium Agnetis (cemetery of Sant' Agnese), with the mausoleum of Santa Costanza, c 338-350, and the church of Sant' Agnese fuori le Mura, c 625-38
Mancinelli, Catacombs and Basilicas, p 50 Santa Costanza, interior Lassus, Early Christian and Byzantine World, pl 16 cruciformcruciform martyriamartyria Martyrium of St Babylas, Antioch-Kaiuissie, c 378: plan
Richard Krautheimer & Spencer Corbett, 'The Constantinian Basilica of the Lateran', in Richard Krautheimer, Studies in Early Christian, Medieval, and Renaissance Art (London 1971 [New York 1969]), p 28 stylite saint, from an inscription at Qalbloze Georges Tchalenko, Villages Antiques de la Syrie du Nord: le Massif du Belus à l'Époque Romaine(3 vols, Paris 1953), III, fig 18 Martyrium church of St Simeon Stylites, Qalat Seman, Syria, c 460-80 view through north arm of the church reconstruction of the complex Miles Lewis Lassus, Early Christian and Byzantine World, p 46 St Simeon Stylites plan of church plan of church complex
Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, p 112 St Simeon Stylites two reconstructions of the church
Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, p 112 William Macdonald, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture (London 1968 [New York 1962]), p 45 Madreseh Halawaya, Aleppo
Miles Lewis the remains of a possible C5th martyrium church, later the Cathedral of St Helen, incorporated in the Madreseh Halawaya, Aleppo
reconstruction plan from S Guyer, 'La Madrasa al-Halâwiyya Alep', Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale de Caire, XI, 1914. sketch plan of existing structures: Miles Lewis Madreseh Halawaya, Aleppo: detail at impost level Miles Lewis wind-blown capitals the Madreseh Halaweyeh, Aleppo Qalat Siman, c 476-490 H Demetrios, Salonika, 500-550
Miles Lewis Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, pl 45 B Stewart, Early Christian, Byzantine and Romanesque Architecture, p 56 THETHE TETRACONCHTETRACONCH a Roman tetraconch the Piazza d'Oro of Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli, 124, reconstruction
MUAS 13,933 San Lorenzo, Milan, c 370
front colonnade
plan
Miles Lewis William MacDonald, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture (London 1968 [New York 1962]), pl 37 S Lorenzo, Milan alternative reconstructions plan modern view
Fritz Baumgart, A History of Architectural Styles (London 1970 [1969]), p 57 Paolo Verzone, From Theodoric to Charlemagne (London 1968 [1967]), p 35 MacDonald, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, pl 37 Hubert, Europe in the Dark Ages, pl 8 S Lorenzo, Milan interior as remodelled by Martino Bassi, 1574-88 view, ambulatory, plan
Lassus, Early Christian and Byzantine World, p 89 Miles Lewis MacDonald, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, pl 37 more tetraconch double shell (or nearly) plans church or audience hall in the library of Hadrian, Athens, early C5th
probable Martyrium at Seleucia- Pieria (Samandag), late C5th
MacDonald, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, pl 38 Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, p 105 Resafe
Photo Horst Fiedler Sena Lobo Resafe Resafe, from the north
Miles Lewis Resafe: aerial view from the north-east
Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, pl 96 Martyrium or tetraconch church, Resafe, before 553 view from the east & plan
Miles Lewis Soubhi Saouaf, Six Tours in the Vicinity of Aleppo (Aleppo 1957), fig 93 martyrium church, Resafe interior view of the apse with vestigial synthronon & cathedra
Miles Lewis martyrium church, Resafe nave seen through south conch
Miles Lewis tetraconch plans
Martyrium, Resafe, before 553. Audience hall or library in Hadrian's Stoa, Athens, early C5th. San Lorenzo Maggiore, Milan, c 460.
Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture p 188. MacDonald, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, pls 38, 37 SOUTHERNSOUTHERN SYRIASYRIA the Hauran (basalt) Secular Basilica at Shaqqa, AD C2nd view & reconstruction by De Vogüé & Duthost
Miles Lewis Robertson, Greek and Roman Architecture, p 238 Secular Basilica at Shaqqa plan & cross-section
H C Butler, Early Churches in Syria (Princeton [New Jersey]), pp 16, 17 Palace complex, Shaqqa,. AD C2nd: west or entrance front Palace, Shaqqa corner span in first court the Western Tomb, Amman
C R Conder, The Survey of Eastern Palestine. Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, Archaeology, Etc. Volume 1. – The 'Adwân Country (London 1889), p 44 & facing Palace, Shaqqa: first hall Palace, Shaqqa the bluestone slab roofing system fortified house, Shaqqa doorway of ?mausoleum fortified house, Shaqqa mausoleum door & pivot detail bluestone door in the Archaeological Musem, Gadara, Jordan
Miles Lewis chamber in the Southern Baths, Bosra
J W Crowfoot, Churches at Bosra and Samaria-Sebaste [British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem Supplementary Paper 4] (London 1937), pl 11 Flavian Palace or Domus Augustana, Rome, inaugurated AD 92: octagonal hall
Axel Boëthius & J B Ward-Perkins, Etruscan and Roman Architecture (Harmondsworth [Middlesex] 1970), 252 cloister vault of the Military Baths, Bosra Miles Lewis THETHE BOSRANBOSRAN PARADIGMPARADIGM Cathedral at Bosra, plan as published by Fergusson James Fergusson, History of Architecture (2 vols, London 1867), II, p 307, from E G Rey, Voyage dans le Harouan, 1863, pl iv Cathedral at Bosra: Crowfoot’s excavation of 1935 J W Crowfoot, Churches at Bosra and Samaria-Sebaste [British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem Supplementary Paper 4] (London 1937), p 7 Cathedral at Bosra: plan with tetraconch Crowfoot, Bosra and Samaria-Sebaste, pl 2 St Hripsime, Vagarshapat, Armenia, 618: plan Hamilton, Byzantine Architecture, p 144 St Hripsime, Vagarshapat: Miles Lewis Church at Garni, Armenia, AD C6th-7th view of partly reconstructed foundations Miles Lewis Cathedral Church of the Vigilant Powers, Zwartnots Armenia, AD 641-666 Miles Lewis Cathedral Zwartnots : reconstruction & plan
Christina Maranci, 'The Architect Trdat', Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, LXII, 3 (September 2003), p 299 Cathedral at Bosra
photograph taken by an American expedition in 1875
sketch by de Vogüé in 1862
Crowfoot, Bosra and Samaria- Sebaste, pl 1 Cathedral at Bosra
sketch by de Vogüé in 1862
Detweiler’s reconstruction 1935
Crowfoot, Bosra and Samaria- Sebaste, pl 1 Cathedral at Bosra, plan and reconstruction by Detweiler
Crowfoot, Bosra and Samaria-Sebaste, pl 2 Cathedral at Bosra: interior looking east
Miles Lewis Cathedral at Bosra plan
Crowfoot, Churches at Bosra and Samaria-[?Seraste]
detail of the south wall (marked orange on plan)
Miles Lewis Cathedral at Bosra existing plan and possible prior form Cathedral at Bosra
existing plan previous plan probable original plan
Miles Lewis Cathedral, Bosra detail of a column
Miles Lewis Church at Apamea,. Syria: apse detail Miles Lewis Ch Churches at Gerasa [Jerash] J W Crowfoot, Early Churches in Palestine (London 1941), p 97 churches at Bosra and Gerasa church at Gadara. Jordan Miles Lewis St George, Ezraa, Syria, c 515
south-west view apse interior
Miles Lewis St George, Ezraa
plan & section
Cecil Stewart, Early Christian, Byzantine and Romanesque Architecture (London 1954 [1905/8]), p 63, after De Vogué St George, Ezraa roofing of the ambulatory HH Sergios & Bakchos, Constantinople, 527-36
front view plan south-east view
Miles Lewis G Dehio & G von Bezold, Die Kirkliche Baukunst des Abendlandes (2 vols, atlas in 5 vols, Stuttgart 1887-1901) MUAS 15,451 HH Sergios & Bakchos
plan south flank
Swift, Roman Sources, p 46 Miles Lewis HH Sergios & Bakchos: interior © Paradoxplace.com. from HH Sergius & Bakchos to Hagia Sophia Miles Lewis Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, AD 532-7 Miles Lewis Resafe, from the north
Miles Lewis Qirkbize, Northern Syria Miles Lewis Qirkbize, Northern Syria Miles Lewis