The Major Byzantine Churches of Athens

Elizabeth Elliott 4/14/08

Byzantine Style

• Byzantine Empire (330ad–1453ad) • Because of the location of the

Byzantine empire, the art and architecture is a combination of Greek, Roman, and Oriental styles

• Byzantine style was influenced heavily by the Eastern Orthodox Church which encouraged very serious worship.

• Figures appear flat and one dimensional and are almost always shown straight on and look very serious.

• Very little sculpture, but a lot of paintings and mosaics.

• During the 8th and 9th centuries, a lot of art was destroyed because of iconoclasm (the emperors said that paintings of even religious figures were forms of idolatry).

Art

Icon with the Virgin Hodegetria

Icon with the Archangel Gabriel

Icon with Saint Theodosia

Architecture - 6 Major Church Design Types

All Byzantine churches

have domes with

windows to let the light

in, and paintings

and mosaics decorating

the interior.

Agii Apostoli Solaki (Holy Apostles Solaki)

Late 10th Century

Agii Assomati (Saint Assomati)

Early 11th Century

Sotira Lykodimou(The Savior of Lykodimos)11th Century

Agios Ioannis Theologos(St. John the Theologian)

11th-12th Century

Panagia Kapnikarea

• Dates back to 1050• Many theories as to

what “Kapnikarea” means - the church was probably sponsered by a person collecting the “Kapnikon” tax (a tax on houses)

• Built almost entirely of marble except for the dome which is made of brick and other stones

Panagia Kapnikarea (interior)

Panagia Gorgoupekous(Virgin Mary)

• Also known as the “Little Cathedral”

• Built in the late 12th century

• 4th Century cornice has survived representing celebrations from the Attic calendar, but the artists tried to Christianize it by putting crosses between the scenes.

Agios Dionysios Areopagitis• Saint Dionysius the Aeropagite

– Converted by St. Paul – Became the first bishop of

Athens – Is the patron saint of Athens

• Started in 1923 and completed in 1931, but layout, composition, and interior decoration are inspired by Byzantine churches

• Designed by Anastassios Orlandos who was an architect and archeologist and studied classical, Byzantine, and post-Byzantine Greece. He also taught Byzantine Architecture at the University of Athens.

Agios Dionysios Areopagite (Catholic Church)

• Dedicated to St. Dionysios

• Designed in 1844 by Leo von Klenze who was one of the first people to begin trying to preserve the Acropolis

• Completed in 1865

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     <http://www.historylink101.com/lessons/art_history_lessons/ma/      byzantine_art.htm>.

"Byzantium: Faith and Power." The Metropolitan Meseum of Art. 2000-2008. 13 Apr.      2008 <http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Byzantium/byzantium_main.asp>.

"Churches In Athens." Athens Info Guide. 2004-2008. 13 Apr. 2008      <http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtschurches.htm>.

"Leo Von Klenze." The Getty. Getty Museum. 13 Apr. 2008 <http://www.getty.edu/      art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=332>.

New Advent . 2007. 13 Apr. 2008 <http://www.newadvent.org/>.

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