Byzantine Architecture

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Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (c. 425 AD)

Mausoleum of Galla Placida in Ravenna.jpg (190133 bytes) Exterior   Interior, note windows filled with panels of Alabaster

View of main pendentive vault decorated with mosaic to represent heavens

 

Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (532-7 AD)

The church of the Holy Wisdom of God designed for the Emperor Justinian by the engineer/scientists Anthemios of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus.

outside view hagia sophia.jpg (149016 bytes)  Aerial view Church of Hagia Sophia.jpg (102993 bytes)  Section Maria Sophia Church.jpg (100415 bytes) Plan and Section Mosque Hagia Sophia.jpg (139352 bytes) Interior of nave

inside view of hagia sophia.jpg (104962 bytes) Nave  Interior Roof Hagia Sophia.jpg (173221 bytes) Main dome and subsidary vaults

Virgin & Jesus in Hagia Sophia.jpg (162177 bytes) Mosaic depicting Justinian (left) presenting model of church of Hagia Sophia to the Virgin Mary. Constantine to the right presents her with model of Constantinople

 

 

San Vitale, Ravenna (c. 532-48 AD)

Church of San Vitale.jpg (132991 bytes)  Facade Church San Vitale in Ravenna.jpg (72403 bytes) Plan and section Ravena Church of S. vitale.jpg (54674 bytes) Note the apses of curved columnar screens around the octagonal nave

Chruch of San Vitale interior.jpg (183673 bytes)  View towards High Altar San Vitale Church.jpg (116528 bytes) View from Chancel, behind the High Altar, toward the octagonal nave

 

Mausoleum of Theodoric (c. 526)

This circular tomb of the Ostrogothic ruler Theodoric was built in imitation of Imperial mausolea.

The dome is monolithic, ie. carved from a single massive block of stone.