Vocabulary

reign — царствование

to some extent — до некоторой степени

to reach — достигнуть

height — высота

longitudinal — продольный

holy — священный

wisdom — мудрость

plaster — штукатурка

to incise — вырезать, насекать, гравировать

bold — смелый

measurement — измерение

to distinguish — отличаться

to follow — следовать

lit — освещенный

to dissolve — растворяться

screen — ширма, экран, щит

arms of the cross — крылья креста

I. Choose the right word.

1. The Byzantine style had enormous influence on

a) the West b) the East and the West c) the North

2. The dominant Byzantine art was ...

a) architecture b) painting c) sculpture

3. ... was the main material used for the construction of churches,

a) stone b) concrete c) brick

4. Hagia Sophia is a ...

a) church b) palace

c) chapel

5. Byzantine architecture of the period of Hagia Sophia is markedly concerned with ...

a) biology b) mathematics c) geography

II. Choose the right sentence.

1. Byzantine style still survives among Greek and Orthodox commu­nities.

a) The vaulted centralized church was typical of the Early Byzantine

period.

b) The Byzantine style influenced both the East and the West.

c) The works of this style can be seen in Greek or Orthodox communities.

2. Hagia Sophia is the supreme example of the centralized type.

a) The Church of Holy Wisdom is the finest model of the circular type.

b) Hagia Sophia was built by Justinian.

c) The early Byzantine architecture is characterized by wide diversity.

3. The Byzantine churches were covered internally with thin marble ladoes and mosaics above.

a) Brick Byzantine churches were covered externally with plaster.

b) Sheets of marble and mosaics were used for the decoration of the interior walls and arches.

c) The decoration of western surfaces was bold and ponderous.

4. The Byzantine style influenced greatly the architecture of Russia.

a) Symbolism had now begun to dominate church architecture.

b) This form of church eventually became almost universal.

c) Numerous churches in the Byzantine style were built in Russia.

5.These Byzantine churches followed the plan of a Greek cross.

a) These Byzantine churches were widespread in the countries of the Near East and eastern Europe.

b) These Byzantine churches featured a central domed space with four short square arms.

c) Each Byzantine church was conceived as a microcosm of all earth and sky.

Read the text and describe the plan of the church and its interior.

HAGIA SOPHIA OR THE CHURCH OF HOLY WISDOM

Though Justinian's domed basilicas are the models from which Byzan­tine architecture developed, Hagia Sophia remained unique, and no attempt was thereafter made by Byzantine builders to emulate it. In plan it is al­most square, but looked at from within, it appears to be rectangular, for there is a great semidome at east and west above that prolongs the effect of the roof, while on the ground there are three aisles, separated by columns with galleries above. At either end, however, great piers rise up through the galleries to support the dome. Above the galleries are curtain walls (non-load-bearing exterior walls) at either side, pierced by windows, and there are more windows at the base of the dome. The columns are of finest mar­ble, selected for their colour and variety, while the lower parts of the walls are covered with marble slabs. Like the elaborately carved cornices and capitals, these survive, but the rest of the original decoration, including most of the mosaics that adorned the upper parts of the walls and the roof, have perished.