Iconography

Dating back to 330 A.D is when Byzantium became the capital of the Roman Empire and was renamed Constantinople. In 395, the Roman Empire split into the West Roman Empire and the East Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, which included lands along the Mediterranean side and the Black sea. This had lasted until 1453 when the Ottomans captured Constantinople and gave the city its present name, Istanbul. Beginning in the 300’s, architects began to build domed churches. As time went on, the art featured smaller church and later went into more expressive frames of art styles. The art varied over centuries and from region to region. The value in this art was focused on the individualism and novelty found within each style of work (Wharton).

Constantine was, indeed, the factor, which brought the Byzantine art period to life. Constantinople, when it first formed, absorbed and assimilated the “quasi-universal artistic language…[and] also formed, fashioned and elaborated it in conformity with the new philosophical views and aesthetic ideas which were in the process of being developed in the capital,” (Chatzidakis 6). The establishment in this city only encouraged Constantine to develop more and have the city marked with prestige and glory. Constantinople became the epicenter of imperial activity and was the most important urban center in the Western world. “The regulating and creative role of a capital of a centralized and basically theocratic state was one of the principle factors” (Chatzidakis 7) allowed Byzantine art to expand and preserve its being. His scheme to “create a city to rival and surpass magnificence the ancient cities of the Mediterranean world” (Lowden 63) was continued enthusiastically by his successors.

During Constantine’s time, art was constantly being produced. For instance, Christian monuments were made. By naming the city after himself, Constantine wanted to adorn it with many places of worship and martyr’s shrines of great size and...