I will paraphrase two articles from The Islamic and Byzantine Empires.
Intro
The Islamic and Byzantine Empires produced some of the most outstanding pieces of architecture still standing today. Their architects broke barriers in hight, kinds of materials, and size. They created some of the most famous and intreating feats of architecture ev
er. Their use of materials and perfect symmetry produced an interesting style that helped to define classical antiquity.
Excerpt from The Buildings of Justinian
“The church
consequently presented a glorious spectacle, extraordinary to those who behold
it, and altogether incredible to those who are told of it. In height it rises to the very heavens, and
overtops the neighboring buildings like a ship anchored among them: it rises
above the rest of the city, which it adorns, while it forms a part of it, and
it is one of its beauties that being a part of the city and growing out of it,
it stands so high above it, that from it the whole city can be beheld as from a watch-towsr. Its length and breadth are
so judiciously arranged that it appears to be both long and wide without being
disproportionate. It is distinguished by
indescribable beauty, for it excels both in its size and in the harmony of its
proportion, having no part excessive and none deficient; being more magnificent
than ordinary buildings and much more elegant than those which are out of
proportion. It is singularly full of
light and sunshine; you would declare that the place is not lighted by the sun
from without, but that the rays are produced within itself, such an abundance
of light is poured into this church….A spherical-shaped dome standing upon this
circle makes it exceedingly beautiful; from the lightness of the building it
does not appear to rest upon a solid foundation, but to cover the place beneath
as though it were suspended from heaven by the fabled golden chain. All these parts surprisingly joined to one
another in the air, suspended one from another and resting only on that which
is next to them, form the work into one admirably harmonious whole, which
spectators do not care to dwell upon for long in the mass, as each individual
part attracts the eye and turns it to itself.
The sight causes men to constantly change their point of view, and the
spectator can nowhere point to any part which he admires more than the rest,
but having viewed the art which appears everywhere, men contract their eyebrows
as they look at each point, and are unable to comprehend such workmanship-, but
always depart thence stupefied through their incapacity to comprehend it. So
much for this….
Let us now proceed to
describe the remaining parts of the church.
The entire ceiling is covered with pure gold which adds glory to its
beauty, though the rays of light reflected upon the gold from the marble
surpass it in beauty, though the rays of gold which adds glory to its beauty,
though the rays of light reflected upon the gold from the marble surpass it in
beauty; there are two porticos on each side, which do not in any way dwarf the
size of the church, but add to its width.
In length they reach quite to the ends, but in height they fall short of
it; these also have a domed ceiling and are adorned with gold."
Paraphrase 1
The Buildings of Justinian was a document written by Procopius, a Roman Scholar, that talked about the marvelous feats of architecture built under the order of Justinian. He describes the Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine Orthodox church, and its features. He talks about its size and perfect proportion. He is amazed by the beautiful dome and the ceiling of gold. All these things fascinate and amaze him.
Excerpt From A Pilgramage To Mecca
On crossing the
threshold we entered a vast unroofed quadrangle, a mighty amplification of the
Palais Royal, having on each side of its four sides a broad colonnade, divided
into three aisles by a multitude of slender columns, and rising to the height
of about thirty feet. Surmounting each arch of the colonnade is a small dome:
in all there are a hundred and twenty, and at different points arise seven
minarets, dating from various epochs, and of somewhat varying altitudes and
architecture. The numerous pigeons which have their home within the temple have
been believed never to alight upon any portion of its roof, thus miraculously
testifying to the holiness of the building. This marvel, however, of late years
having been suspended, many discern another omen of the approach of the
long-predicted period when unbelievers shall desecrate the hallowed soil.
In the center of
the square area rises the far-famed Kabah, the funereal shade of which
contrasts vividly with the sunlit walls and precipices of the town. It is a
cubical structure of massive stone, the upper two-thirds of which are mantled
by a black cloth embroidered with silver, and the lower portion hung with white
linen. At a distance of several yards it is surrounded by a balustrade provided
with lamps, which are lighted in the evening, and the space thus enclosed is
the circuit ground along which, day and night, crowds of pilgrims, performing
the circular ceremony of Tawaf, realize the idea of perpetual motion. We at
once advanced to the black stone embedded in the angle of the Kabah, kissed it,
and exclaimed "Bismillah wa Allahu Akbar," --- "In God's name,
and God is Greatest." Then we commenced the usual seven rounds, three at a
walking pace, and four at a brisk trot. Next followed two prayer-flections at
the tomb of Abraham, after which we drank of the water of Zamzam, said to be
the same which quenched the thirst of Hagar's exhausted son.
Besides the
Kabah, eight minor structures adorn the quadrangle, the well of Zamzam, the
library, the clockroom, the triangular staircase, and four ornamental
resting-places for the orthodox sects of Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki, and Hanbali.
Paraphrase of A Pilgrimage To Mecca
A Pilgrimage To Mecca was the written account of Sir Richard Francis Burton on his trip to Mecca. He records in a "journal Like" manner. He talks about the arrival and how he was amazed. He saw the beauty of Mecca and the outstanding architecture of the Al-Haram. He saw the geometry used in the creation of the Kaaba and the perfect angles used in its construction.
Outline
1) Hagia Sophia
a) Congruency
i) Work ahead of their time
b) Dome
i) Difficulty of building such
c) Gold roof
i) Cost of materials
2) Mecca
a) Journal
i) Style of writing
b) Geometry
i) Brand new math and technology
c) Angles
i) Very hard to be that accurate
Works Cited
Burton, Richard F. "Internet History Sourcebooks." Internet History Sourcebooks. Fordham University, July 1998. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
Dewing, H. B. Procopius. Trans. Aubrey Stewerte. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1914. Print.
"Middle Ages II Byzantine Empire Sources." Middle Ages II Byzantine Empire Sources. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.
