Byzantine ornament: features, colors, motifs

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

We want to tell in our article about the Byzantine ornament. We can still see the ancient motifs of Byzantine patterns today in the ultra-modern interiors of apartments, on decorative tiles that adorn walls and floors, on expensive dishes, on jewelry. Such patterns are always associated with brilliance and luxury, the brightness of color. But the origins of a special Byzantine style originate in strict asceticism and the desire of mankind for spiritual harmony, which manifested itself in special external forms.

Features of the Byzantine ornament

Byzantine ornament combines Eastern and Hellenistic traditions. It gracefully intertwines magnificent spectacle and refined decorativeness, deep religiosity and convention of pictorial language, dogmatism and emotionality, philosophical depth and artistic expression, admiration for the fleeting mortal beauty of the world and humble worship of the Higher Principle.

The most characteristic feature of the Byzantine ornamental art is the bizarre patterning borrowed from the Persians. For example, patterns on Byzantine textiles often consist of geometric shapes (circles or polygons) in which animal images are intricately inscribed. Often all this splendor is framed by a long and smoothly curved acanthus leaf.

Byzantine patterns are most characterized by the use of zoomorphic and geometric elements in combination with human figures. Ornamental floristry of the Byzantine ornament is highly stylized and is divided into the simplest elements: a palmetto, a half-pallet, and also a stem, forming various combinations.

Colors of Byzantine ornaments

If you look at the illustration, which depicts the Byzantine ornament in color, you can immediately notice the basic tones that are most often found in the patterned ornaments of Byzantium. These are bright red shades, bright greens, purples and violets. Interestingly, the characteristic Byzantine style, influenced by the cultural heritage of other peoples, in turn, had a direct impact on Russian art, as well as on the art of Western European countries.

Byzantine ornament: main motifs

• Lily - this flower is a symbol of the Annunciation, renewal and the coming of the Savior to earth.
• The Tree of Life is a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Eucharist.
• Spiral - it can often be seen in the motifs of circles touching each other, as if forming a grid,covering the entire ornamental surface. Inside the circles, in turn, three-part compositions and crosses are depicted - traces of the influence of the Persian ornament.
• Braid - a motif that is a symbol of the net that traps human souls. Often stands at the head of the principle of constructing the entire composition, which combines ancient Russian and Byzantine ornaments. Often present in architecture, in church paintings, in typographical and handwritten books.
• The Byzantine flower is one of the favorite motifs in ornamental Byzantine art.
• Acanth - an image that marks the eternal life of the next century. This motif came to the Byzantine ornament from ancient art.
• Gem is a fine imitation of natural stone. This element was often used in architecture.
• Laurel wreath - symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ over death.
• Monogram of Christ.
• Anchor - personifies the hope for eternal life and salvation.

Zoomorphic motifs in Byzantine ornament

Images of dragons, fish, griffins (a hybrid of an eagle and a lion), senmurvs (a hybrid of a bird and a dog), lions, wolves, leopards, as well as birds (eagles, doves, peacocks) are skillfully woven into the Byzantine ornament.

Gryphons

These mythical animals symbolize wisdom and strength, as well as the dual nature of the Savior - both divine and human.

Fish

Ancient symbolChrist, the creed of the Christian.

Lion

A favorite heraldic image, symbolizing the idea of strong power.

Peacock

In the Byzantine Empire, peacocks were obligatorily kept at the court, they were called royal birds. As an ornamental element, the peacock personifies the immortality of the imperishable soul.

Dove

Symbol of divine inspiration, enlightenment and purification of the soul.