A semi-dome, or the whole apse, may also be called a conch after the scallop shell often carved as decoration of the semi-dome (all shells were conches in Ancient Greek), though this is usually used for subsidiary semi-domes, rather than the one over the main apse.[1] Small semi-domes have been often decorated in a shell shape from ancient times,[2] as in Piero della Francesca's Throned Madonna with saints and Federigo da Montefeltro,[3] and the example in the gallery below. Islamic examples may use muqarnas decorative corbelling, while in Late Antique, Byzantine and medieval church architecture the semi-dome is the classic location for a focal mosaic, or later fresco.[4]
Looking up at the radiating semi-domes of Hagia Sophia
Found in many Ancient Greek exedras, the semi-dome became a common feature of the apse at the end of Ancient Roman secular basilicas, which was adopted in Early Christian architecture as the commonest shape for churches, becoming the focal point for decoration. In buildings like Hagia Sophia in Byzantine architecture, apsidal openings or exhedras from the central nave appear in several directions, not just to the liturgical east.[5] The tetraconch, triconch and cross-in-square are other typically Eastern Christian church plans that produce several semi-domes.
When the Byzantine styles were adapted in Ottoman architecture, which was even less concerned with maintaining a central axis, a multiplicity of domes and semi-domes becomes the dominating feature of both the internal space and the external appearance of the building. The buildings of Mimar Sinan and his pupil Sedefkar Mehmed Agha are the masterpieces of this style. Mihrabs are another common location for semi-domes.
In Western Europe the external appearance of a semi-dome is less often exploited than in Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, and is often disguised as a sloping rather than curved semi-circular roof.[6]
Interior of Sultan Ahmed Mosque ("Blue Mosque"), Istanbul. The main dome is surrounded by four semi-domes, three of which are visible in this image. They in turn have smaller semi-domes hanging off them.
^See illustration at Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture, s.v "semi-dome" (retrieved on 18 April 2009).
^Cincinnati Union Terminal Architectural Information Sheet 2010-06-20 at the Wayback Machine. Cincinnati Museum Center. Retrieved on February 8, 2010.
Referencesedit
Hachlili, Rachel. Ancient Jewish art and archaeology in the diaspora. (Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 1: The Near and Middle East.) Leiden: Brill, 1998 (ISBN90-04-10878-5, Google Books)
Kim, Tae Won; John H. Christy & Jae C. Choe: "Semidome building as sexual signaling in the fiddler crab Uca lactea (Brachyura: Ocypodidae)", in Journal of Crustacean Biology, Vol. 24:4 (2004), pp. 673-679 (abstract)
semi, dome, architecture, semi, dome, half, dome, half, dome, that, covers, semi, circular, area, building, typical, early, christian, byzantine, apse, with, hemispherical, semi, dome, decorated, mosaic, basilica, sant, apollinare, classe, ravenna, contents, a. In architecture a semi dome or half dome is a half dome that covers a semi circular area in a building Typical Early Christian Byzantine apse with a hemispherical semi dome decorated in mosaic Basilica di Sant Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna Contents 1 Architecture 2 Gallery 3 Notes 4 ReferencesArchitecture editSemi domes are a common feature of apses in Ancient Roman and traditional church architecture and in mosques and iwans in Islamic architecture A semi dome or the whole apse may also be called a conch after the scallop shell often carved as decoration of the semi dome all shells were conches in Ancient Greek though this is usually used for subsidiary semi domes rather than the one over the main apse 1 Small semi domes have been often decorated in a shell shape from ancient times 2 as in Piero della Francesca s Throned Madonna with saints and Federigo da Montefeltro 3 and the example in the gallery below Islamic examples may use muqarnas decorative corbelling while in Late Antique Byzantine and medieval church architecture the semi dome is the classic location for a focal mosaic or later fresco 4 nbsp Looking up at the radiating semi domes of Hagia SophiaFound in many Ancient Greek exedras the semi dome became a common feature of the apse at the end of Ancient Roman secular basilicas which was adopted in Early Christian architecture as the commonest shape for churches becoming the focal point for decoration In buildings like Hagia Sophia in Byzantine architecture apsidal openings or exhedras from the central nave appear in several directions not just to the liturgical east 5 The tetraconch triconch and cross in square are other typically Eastern Christian church plans that produce several semi domes When the Byzantine styles were adapted in Ottoman architecture which was even less concerned with maintaining a central axis a multiplicity of domes and semi domes becomes the dominating feature of both the internal space and the external appearance of the building The buildings of Mimar Sinan and his pupil Sedefkar Mehmed Agha are the masterpieces of this style Mihrabs are another common location for semi domes In Western Europe the external appearance of a semi dome is less often exploited than in Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and is often disguised as a sloping rather than curved semi circular roof 6 Cincinnati Union Terminal in Cincinnati Ohio features the largest semi dome in the Western hemisphere measuring 180 feet wide and 106 feet high 7 Gallery edit nbsp Cross section of Hagia Sophia as first built nbsp Exterior of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque nbsp Interior of Sultan Ahmed Mosque Blue Mosque Istanbul The main dome is surrounded by four semi domes three of which are visible in this image They in turn have smaller semi domes hanging off them nbsp Mosaics in Nea Moni of Chios 11th century nbsp conch niche 18th century nbsp Semi domed mihrab niche Cairo nbsp Painted semi dome Parma Cathedral nbsp Tribune with semi dome Winter PalaceNotes edit OED Conch 5 The domed roof of a semi circular apse also the apse as a whole Hachlili 1998 p 373 on ancient Jewish examples Commons image Talbot Rice 118 and 123 Talbot Rice 93 98 See illustration at Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture s v semi dome retrieved on 18 April 2009 Cincinnati Union Terminal Architectural Information Sheet Archived 2010 06 20 at the Wayback Machine Cincinnati Museum Center Retrieved on February 8 2010 References editHachlili Rachel Ancient Jewish art and archaeology in the diaspora Handbook of Oriental Studies Section 1 The Near and Middle East Leiden Brill 1998 ISBN 90 04 10878 5 Google Books Kim Tae Won John H Christy amp Jae C Choe Semidome building as sexual signaling in the fiddler crab Uca lactea Brachyura Ocypodidae in Journal of Crustacean Biology Vol 24 4 2004 pp 673 679 abstract David Talbot Rice Byzantine Art 3rd edn 1968 Penguin Books Ltd Vadnal Jane Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture University of Pittsburgh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Semi dome amp oldid 1187472609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
