Deck 6: Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

Question 1

S. Marco in Venice was modeled on:

A) Hadrian's Pantheon in Rome.
B) Constantine's Basilica in Rome.
C) Justinian's Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.
D) Justinian's Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Answer 1

Justinian's Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

Question 2

All of the following are part of an Early Christian church EXCEPT:

A) an atrium.
B) a transept.
C) a nave.
D) an apse.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Answer 2

All of the answers are correct.

Question 3

The interior of the church of S. Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna includes:

A) an exedra embedded in the walls.
B) a cathedra supporting a baldachino.
C) an ambulatory covered by vaults.
D) nave walls finished with mosaics.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Answer 3

nave walls finished with mosaics.

Question 4

Martyria were buildings erected by early Christians as memorials to commemorate:

A) victories over the Romans.
B) holy days.
C) saints.
D) the birth of Jesus.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 5

Which of the following is true about the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem?

A) It has a longitudinal axis that leads from the entrance through the nave to the terminating apse.
B) It has high windows that illuminate the nave.
C) It provides circulation space required for pilgrims visiting the holy site.
D) It has triumphal-arch like elements that appear at the entry of the atrium.
E) It has windows set between the dome's ribs to create the illusion that the dome floats unsupported.

Question 6

Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, wrote a biography of:

A) Constantine.
B) Moses.
C) Jesus of Nazareth.
D) Augustus.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 7

The emperor Justinian was responsible for the construction of:

A) S. Vitale in Ravenna.
B) S. Apollinare in Classe.
C) the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.
D) S. Irene.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 8

The buttresses around the base of the dome of Hagia Sophia:

A) were added for visual effect and are not structural.
B) were added after an earthquake damaged the church.
C) were added after the church became a mosque.
D) were destroyed after an earthquake.
E) were destroyed after the church became a mosque.

Question 9

A Greek cross has:

A) two shorter and two longer arms.
B) a Greek-key configuration.
C) four equal arms.
D) no arms.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 10

The dome of S. Vitale in Ravenna was built using:

A) Visigoth technology.
B) Venetian technology.
C) Ostrogoth technology.
D) Turkish technology.
E) Venetian and Turkish technology.

Question 11

S. Vitale's decoration includes:

A) fresco paintings.
B) marbles.
C) parquetry.
D) golden mosaics.
E) book-matched marbles and figural mosaics.

Question 12

The quincunx plan is composed of nine bays making a:

A) large rectangle.
B) large square.
C) Greek cross.
D) Latin cross.
E) large square and a green cross.

Question 13

Byzantine church walls in Russia were often built of:

A) rough-hewn planks.
B) logs.
C) sod.
D) rammed earth.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 14

In the context of Russian churches, a shatyor refers to a(n):

A) terra-cotta tile.
B) asbestos roof.
C) thatch.
D) tent roof.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 15

At the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Peredki, the elements called pomochi are:

A) stacked cantilevers.
B) a peculiar type of finial.
C) onion-shaped domes.
D) tubular skylights made from logs.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 16

In a Byzantine church, an iconostasis is:

A) an alcove for icons.
B) a screened-off area for monks or nuns.
C) an ornately carved wooden altar.
D) a screen dividing the nave from the chancel.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 17

The Church of St. Basil the Blessed in Moscow displays:

A) bright exterior colors.
B) a shatyor roof.
C) onion domes.
D) glazed tiles.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 18

Reverse-curve gables on Russian churches are called:

A) ivani.
B) bochki.
C) ennui.
D) kievi.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 19

Postnik Yakolev was the architect of the Church of:

A) St. Basil the Blessed in Moscow.
B) the Transfiguration in Kizhi.
C) the Nativity of the Virgin in Peredki.
D) the Raising of Lazarus in Kizhi.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 20

In the Edict of Milan of 313, the emperor Constantine:

A) forbade the practice of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
B) proclaimed toleration for all religions in the Roman Empire.
C) made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.
D) built a temple to the Christian God in Rome.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 21

Masonry at the Baptistry of the Orthodox in Ravenna displays the work of:

A) Ostrogoth craftsmen.
B) craftsmen sent by Justinian from Constantinople.
C) Lombard craftsmen.
D) craftsmen trained in Venice.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 22

The church of Old St. Peter's in Rome was covered by a:

A) barrel vault.
B) series of domes.
C) wooden vault made to look like stone.
D) wood-truss roof.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 23

In the context of Early Christian architecture, a building erected to contain the tombs of important people was known as ________.

A) Mausolea
B) Campanile
C) Theotokos
D) Katholikon
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question 24

Discuss the features of Early Christian basilicas built during the time of Constantine.

Question 25

Discuss the features of Hagia Sophia in terms of its planning and constructed elements.

Question 26

Discuss the features of Russian wooden churches of the Byzantine period.