Byzantine architecture facts for kids

Hagia Sophia Church, Sofia, Bulgaria; an example of Byzantine architecture

Byzantine architecture is a special way of designing buildings. It was used in the Byzantine Empire. This empire was also known as the Eastern Roman Empire. Its main city was Constantinople (today's Istanbul). The Byzantine Empire lasted for over 1,000 years!

Its building style had a big impact. It influenced buildings in Europe and the Near East during the Middle Ages. It also inspired later styles like Renaissance architecture and Ottoman architecture.

What Makes Byzantine Buildings Special?

A Dome on a pendentive

Early Byzantine buildings grew from Early Christian architecture. Those older buildings were often long halls called basilicas. They usually had flat wooden roofs. Big round domes were not used very often back then.

Byzantine architecture changed this. It often used large domes. These domes were a key part of the design. They also used half-domes, especially above a rounded space called an apse.

The Clever Pendentive

One very clever invention was the pendentive. This is a curved, triangle-shaped support. It helps place a round dome on top of a square room. Imagine four curved triangles. They sit on the corners of a square. Then, a round dome can sit perfectly on top of them.

This smart design became popular in the 6th century. It was during the time of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. This is when Byzantine architecture truly became its own unique style.

Domes with Windows

Another special feature was domes with many windows. These windows were placed around the base of the dome. When light shone through, it made the dome look amazing. It was like a sparkling crown made of light.

How Byzantine Architecture Influenced Others

In Western Europe, new styles like Romanesque and Gothic architecture took over. But Byzantine architecture still had a big impact.

In Asia, it influenced early Islamic architecture. Later, the Ottoman architecture also took many ideas from the Byzantine style. You can see its influence in many famous buildings around the world.

Images for kids

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  Interior of the Basilica of San Vitale from Ravenna (Italy), decorated with elaborate and glamorous mosaics

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  Pammakaristos Church, also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos (Greek: Θεοτόκος ἡ Παμμακάριστος, "All-Blessed Mother of God"), is one of the most famous Greek Orthodox Byzantine churches in Istanbul

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  Hagia Irene is a Greek Eastern Orthodox Church located in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace in Istanbul. It is one of the few churches in Istanbul that has not been converted into a mosque

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  The basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna (6th century)

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  External view of the 11th-century monastery of Hosios Loukas in Greece. It is representative of the Byzantine art during the rule of the Macedonian dynasty (Macedonian art)

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  Rear courtyard of Church of St. Sophia, North Macedonia, 9th century

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  The geometric conception of the Hagia Sophia is based on mathematical formulas of Heron of Alexandria. It avoids use of irrational numbers for square diagonals and circle circumferences and contrieves thus a highly elaborated mathematical space

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  The St. George Rotunda; some remains of Serdica can be seen in the foreground

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  Interior of the Hagia Sophia under renovation, showing many features of the grandest Byzantine architecture.

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  The apse of the church with cross at Hagia Irene. Nearly all the decorative surfaces in the church have been lost.

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  Chora Church medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church preserved as the Chora Museum in the Edirnekapı neighborhood of Istanbul

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  The 9th century Throne Hall of Dongola in Sudan was heavily influenced by Byzantine architecture.

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  Dome of the Pammakaristos Church, Istanbul

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  Exterior view of Hagia Irene.

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  Exterior view of Hagia Sophia

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  Byzantine Ionic column from National Museum of Medieval Art (Korçë, Albania)

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  Illustration of a Byzantine Corinthian column

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  Byzantine composite column from Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo (Ravenna, Italy)

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  Byzantine basket column from Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

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  One of the most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

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  Mosaic of Jesus in Pammakaristos Church in Istanbul, Turkey

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  Mosaic of Saint Antony, the desert Father in Pammakaristos Church in Istanbul, Turkey

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  Byzantine mosaics in St Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy

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  Mosaic above the entrance portal of the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, Croatia (6th century)

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  Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki (8th century)

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  Narthex of St. Sophia, Ohrid (9th century)

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  Interior of Church of St. George, Sofia, 4th century

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  Agkistro Byzantine bath

See also

In Spanish: Arquitectura bizantina para niños