Art in FocusChapter 13:
Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic ArtWeb Links
| Early Christian Catacombs | | This site describes the history of the Roman catacombs, ancient underground burial sites used by the early Christians. Go to the section on symbols and read about the significance of various images that decorate the catacombs. Find out the meaning of the fish, dove, anchor, and phoenix.
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http://www.catacombe.roma.it/welcome.html
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| History of Hagia Sophia | | The Hagia Sophia is one of the earliest churches and has a long history involving many changes. This site is a concise explanation of the building's transformation from a church to a mosque to a museum. Research a building in your community that has had its use changed over the years. Why did the building's function change?
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http://www.turizm.net/turkey/history/hagiasophia.html
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| The Glory of Byzantium | | This interactive virtual exhibition was created in conjunction with a 1997 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art called “The Glory of Byzantium.” Explore Byzantine art by individual artwork or by theme at this online exhibit. You may also explore artworks in the context of Byzantine history.
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http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Byzantium/byzhome.html
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| The Taj Mahal | | Read all about this incredible example of Islamic architecture that was built in honor of a shah's wife. Study the floor plan and look at close-up views of interior decoration. If you could build a structure to honor someone, who would it be, and what would you build? Draw a floor plan and a frontal view of the building in your sketchbook.
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http://cyberistan.org/islamic/tajmahal.html
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| Islamic Art and Architecture | | This organization promotes the awareness of Islamic arts as a humanistic study, recognizing the inter-relationship between the arts and other academic disciplines. Learn more about calligraphy, architecture, coins, rugs, and more.
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http://www.islamicart.com/
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