Acanthus anthemion.

Anthemion

Acanthus anthemion.

Anthemion pattern.

Anthemion

Anthemion pattern.

Byzantine cross.

Anthemion

Byzantine cross.

Byzantine cross.

Anthemion

Byzantine cross.

Anthemion frieze, St. Mark's, Venice.

Anthemion Frieze

Anthemion frieze, St. Mark's, Venice.

Carved vine border at St. Vitale.

Border

Carved vine border at St. Vitale.

Acanthus leaf band.

Byzantine Band

Acanthus leaf band.

Acanthus leaf band.

Byzantine Band

Acanthus leaf band.

"Constantine, the first Christian emperor, removed the capital of the world-empire from Rome to Byzantium, henceforth to be called Constantinople. Though the court, with all its splendor and power, was thus transferred to a city where Greek was the vernacular, the change did not retard, but rather hastened, the decline of literature." — The Delphian Society, 1913

Byzantine court

"Constantine, the first Christian emperor, removed the capital of the world-empire from Rome to Byzantium,…

Byzantine fabric.

Byzantine Fabric

Byzantine fabric.

Corinthianesque cap from St. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna.

Capital

Corinthianesque cap from St. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna.

Church of our Lady at Constantinople.

Church of our Lady

Church of our Lady at Constantinople.

Architectural detail from the Palace of Diocletian at Spalato, A.D. 300.

Palace of Diocletian Detail

Architectural detail from the Palace of Diocletian at Spalato, A.D. 300.

Carved frieze from St. John Studios.

Frieze from St. John Studios

Carved frieze from St. John Studios.

Carved frieze from St. Sergius.

Frieze from St. Sergius

Carved frieze from St. Sergius.

Impost cap from St. Vitale. The impost cap (or impost-block) was interposed between the capital and the spring of the vaulting.

Impost Cap

Impost cap from St. Vitale. The impost cap (or impost-block) was interposed between the capital and…

Basket cap from St. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. When an impost cap has extensive lacey or basket-like carving it is known as a "basket" cap.

Impost Cap

Basket cap from St. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. When an impost cap has extensive lacey or basket-like…

Pattern from Hagia Sophia.

Ornament

Pattern from Hagia Sophia.

Cavred rinceau from the Bishop's Palace at Ferentino.

Rinceau

Cavred rinceau from the Bishop's Palace at Ferentino.

"Bezant, Or. BESANT, or BEZANT. Gold coin of Byzantium; when they appear in a coat of arms their colour is not described: a besant is always or." -Hall, 1862

Roundlet Bezant

"Bezant, Or. BESANT, or BEZANT. Gold coin of Byzantium; when they appear in a coat of arms their colour…

Sarchophagus end, Ravenna, Italy.

Sarchophagus

Sarchophagus end, Ravenna, Italy.

Carved spandrel from Hagia Sophia.

Spandrel from Hagia Sophia

Carved spandrel from Hagia Sophia.

Syrian Christian ornament from Tourmanin.

Syrian Carving

Syrian Christian ornament from Tourmanin.

Syrian Christian carved capital from Bakouza.

Syrian Carving

Syrian Christian carved capital from Bakouza.