Contribution to the study of late byzantine church architecture: the cross-vaulted churches on Euboea

Postgraduate Thesis uoadl:2819506 576 Read counter

Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Βυζαντινή Αρχαιολογία
Library of the School of Philosophy
Deposit date:
2018-11-19
Year:
2018
Author:
Papadimitriou Dimitrios
Supervisors info:
Γιώργος Πάλλης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Βυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Πλάτων Πετρίδης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Βυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Σταύρος Μαμαλούκος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων, Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών
Original Title:
Συμβολή στη μελέτη της υστεροβυζαντινής ναοδομίας: οι σταυρεπίστεγοι ναοί της Εύβοιας
Languages:
Greek
Translated title:
Contribution to the study of late byzantine church architecture: the cross-vaulted churches on Euboea
Summary:
The architectural type of cross-vaulted church first appeared in the middle of the 13th century and spread out mainly over Epirus, western Thessaly, Sterea Hellas including Euboea, Peloponnese and Crete. Most probably the plan-type developed under the influence of earlier elements of byzantine architecture, such as the cross-vaulted covering of the narthex of cross-in-square churches, combined with western ideas about the transept.
One of the regions with the greatest number of cross-vaulted churches is Euboea. The type first appeared on the island around the middle of the 13th century during the period of Latin domination (1204-1470) and spread out during and after the temporary reconquest of most of Euboea by Licario (1276-1279) at the service of Michael VIII Palaiologos (1259-1282). The reestablishment of the orthodox Bishopric of Avlon in the region of Avlonari in central Euboea as well as the erection probably in the middle of the 13th or the second half of the 13th century of the great -likely to be- cathedral of Saint Demetrius at Chania Avlonariou contributed to the increased use of the plan-type. The cathedral constitutes an architectural unicum, as being the biggest cross-vaulted church of type A1 with arched opening leading to side aisles. Influence of the cross-vaulted churches of Attica could also be considered.
Eighteen late byzantine cross-vaulted churches are preserved in Euboea. The majority belongs to the A1 variation, presenting flat and non-articulated side walls, whereas four of them to the A2 variation, where niches are formed at the side walls by the transverse barrel vault. They are unequally distributed: fourteen were built in central Euboea, three in southern Euboea and only one on the northern part of the island. Most of them date in the period after 1260 and particularly from the end of the 13th to the first decade of the 14th century, and only a few later in the 14th century. They are simple monuments built with rubble masonry, they are covered with semicircular or slightly pointed barrel-vaults and often decorated with noteworthy mural painting. However, certain churches, such as Saint Demetrius at Ghania Avlonariou, Hodegetria Spilion, Panagitsa Vatheias and Saint George Gymnou are built with masonry that includes also parts of cloisonné masonry and significant ceramoplastic and sculpted decoration. Features of western architecture can be detected to a small extent. Dedicatory inscriptions testify that the churches were probably built by eminent families of Greek lords or land owners, who kept their properties and privileges participating in the Latin governance.
Main subject category:
Archaeology
Keywords:
archaeology, byzantine archaeology, architecture, byzantine architecture, late byzantine architecture, church architecture, byzantine church architecture, late byzantine church architecture, Euboea, cross-vaulted, cross-vaulted churches, cross-vaulted type, late byzantine cross-vaulted churches
Index:
No
Number of index pages:
0
Contains images:
Yes
Number of references:
254
Number of pages:
261
File:
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