7. EARLY CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS IN THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

During the Early Christian period, many remarkable monuments were built throughout the Byzantine territory.

In the State Capital, in Istanbul, the first church of Hagia Sophia was built while at the same time the works for the completion of its hippodrome were continuing.

The first church of Agia Sophia.

The hippodrome of Constantinople

A significant number of remarkable buildings were constructed in Greece, and mainly in the city of Thessaloniki.

In the 4th AD century, during the reign of Theodosius the Great, the walls of Thessaloniki were built. Characteristic were their three gates, the Kassandreotiki, the gate of Archangelos and the gate of Anna Palaiologina.

The gate of Anna Palaiologina

The Monastery of Vlatades, the church of Saint David and that of Agios Dimitrios date back to the same period.

The monastery of Vlatades

The Roman rotunda, of the Galerian complex of Thessaloniki, started functioning as the church of Saint Georgios. In fact, at the end of the 4th AD. century the arch of its sanctuary was built. The rotunda’s mosaics are considered to be the oldest wall mosaics in the east. Its perimeter wooden portico was destroyed in 620 AD. In addition, a west a propylon was built while around it there was a large enclosure with platforms.

The Roman palace of Galerius in Thessaloniki was still in operation during the early Christian period.

A remarkable church built during the early Christian times in the same city is Achiropiitos (450-470 AD). It is a basilica. It is alleged that it had a splint and a palate. Inside it had green marble. The entrances were on the sides of the temple. The arch and the arrangement of the windows of the basilica intensified its linear character. The roof was slightly sloping and had a skylight. It was eliminated after modern restorative surgeries. The reason why the skylight of Acheiropiitos was not restored was that we did not know the exact height of its windows. But in this way, the composition, the symbolism and the didactics of the building were lost.

During the early Christian times, the Theodosian capitals, which are somewhat similar to the Corinthian ones, appeared. Their spines were being carved with a drill. Such capitals are found in buildings such as the three-aisled basilica of Studio in Constantinople (453-456 AD).

Other types of early Christian capitals were the bowl form’s and the tectonic.

The second phase of the church of St. Dimitrios in Thessaloniki dates back to the end of the 5th AD. century. The prefect Leontios of Illyricum built the church on the site of the tomb of the Saint.

The church is a five-aisled basilica with skylights and a transverse aisle. Its main building materials are stones and a few bricks.

The transverse aisle of the church is triple. The longitudinal aisles of the temple stop at the transverse.

In the basement of St. Dimitrios there is a crypt where the myrrh of the Saint gushes. At the source of the myrrh there are perimeter shields.

Inside the church is today the renaissance tomb of Spantounis (1481 AD).

Another interesting early Christian church in Thessaloniki is Saint Minas. It has two phases of construction: The first phase dates back to the 8th AD. century while the second at the beginning of the 9th AD. century.

The church of St. David in Thessaloniki was built around 500 AD. It is a square building that forms a cross and has 4 apartments in its corners. It has remarkable mosaics, made by order of Theodora, daughter of Maximian Galerius. One of them is "Ezekiel's vision" which presents Christ on a colorful, bright arc.

"Ezekiel's vision"

In Egypt, during the period 412-490 AD, ruled by the emperor Zeno, the healing center Abu Mena was built. In the building there was an amazing quadrangular atrium and a baptistery to the west. Other buildings of the complex were a large basilica, a church that housed the relics of Agios Minas, baths, and dormitories for pilgrims.

In Greece again, specifically in Corinth, the basilica of Lechaio was built (450-527 AD). It had an exonarthex with a patio and a second narthex with a fountain.

In 470 AD. The basilica of St. Demetrius was built in Nea Anchialos.

Around 400 AD, the Basilica of Ilissos was built in Athens. It had a concave transverse aisle and had four solid elements that supported a new element: a tower or a dome.

The Basilica I of Philippi was built around 500 AD. and is three-aisled with a transverse aisle.

In Maktar, Tunisia, in the 4th-5th century AD.  "Hildeguns"
basilica was also built by the Vandals.

In Qal' at Siman, in 480-490 AD, a quadruple basilica was built around an octagonal core, in the center of which was the pillar where Symeon the Stylite martyred. There were hostels around the temple. Below this there is a cistern. The carving of the building blocks is perfect.

At the same time, octagonal temples were built.

One of the most famous was the cathedral in Bosra of Syria (512-513 AD). It has a quadrangular interior surrounded by a square floor plan.

Another octagonal temple is the octagon of Philippi (5th century AD).

Finally, one last octagonal temple (in its interior) is the martyrdom of St. George in Ezra, Syria (515 AD).

However, in early Christian times the type of basilica was predominant because it was easier to build. In the basilica the shell is simpler while luxury exists only inside them (marbles etc).