The Art of Byzantium

Key Ideas

• Rome in the Eastern Empire, capital named Constantinople. Remained the epicenter until 1453 when the Ottoman Turks took over. 
• Complicated history for Hagia Sophia, or Church of the "Holy Wisdom"
• First time we see a dome that sits on 4 arches or "pendentives"
• Mosaics are intended to publicize and codify Christianity
• Figures are represented and formal, frontal, flat, and floating. Usually tall, slim with slim faces and long noses. Very little movement is depicted. 
• Emperor Justinian is a major patron for the arts including Hagia Sophia
• Western Roman Empire fell in 476 when Romulus was overthrown by a Germanic leader, Odacer. 
• Eastern Roman Empire lasted about a thousand years longer. It fell in 1453 when the Ottoman Turks took over.

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Additional Resources

Map of Rome in the west and east
* YouTube: Emperor Justinian
* SmartHistory: San Vitale and mosaics
* Star Alliance: Hagia Sophia

Vocabulary

cathedral
chalice
codex
continuous narrative
Eucharist
Genesis
Icon
Iconostasis
mosaic
paten
pendentive
squinch
​Theotokos

Artworks List

1. Hagia Sophia
​2. San Vitale
    - Justinian and Attendants
    - Theodora and Attendants
​3. Vienna Genesis
4. Virgin (Theotokos) and Child b/w Saints Theodore and George

Notecard Images