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Early Christian

Architecture
Introduction
DURING the first three centuries the Christian
religion was discredited and persecuted; and
though many interesting memorials of this time
remain in the Catacombs, it is chiefly for their
paintings that the touching records of the past
which have been preserved to us in these
secluded excavations should be studied
Early Christian Architecture
. Early in the fourth century Constantine the
Great became Emperor, and in the course of his
reign (from A.D. 312 to 337) he recognized
Christianity, and made it the religion of the State.
It then, of course, became requisite to provide
places of public worship. Probably the Christians
would have been, in many cases, reluctant to
make use of heathen temples, and few temples,
if any, were adapted to the assembling of a large
congregation.

Early Christian Architecture
But the large halls of the baths and the basilicas
were free from associations of an objectionable
character, and well fitted for large assemblages
of worshippers. These and other such places
were accordingly, in the first instance, employed
as Christian churches. The basilica, however,
became the model which, at least in Italy, was
followed, to the exclusion of all others, when
new buildings were erected for the purpose of
Christian worship; and during the fourth century,
and several succeeding ones, the churches of
the West were all of the basilica type.
The Early Christian Churches
The invention of the Christian church was one of
the brilliant--perhaps the most brilliant--solutions
in architectural history. This was achieved by a
process of assimilating and rejecting various
precedents, such as the Greek temple, the
Roman public building, the private Roman
house, and the synagogue.
The Early Christian Churches
The Early Christian period saw the growth of
Christianity, effectively an underground Eastern
mystery cult during the first three centuries AD. It
was established as the state religion of the
Empire under the successors of Constantine.
Ecclesiastical administration set up within the
framework of the Roman Empire.

San Clemente Church
Plan
The Basilica
A Basilica is a large, important church. The
word can also be used for an Ancient
Roman building that was used for law and
meetings. The word "basilica" is Latin which was
taken from the Greek "Basilik Sto".
The St. Peters Basilica
Plan
Atrium
The main quadrangle in a Roman
dwelling-house; also the enclosed court in
front of an early Christian Basilican
church.
Atrium
Influences
Geographical- . Early Christian architecture at
Rome was influenced by, and was the logical
outcome of, existing Roman art, and it was
modified in other parts of the Empire according
to the type already recognized as suitable for the
geographical situation of those countries, such
as Syria, Asia Minor, North Africa, and Egypt.

Influences
Geological.- Geological influences may be said
to have acted indirectly rather than directly on
Early Christian architecture, for the ruins of
Roman buildings often provided the quarry
whence materials were obtained. This
influenced the style, both as regards
construction and decoration ; for columns and
other architectural features, as well as fine
sculptures and mosaics from older buildings,
were worked into Basilican churches of the new
faith.

Influences
Religious- In all human history there is no record
so striking as that of the rise of Christianity, and
no phenomenon so outstanding as the rapidity
with which it was diffused throughout the
civilized world, and, not only in this period but
also in all subsequent ages, Christianity has
inspired the building of some of the greatest
architectural monuments.
Influences
The purpose of the Christian church was
to shelter worshippers who met for prayer
and praise to an unseen Deity, and, during
the unsettled conditions at the beginning
of Christianity, various places were
adapted for this worship.

Influences
Historical- The Early Christian period is
generally taken as lasting from Constantine to
the death of Gregory the Great (A.D. 604),
although in Rome and many Italian cities it
continued up to the tenth century.
Representative buildings
Herods Temple Herods Temple Plan
The Catacombs
The Catacombs of Rome are ancient catacombs,
underground burial places under or near Rome, Italy, of
which there are at least forty, some discovered only in
recent decades. Though most famous
for Christian burials, either in separate catacombs or
mixed together, they began in the 2nd century, much as
a response to overcrowding and shortage of land. Many
scholars have written that catacombs came about to help
persecuted Christians to bury their dead secretly.
Catacomb of San Callisto
Catacomb of San Sebastiano

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