Early Christian Architecture Research Paper

During the third and fourth centuries, Early Christian architects developed new techniques from Roman builders. Early Christians not only used Roman forms, but Roman styles as well. The Romans dictated forms and styles that can be vividly seen in the earliest of large churches dating back to Late Antiquity. Christianity had little influence on architecture until the rise of Emperor Constantine in the year 328. After Christianity had taken its place as a State religion, the movement became apparent. Christianity eventually became stronger and more organized than the old Roman culture and eventually became the new Rome. Rome would soon become the epicenter for Christianity for the next few centuries. In the early fourth centuries many Christian

But with new techniques they developed such as the flying buttress. For example the Old Saint Peter church resembled Roman basilicas. It had a wide central nave with side aisles and an apse at the end. Unlike Roman basilicas, instead of doorways on one long side opening onto an aisle, they had an obvious long axis opening. When the worshipers arrived in Saint Peters nave, they were able to view the altar in the apse, framed by the chancel arch dividing the nave from the transept. Santa Sabina is another basilican church. It is famed for its 5th-century wooden doors that have biblical scenes carved in them. It also has 24 columns of marble completely coordinated with Corinthian columns and bases. Christian churches as we know them grew out of a number of features of the Roman period. Certain examples of this can be seen in the house church, the atrium, the basilica, the bema, the mausoleum, and the cruciform. When Christianity became the lawful religion, Christians began to express itself in buildings. Christian architecture was created in direct correlation to civic and immoral forms. Therefore the Roman basilica was used as model for churches. As early Christians built communities, they drew on one particular feature, the atrium with a colonnade surrounding it. Although most have disappeared, the Basilica of San Clemente still stands as great example. The bema or raised dais formed part of many basilican churches. This bema extended laterally beyond the main meeting hall, which formed tow arms so the building took on a T shape with projecting apse. This is the shape most of the Western Cathedrals and large churches developed. One heavy influence on church architecture was the mausoleum. The Roman mausoleum was square or circular domed structure. The Emperor Constantine can be credited responsible for the building of a circular, mausoleum-like church which in turn