Muza Art

Interesting on painting, music, sculpture, architecture and much more

Byzantine art and architecture

Byzantine art and architecture

Byzantine art and architecture


The Byzantine Empire is known for its art and architecture. In AD 395 the Roman Empire split into two parts. The eastern part became known as the Byzantine Empire and lived on until 1453. Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which extended from the Middle East to southern Spain.
The people made colorful mosaics out of broken bits of stone. They built buildings with large domes. The Byzantines also created a new branch of Christianity – Eastern Orthodoxy.
One of the greatest emperors was Justinian I. He ruled from 527 to 565 and expanded the empire and built many monuments.

Areobindus, consul of Constantinople, 506, Ivory

Areobindus, consul of Constantinople, 506, Ivory


Despite the fact that the founder of Byzantium is the Emperor Constantine the Great, the state began to form 60 years after his death. Emperor Constantine, who stopped persecution of Christians, laid the foundation of the Christian empire, and the period of its formation stretched for almost two centuries.
It was Constantine who moved the capital of the empire from Rome to the ancient city of Byzantium, after the name of which many centuries later the empire became known as the Byzantine Empire.
Byzantium had a huge, fundamental influence on the formation of European culture, on the enlightenment of the Slavic peoples.
In 1453 the Turks captured Constantinople and made it the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Turks made the Church of Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Now the building is a museum.
In the Middle Ages feudal society with its class hierarchy developed in Byzantium. The social and cultural life of the country was subordinated to the despotic power of the emperor and the church. The cheerful mythology of antiquity was superseded by the ascetic ideals of Christian religion. Religious ideology limited the horizons of artists, constrained their creative search. And yet the art of Byzantium is represented with a lot of monuments.
In the VI century, under Emperor Justinian I, the Byzantine Empire reached its peak. Art glorified the power and military triumphs of the state.
Progressive elements of the traditions of Byzantine art have been further developed in the art of other states, in particular Ancient Rus, the peoples of the Balkan peninsula, Italy, and the Caucasus.

Byzantine art and architecture

Ascension. 586, Florence, Laurentian Library

Ascension. 586, Florence, Laurentian Library

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica Site of Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica Site of Apollinare Nuovo

Byzantine dynasty of Paleologes

Byzantine dynasty of Paleologes

Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empress Irina

Byzantine Empress Irina

Byzantine eunuchs

Byzantine eunuchs

Byzantine icon

Byzantine icon

Byzantium - the keeper of the heritage of Greece and Rome

Byzantium – the keeper of the heritage of Greece and Rome

Byzantium under the emperor Irakli I

Byzantium under the emperor Irakli I

Byzantium under the emperor Justinian

Byzantium under the emperor Justinian

Christ, blessing the emperor Constantine and the Empress Zoya

Christ, blessing the emperor Constantine and the Empress Zoya

Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Interior

Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Interior

Church of Our Lady

Church of Our Lady

Church of St. Theodore

Church of St. Theodore

Church of the Assumption of Our Lady

Church of the Assumption of Our Lady

Circus games. Diptych. 450. Ivory. The Hermitage

Circus games. Diptych. 450. Ivory. The Hermitage

Detail of the Great Imperial Palace in Constantinople. First half of the 5th c. Istanbul

Detail of the Great Imperial Palace in Constantinople. First half of the 5th c. Istanbul

Emperor Basil II on the icon

Emperor Basil II on the icon

Emperor Justinian I and his servants

Emperor Justinian I and his servants

Emperor Justinian II

Emperor Justinian II

Entrance to Jerusalem. VI century

Entrance to Jerusalem. VI century

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Hosios Lukas Monastery Phocis

Hosios Lukas Monastery Phocis

Hosios Lukas Monastery, 1020. The interior

Hosios Lukas Monastery, 1020. The interior

Isaiah's Prayer. X century. Paris, National Library

Isaiah’s Prayer. X century. Paris, National Library

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mosaic of the altar part of the Catholic Monastery of Hosios Lucas. XI century

Mosaic of the altar part of the Catholic Monastery of Hosios Lucas. XI century

Mosaic of the dome of the Orthodox Baptistery

Mosaic of the dome of the Orthodox Baptistery

Mosaics of the altar part. 1148, Sicily

Mosaics of the altar part. 1148, Sicily

Nativity. VII-VIII centuries

Nativity. VII-VIII centuries

Orthodox Baptistery. 400- 450

Orthodox Baptistery. 400- 450

Our Lady of Vladimir. Icon. XI-beginning of XII century. Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

Our Lady of Vladimir. Icon. XI-beginning of XII century. Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

Painted dome of Basilica of San Vitale

Painted dome of Basilica of San Vitale

The Byzantine fleet used the Greek fire

The Byzantine fleet used the Greek fire

The Resurrection of Lazarus. 1428, Mystra, Greece

The Resurrection of Lazarus. 1428, Mystra, Greece

The Twelve Apostles. Icon. The beginning of the XIV century

The Twelve Apostles. Icon. The beginning of the XIV century

Theotokos of Hosios Lucas monastery. Interior, 1040

Theotokos of Hosios Lucas monastery. Interior, 1040