Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine empire. That empire emerged in AD 330 when Constantine moved the capital of the Roman empire to Byzantium, which was later renamed Constantinople and is now Istanbul. Early Byzantine architecture is essentially a continuation of Roman architecture. Examples include the walls of Byzantium and Yerebatan Saray. A frieze in the Ortrogothic palace in Ravenna (now S Apollinare Nuovo) depicts an early Byzantine palace. Gradually, a style emerged which was influence more by the architecture of the near east, and used the Greek cross plan for the church architecture which mostly stands today. Brick replaced stone, classical orders were used more freely, mosaics replaced carved decoration, and complex domes were erected. Ultimately, Byzantine architecture in Italy gave way to the Romanesque and Gothic architecture, while in the east it informed early Islamic architecture. Neo-Byzantine architecture had a small following in the wake of the Neo-Gothic of the nineteenth century. Great works of Byzantine architecture include: In modern day Egypt St Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai In modern day Greece Nea Moni Katholikon, Chios Brontocheion monastery, Mistra Monasteries of Mount Athos In modern day Israel Dome of the Rock In modern day Italy Palace of the Exarch, Ravenna San Marco di Venezia Torcello Cathedral, Venice S Miniato, Florence Baptistry, Florence S Vitale, Ravenna In modern day Syria Great mosque, Damascus In modern day Turkey Elmsli Kilise, Cappadocia Hagia Sophia, Istanbul In modern day Ukraine St. Sophia, Kiev See also: Architectural style Medieval architecture This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.