Editing Byzantine architecture (section)

==Characteristics==
[[File:2017 0423 Ravenna (132).jpg|thumb|Interior of the [[Basilica of San Vitale]] from [[Ravenna]] (Italy), decorated with elaborate and glamorous mosaics]]
[[File:Fethiye_Museum_9625.jpg|thumb|[[Pammakaristos Church]], also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos (Greek: Θεοτόκος ἡ Παμμακάριστος, "All-Blessed Mother of God"), is a Greek Orthodox Byzantine church in [[Istanbul]]]]
[[File:Church of Christ Pantocrator Nesebar.jpg|thumb|[[Church of Christ Pantocrator, Nesebar|Church of Christ Pantocrator]] (13th-14th century), [[Nesebar]], [[Bulgaria]], late Byzantine [[cross-in-square]] style, UNESCO World Heritage Site]]

When the [[Roman Empire]] became Christian (after having extended eastwards) with its new capital at [[Constantinople]], its architecture became more sensuous and ambitious. This new style with exotic domes and richer mosaics would come to be known as "Byzantine" before it traveled west to [[Ravenna]] and [[Venice]] and as far north as [[Moscow]]. Most of the churches and basilicas have high-riding domes, which created vast open spaces at the centers of churches, thereby heightening the light. The round arch is a fundamental of Byzantine style. Magnificent golden mosaics with their graphic simplicity brought light and warmth into the heart of churches. Byzantine capitals break away from the Classical conventions of [[ancient Greece]] and [[Roman Empire|Rome]] with sinuous lines and naturalistic forms, which are precursors to the [[Gothic style]].

In the same way the [[Parthenon]] is the most impressive monument for [[Classical mythology|Classical religion]], [[Hagia Sophia]] remained the iconic church for [[Christianity]]. The temples of these two religions differ substantially from the point of view of their interiors and exteriors. For Classical temples, only the exterior was important, because only the priests entered the interior, where the statue of the deity to whom the temple was dedicated was kept. The ceremonies were held outside, in front of the temple. Instead, Christian liturgies were held inside the churches.<ref>{{cite book |last= Hurmuziadis |first= George D. |translator= Dimitriu Hurmuziadis, Lucia |title= Cultura Greciei: antică, bizantină, modernă |trans-title= Greek Culture: Antique, Byzantine, Modern |date= 1979 |publisher= Editura științifică și enciclopedică |page= 92 |lang= ro}}</ref>