1. Early Christian. Basilican Church of S. Peter: Rome. Erected by Consstantine near the site of the martyrdom of S. Peter in the circus of Nero. This building was pulled down, circa 1506 A.D. to make way for the present cathedral. Also on the same drawing is S.Paolo Fuori Le Mura: Rome. (St. Paul's Outside the Walls). Both are large basilican buildings with double aisles on each side of the nave. Note the clearstory windows and the axial "thrust" of these interiors.

2. Early Christian. The nave of Sta. Maria Maggiore: Rome. This is the only church of which there is evidence that it was originally a pagan basilica. It was converted to a church between 432 and 440 when it was richly decorated with mosaics. The ceiling was closed in with gilded coffers about 1500.

3. Early Christian. View of the nave of Sant' Apollinare in Classe: Ravenna. A.D. 549.

4. Early Christian. The south wall of the nave of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo: Ravenna. Depicted here is The Procession of Martyrs, 5th or 6th Century. Glass mosaics.

5. Early Christian. Santa Costanza interior: Rome. Originally built by Constantine as a tomb for his daughter. This building exemplifies the alternative to the basilica as a spatial form for churches. It is a central church plan as opposed to the axial plan of the basilica. The two forms have been extensively used ever since, although the basilica has generally been more popular. The central plan places the altar in the center, and the basilican plan places the altar near the end of the axial nave.

6. Early Christian. Ivory covered wooden throne chair equipped with rings so that it could be used as a sedan chair. This chair is often called the Chair of S. Peter because it was a gift to the pope by a Holy Roman Emperor. The carvings on the chair relate to a story of the founding of the Vatican. It is put on display by the Church every 50 years during the celebration of Holy Year.

7. Byzantine. Hagia Sophia, 532-537. Built for Justinian by architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isodorus of Miletus on the site of two successive basilican churches of the same name. The domed structure spanning a square space is a great contribution of the Byzantine architects.

8. Byzantine. Hagia Sophia Interior View. Constantinople (Istanbul). Note the great dome on pendentives.

9. Byzantine. Hagia Sophia, 532-537. Detail of column capital showing the monogram of Justinian and complex design of the architrave above it. Note the bronze collar at the top of the column.

10. Byzantine. Sala di Ruggero, Palace of the Normans (formerly Royal Palace, Palermo, Sicily). The combination of marble revetments with mosaics above on walls and vault gives a clear picture of a sumptuous Byzantine domestic interior.

11. Byzantine. Interior view of S. Vitale, 546-548. Ravenna, Italy. The magnificent great arches of the church enclose the lighter arcades of the ambulatory, and the presbyterium (foreground), giving the monument an effect of space and lightness.

12. Byzantine. The ivory throne of Maximianus, early sixth century A.D. at S. Vitale, Ravenna. The ivory panels attached to the wooden core show the final stages of the Hellenistic style in Constantinople, where it is believed the throne was made.