DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0084
THE FORM AND CONSTRUCTION OF BYZANTINE CHURCHES. G5
The churches called camarota are those finished with a vault or arched-work, and are
covered by a convex roof.
In the MS. of John Phocas on temples,1 we read, “The temple lias three vaults and a
dome; the temple on Golgotha is covered with three vaults and a tholus.”
“ The tomb of Bachel is covered by four vaults like a tholus, and terminates in a
construction.” 2
XTuuposi^rjs and a-Taupcora refer to churches in the form of a cross, with arms extending
on each side, forming compartments which have doors. Justin the Younger added to the
temple of Blacliernae two vaults in such manner as to give it the form of a cross.
Apopuxa. (in the form of a stadium or road) is used with reference to churches built
in the form of a parallelogram; the root is formed of planks that are supported by rafters,
and covered with tiles in such a manner that the walls are shaded by the projections of the
rafters of the roof. Codinus, in his unedited Origines, relates that the primitive church of
St. Sophia was of an oblong form, and had more than four hundred and eiglity-seven columns.
The narthex outside the temple was also oblong. “ Every apartment of an oblong form is
called a narthex”*
We have still a few words to add about those parts of the church called the cmbolon, the
bema, and the solea.
The word embolon comes from because it is by this porch that one enters; others
say because it envelops the church, or because people walk in the shelter of it.
This name was given more especially to the portico of the church than to any other:
the acts of the eighth Council were represented in the embolon of the great church. Theodora,
wife of Justinian, caused the church of St. Pantelemon to be erected, because, when she
arrived at Paphlagonia, she was in a state of poverty, and remained in the embolon, and spun
wool for her support.
Under this denomination are comprehended the porches before the doors of the sacred
edifices, that are roofed with wood and covered with tiles, to give shade from the sun and
shelter from the rain.
In some churches these porches surrounded the edifice, being not only in front but also
at the sides. There was another lower sort of portico or enclosure which encompassed the
edifice for defence Tf the churches were low, the rafters and tiles of the main roof were
continued to some ’ distance from the side walls, resting on principals which were supported
by piers of stone or brickwork. This enclosure was ornamented with marble tablets, or with
pictures representing the principal events in the lives of the saints. And in order that those
who walked in the embolon should the better understand these pictures, there were short
legends explaining the events illustrated, so that no time was lost in idle thoughts, but the
view of them at once afforded food tor meditation.
Such was the embolon of the great church in which, as we have said, all the acts of the
eighth Council were represented. We may mention, also, that of Blacherme, built by the
Emperor Maurice, in the fourth year of his reign, in which he caused the entire history of his
life to be represented, from his infancy to his elevation to the imperial throne.
In the interior of the church the solea was a raised part placed between the am,bo and
tlie bema - witness this passage in Codinus The emperor descended from the ambo, not from
the side on which he mounted, but from the other side of the solea, opposite the holy tabernacle.”
And in The Origin of the Temple of St. Sophia: “Justinian the emperor caused the cibormm,
the columns, the baldachin of the altar, to be formed of silver gilt ; the fruits and lilies, with the
cross of the ciborium of gold; the solea and also the ambo of gold.” We read in Cedrenus : “ The
vault of the great church in falling broke the ambo and the solea, which was of onyx, and reduced
them to powder.” It appears from a rather confused passage in Leo Allatius that the throne of
the bishop was placed on the solea. All the historians who mention this part of the church
3 liar <Spopikov vapOr/t, \t-yfrut.
4 Chapter xvii.
1 Chapter xiv.
2 0 ri/c ' Rax A rafoc card rerpaizafiapov OuXwtdu atceirnfiiVOQ KTirrfxaroc.
S
The churches called camarota are those finished with a vault or arched-work, and are
covered by a convex roof.
In the MS. of John Phocas on temples,1 we read, “The temple lias three vaults and a
dome; the temple on Golgotha is covered with three vaults and a tholus.”
“ The tomb of Bachel is covered by four vaults like a tholus, and terminates in a
construction.” 2
XTuuposi^rjs and a-Taupcora refer to churches in the form of a cross, with arms extending
on each side, forming compartments which have doors. Justin the Younger added to the
temple of Blacliernae two vaults in such manner as to give it the form of a cross.
Apopuxa. (in the form of a stadium or road) is used with reference to churches built
in the form of a parallelogram; the root is formed of planks that are supported by rafters,
and covered with tiles in such a manner that the walls are shaded by the projections of the
rafters of the roof. Codinus, in his unedited Origines, relates that the primitive church of
St. Sophia was of an oblong form, and had more than four hundred and eiglity-seven columns.
The narthex outside the temple was also oblong. “ Every apartment of an oblong form is
called a narthex”*
We have still a few words to add about those parts of the church called the cmbolon, the
bema, and the solea.
The word embolon comes from because it is by this porch that one enters; others
say because it envelops the church, or because people walk in the shelter of it.
This name was given more especially to the portico of the church than to any other:
the acts of the eighth Council were represented in the embolon of the great church. Theodora,
wife of Justinian, caused the church of St. Pantelemon to be erected, because, when she
arrived at Paphlagonia, she was in a state of poverty, and remained in the embolon, and spun
wool for her support.
Under this denomination are comprehended the porches before the doors of the sacred
edifices, that are roofed with wood and covered with tiles, to give shade from the sun and
shelter from the rain.
In some churches these porches surrounded the edifice, being not only in front but also
at the sides. There was another lower sort of portico or enclosure which encompassed the
edifice for defence Tf the churches were low, the rafters and tiles of the main roof were
continued to some ’ distance from the side walls, resting on principals which were supported
by piers of stone or brickwork. This enclosure was ornamented with marble tablets, or with
pictures representing the principal events in the lives of the saints. And in order that those
who walked in the embolon should the better understand these pictures, there were short
legends explaining the events illustrated, so that no time was lost in idle thoughts, but the
view of them at once afforded food tor meditation.
Such was the embolon of the great church in which, as we have said, all the acts of the
eighth Council were represented. We may mention, also, that of Blacherme, built by the
Emperor Maurice, in the fourth year of his reign, in which he caused the entire history of his
life to be represented, from his infancy to his elevation to the imperial throne.
In the interior of the church the solea was a raised part placed between the am,bo and
tlie bema - witness this passage in Codinus The emperor descended from the ambo, not from
the side on which he mounted, but from the other side of the solea, opposite the holy tabernacle.”
And in The Origin of the Temple of St. Sophia: “Justinian the emperor caused the cibormm,
the columns, the baldachin of the altar, to be formed of silver gilt ; the fruits and lilies, with the
cross of the ciborium of gold; the solea and also the ambo of gold.” We read in Cedrenus : “ The
vault of the great church in falling broke the ambo and the solea, which was of onyx, and reduced
them to powder.” It appears from a rather confused passage in Leo Allatius that the throne of
the bishop was placed on the solea. All the historians who mention this part of the church
3 liar <Spopikov vapOr/t, \t-yfrut.
4 Chapter xvii.
1 Chapter xiv.
2 0 ri/c ' Rax A rafoc card rerpaizafiapov OuXwtdu atceirnfiiVOQ KTirrfxaroc.
S