Byzantine architecture followed the architecture of early Christians and primarily formed during the reign of the emperor Justinian during the sixth century. The main difference between Byzantine churches and Early Christian basilican churches is that the leading thought in a Byzantine church is vertical, by the grouping of multiple domes around a larger central one, towards which the eye is drawn, meaning that the y-axis of the church is exaggerated. The leading idea in an Early Christian basilica is horizontal, by using many colonnades, which direct the eye towards apse of the church. In Early Christian churches the x- axis was the one to be exaggerated. After Christianity was made an official religion by the Emperor Constantine in 312 A.D., …show more content…
The bricks of Byzantine structures were laid like that of Roman architecture. The bricks were about an inch and a half in depth and laid in thick beds of mortar. Mortar is a mixture of sand, cement, water, and lime. Making the mortar with special care, the buildings are able to stand firm and strong many years after construction. The bricks rather than being laid horizontally, were often laid in the pattern of meander fret. This pattern is a decorative border that is shaped from a continuous line. It is also called the Greek key. The bricks would also sometimes appear in the pattern of chevron. The various patterns of the brick work add to the diverse facades, or faces of a building, in Byzantine structures. Byzantine church architecture is focused primarily in the interior of the church. The interior of the church is elaborately decorated which rich colors and gold foiling. The initial intention for the interior of Byzantine churches was to create a truly sacred place for a congregation to gather and be faced with the immense presence of God the Father. A sacred place free from all worldly distractions and temptations. Most Byzantine churches accomplish their elaborately decorated interior through the use of