1. The Major Byzantine Churches of Athens
Elizabeth Elliott
4/14/08

2. Byzantine Style Byzantine Empire (330ad–1453ad)
Because of the location of the Byzantine empire, the art and architecture is a combination of Greek, Roman, and Oriental styles
Byzantine style was influenced heavily by the Eastern Orthodox Church which encouraged very serious worship.

3. Art
Figures appear flat and one dimensional and are almost always shown straight on and look very serious.
Very little sculpture, but a lot of paintings and mosaics.
During the 8th and 9th centuries, a lot of art was destroyed because of iconoclasm (the emperors said that paintings of even religious figures were forms of idolatry).

4. Icon with the Virgin Hodegetria
Icon with Saint Theodosia
Icon with the Archangel Gabriel

5. Architecture - 6 Major Church Design Types
All Byzantine churches have domes with windows to let the light in, and paintings and mosaics decorating the interior.

6. (Holy Apostles Solaki) Agii Assomati (Saint Assomati)
Agii Apostoli Solaki
(Holy Apostles Solaki)
Late 10th Century
Agii Assomati (Saint Assomati)
Early 11th Century

7. Sotira Lykodimou (The Savior of Lykodimos) 11th Century
Agios Ioannis Theologos (St. John the Theologian)
11th-12th Century
Sotira Lykodimou (The Savior of Lykodimos) 11th Century

8. Panagia Kapnikarea Dates back to 1050
Many theories as to what “Kapnikarea” means - the church was probably sponsered by a person collecting the “Kapnikon” tax (a tax on houses)
Built almost entirely of marble except for the dome which is made of brick and other stones

9. Panagia Kapnikarea (interior)

10. Panagia Gorgoupekous (Virgin Mary)
Also known as the “Little Cathedral”
Built in the late 12th century
4th Century cornice has survived representing celebrations from the Attic calendar, but the artists tried to Christianize it by putting crosses between the scenes.

11. Agios Dionysios Areopagitis
Saint Dionysius the Aeropagite
Converted by St. Paul
Became the first bishop of Athens
Is the patron saint of Athens
Started in 1923 and completed in 1931, but layout, composition, and interior decoration are inspired by Byzantine churches
Designed by Anastassios Orlandos who was an architect and archeologist and studied classical, Byzantine, and post-Byzantine Greece. He also taught Byzantine Architecture at the University of Athens.

12. Agios Dionysios Areopagite (Catholic Church)
Dedicated to St. Dionysios
Designed in 1844 by Leo von Klenze who was one of the first people to begin trying to preserve the Acropolis
Completed in 1865

13. Bibliography
"Byzantine Art." History Link 101. Ed. Eric Rhymer Apr      <      byzantine_art.htm>.
"Byzantium: Faith and Power." The Metropolitan Meseum of Art Apr.      2008 <
"Churches In Athens." Athens Info Guide Apr      <
"Leo Von Klenze." The Getty. Getty Museum. 13 Apr <      art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=332>.
New Advent Apr <
Patron Saints Index. Ed. Terry H Jones. 13 Apr <      saintd04.htm>.