Time period: 3rd-7th centuries
The term Early Christian refers to the architecture related to Christian religion.
After Christianity is recognized receiving official approval from Roman Empire. Christians begin constructing religious structured adapted from Roman prototypes.
Historical and Social
Christianity comes into being following the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth about 33 CE. For the next three centuries, membership increases, but Christianity has little legal standing in the Roman Empire. In 313 CE, Roman emperor Constantine wins battle that he attributes to the Christian God and gives the tolerance for all religions. He personally sanctions Christianity and raising its status. Soon Christian churches and other structures spring up in Rome, Constantinople and other cities. Constantine himself is the patron for the Old Saint Peter basilica in Rome. In 330CE he moves the capital to Constantinople (today Istanbul) and rules Roman Empire from the East. In 404 CE emperor Honorius moves the capital to Ravenna to prevent it from being overtaken. But his effort was unsuccessful and in 476 CE Ravenna and Rome were overtaken, making the fall of Roman Empire. With the fewer invasions the eastern portion prospers as Byzantine Empire.
Architecture
Christianity required impressive settings and ceremonies to reflect its new importance, that’s why it adapted such architectural supplies from Roman architecture as: basilica, the atrium of the house, baths, tombs and mausoleums, paintings and mosaics.
Roman building types such as basilicas (important public building),courtyard houses and baths are adapted and combined to create the first Christian basilicas or churches.Used typical architectural elements of the Roman empire, such as arches, clerestory windows, and colonnades with entablatures.Early Christian structures are made of stone and brick with increasingly less use of concrete.Interior walls are lavishly decorated with mosaics that depict religious scenes and iconography and images of the Roman emperor.
Roman building types such as basilicas (important public building),courtyard houses and baths are adapted and combined to create the first Christian basilicas or churches.Used typical architectural elements of the Roman empire, such as arches, clerestory windows, and colonnades with entablatures.Early Christian structures are made of stone and brick with increasingly less use of concrete.Interior walls are lavishly decorated with mosaics that depict religious scenes and iconography and images of the Roman emperor.
Early Christian buildings follow basilica or centralized plan. Adaptation of basilica with its nave, aisles, and apse allows for big interior spaces that could accommodate worshipers and rituals. To house the relics of saints and for more space they add transept, creating a cross plan, which is practical and symbolic of faith.
Symbols and Motifs: main symbol is cross, others are: fish, dove, and lamb.
Public Buildings:
Types: newly developed form are churches, baptisteries, mausoleums and memorial structures at sacred sites.
Orientation: the apse, which houses the altar, orients to east because Christ was crucified in Jerusalem. The entrance is opposite on the other side.
Floor Plans: Most churches follow the Roman basilica plan. They usually have a portal (main entrance) that opens into a large colonnaded forecourt, leading to narthex (porch) that gives access to larger nave. Longitudinal axis from forecourt entry forms a processional path. Triumphal arch frames the apse, which has seats for clergy and a throne in a center for bishop. Screen separates apse from altar, where are placed the remains of a martyr of saint.
Facades: walls of plain brick or stone with little articulation except doors and windows. Center of nave is high to accommodate clerestory windows (windows are rectangular or arched). Columns, masonry and roof tiles are pillaged from Roman buildings.
Doors: are either carved wood or bronze.
Roofs: are gabled on basilicas and doomed on central plans. Rust-colored clay tiles cover the surface.
Interiors
Christian churches have a lot of wall embellishment so they feature wall decoration on unprecedented scale with frescoes or mosaics. Very decorated interior are contrasting with plane exteriors.
Public Buildings:
Floors: black or grey or colored marble, some have patterns.
Walls: nave arcade, triumphal arch, and apse display panels, frescoes or mosaics. Decorations illustrate God and educate believers. Mosaics with glittery glass surface illustrate simplified figures.
Columns: reused Roman or new classicizing columns. Capitals and columns frequently do not match.
Ceilings: feature exposed timber trusses or beams.
Furniture
Early Christian furniture is limited. The most important pieces are the storage items found in churches. Church furniture is highly decorated with carvings, gildings, and frequently, jewels. Secular furnishings such as coffers follow earlier Roman types and forms.
Seating: stools are more common than chairs and resemble Roman prototype.
Storage: emblems belonging to the Christian faith decorative furniture as well as architecture(peacock, grapevines, cross)
Roman buildings that influenced Early Christian architecture:
Early Christian Buildings:
