Byzantine Architecture

A general overview of Byzantine architecture including it's characteristics and the influence it had on future styles of building.
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the floor plan for an old house with four courtyards and several rooms, all in black and white
These floor plans are examples of some Byzantine churches in Athens, Greece.
the structure of a house is shown in this diagram, with all its parts labeled
This is an example of a typical Byzantine style church. One can see many of the same elements used in the Hagia Sophia in this design.
a large building with two towers and many windows on the top floor, in front of some steps
This is St. Andrew of Patras, a Greek Orthodox basilica located in Patras, Greece. It was completed in 1974 and is a good example of how Byzantine architecture is still being used more than 1500 years after it was introduced.
a large building with many spires in front of the water
This is the Blue Mosque. It was built after the Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottoman Empire. As one can easily see, it was heavily influenced by the design of the Hagia Sophia.
an ornate mosaic with three people holding a baby
This is one of the many mosaics contained within the Hagia Sophia. It shows Emperors Justinian and Constantine on each side of the Virgin Mary.The two emperors are shown holding replicas of their respective contributions to the Byzantine Empire.
the inside of a church with many details
This is the dome and mosaics of Martorana, located in Palermo, Sicily. It features a large dome adorned with intricate mosaics, consistent with other Byzantine structures.It should also be noted that Christ is usually depicted on the center of the dome, surrounded by angels and saints.
the inside of a large building with many people walking around and looking up at it
The interior of the Hagia Sophia was a large, open space covered by a massive dome. Domes, open spaces and mosaics were the main characteristics incorporated into most Byzantine structures (mainly churches).
a large building with many spires on top of it
The Hagia Sophia (Greek for "Holy Wisdom") is probably the most iconic of all Byzantine structures. Its unique and ingenious design features can be seen in many future structures.