Early Christian Architecture

Describe the Architecture of early Christian Basilica churches?

Early Christian Basilica Churches:

1. Usually created over the burial place of saint.
2. Approach through an atrium or open forecourt surrounded by arcades.
3. Next came the covered narthex, between atrium and churches.
4. Narthex opened into the nave.
5. Nave lighted by a clear storey of small windows
6. Aisle on either side of nave, 1/2 width of nave.
7. Occasionally, 2 aisles on each side of nave.
8. Galleries for women sometimes over aisle.
9. Beams- Initial form of medieval transept that caters corrected the plan into a cross.  
10. A choir was enclosed by low screen walls or CHANEL and provided with a pulpit on either side.
11. Vista rounded of by apse, where the bishop took central place.
12. Altar, in front of apse, placed over burial place of saint for celebration of Christian sages.
13. A CIBORIUM or TABERNACLE created on columns over the altar.
14. Apse was semi-domed.
15. Closely spaced columns carrying Entablature seperated nave from aisles.OR Widely spaced columns carrying semicircular arcades seperated name from aisles.
16. Churches appear longer than they actually are: 

                    Long perspective of columns that carries the eye along to the sanctuary.
17. Timber roofs covered the nave side aisles occasionally vaulted.
18. Aisles covered by timber roofs.
19. Comparatively low height of interiors.
20. Walls still constructed according to Roman methods and using hand-laid rubble concrete faced with brick or stone and something plaster.

  

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