Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/477

Rh Bk. IX. Ch. IV. ARMENIA. 461 Athens, but differs considerably in style, and bears mnch more resemblance to the churches of Apulia and Sicily than either of those described above. Where arcades are used externally in these Greek churches they are generally supported by pillars of somewhat classical look, crowned by caj^itals of the square foliaged form, used to support arches in the early styles all over Europe ; and the windows, when divided, take merely the form of diminutive ai'cades. The Byzantines never at- tained to tracery; all their early windows are single round-headed openings. These were afterwards grou])ed together in threes and lives; and, as in the Gothic style, when they could be put under one discharging arch, the piers Avere attenuated till they became almost mullions, but always supporting constructive arches, without any tendency to run into interlacing forms like the Gothic. The uni- versal employment of mural painting in Byzantine churches, and the consequent exclusion of painted glass, rendered the use of the large windows which the Gothic architects employed quite inadmissible ; and in such a climate very much smaller openings sufficed to admit all the light that was required. Tracery would thus, in fact, have been an absurdity. The Byzantine architects sought to ornament their windows externally by the employment of tiles or colors dis- posed in various patterns, and often produced a very pleasing effect, as may be seen from the woodcut (No. 904) illustrating the apse of the Panagia Lycodemo at Athens, and other sj^ecimens quoted above. Occasionally we find . in these churches projecting jDorches or bal- conies, and machicolations, which give great relief to the general flat- ness of the walls. These features are all marked with that elegance peculiar to the East, and more espe- cially to a peoi:)le claiming descent from the ancient Greeks, and possibly having some of their blood in their veins. Sometimes, too, even a sub- ordinate apse is supported on a bracket-like balcony, so as to form a very pleasing object, as in the accompanying specimen from Misitra. On the whole, the Neo-Byzantine style may be said to be charac- terized by considerable elegance, with occasional combinations of a superior order ; but after the time of Justinian the country was too deficient in unity or science to attempt anything great or o-ood, and too poor to aspire to grandeur, so that it has no claim to rank 908. Apse from Misitra. cbaud.) (From Can-