Editing Byzantine architecture (section)

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox art movement
|name = Byzantine architecture
|image = {{photomontage
|photo1a=Hagia Sophia Mars 2013.jpg
|photo1b=Ravenna San Vitale 201.jpg
|photo2a=Kerch ChurchOfStJohn.jpg
|photo2b=Basilica of San Vitale - Lamb of God mosaic.jpg
|size = 300
|color_border = #EEEEEE
|color = #F9F9F9
}}
| caption = From left to right: [[Hagia Sophia]] in [[Turkey]], [[Basilica of San Vitale]] in [[Italy]], [[Church of St John the Baptist, Kerch|Church of St John the Baptist]] in [[Crimea]], Basilica of San Vitale
| yearsactive = 4th century – 1453
| countries = [[Byzantine Empire]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] countries}}
{{Byzantine culture}}

'''Byzantine architecture''' is the [[architecture]] of the [[Byzantine Empire]], or Eastern Roman Empire, usually dated from 330 AD, when [[Constantine the Great]] established a new Roman capital in [[Byzantium]], which became [[Constantinople]], until the [[Fall of Constantinople|fall of the Byzantine Empire]] in 1453. There was initially no hard line between the Byzantine and Roman Empires, and early Byzantine architecture is stylistically and structurally indistinguishable from late [[Roman architecture]]. The style continued to be based on arches, vaults and domes, often on a large scale. Wall [[mosaic]]s with [[gold background]]s became standard for the grandest buildings, with [[fresco]]s a cheaper alternative.

The richest interiors were finished with thin plates of [[marble]] or coloured and patterned stone. Some of the columns were also made of marble. Other widely used materials were bricks and stone.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dimitriu Hurmuziadis|first1=Lucia|title=Cultura Greciei|date=1979|publisher=Editura științifică și encyclopedică|page=93|language=ro}}</ref> Mosaics made of stone or glass [[tesserae]] were also elements of interior architecture. Precious wood furniture, like beds, chairs, stools, tables, bookshelves and silver or golden cups with beautiful reliefs, decorated Byzantine interiors.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Graur|first1=Neaga|title=Stiluri în arta decorativă|date=1970|publisher=Cerces|page=38|language=ro}}</ref>

Early Byzantine architecture drew upon earlier elements of Roman and [[Ancient Greek architecture|Greek architecture]]. [[Timeline of architectural styles|Stylistic drift]], [[pendentive|technological advancement]], and [[Byzantine Iconoclasm|political]] and territorial changes meant that a distinct style gradually resulted in the [[Cross-in-square|Greek cross]] plan in [[church architecture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1365642/Byzantine-architecture|title=Byzantine architecture}}</ref> Civil architecture continued [[Greco-Roman world|Greco-Roman]] trends; the Byzantines built impressive fortifications and bridges, but generally not [[Aqueduct (bridge)|aqueduct]]s on the same scales as the Romans.

This terminology was introduced by modern historians to designate the medieval [[Roman Empire]] as it evolved as a distinct artistic and cultural entity centered on the new capital of Constantinople (modern-day [[Istanbul]]) rather than the city of Rome and its environs. Its architecture dramatically influenced the later [[medieval architecture]] throughout Europe and the Near East.