Byzantine gardens
Encyclopedia
Byzantium
undoubtedly occupies an important place in the history of garden design. The city, which became Istanbul
, was capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and survived for a thousand years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire
. The gardens of Byzantium were however mostly destroyed after the fifteenth century Turkish conquest.
Byzantine gardens were based largely on Roman ideas emphasizing elaborate mosaic
designs, a typical classical feature of neatly arrayed trees as well as man made structures such as fountains and small shrines which gradually grew to become more elaborate as time passed. Byzantine gardens developed a distinct style of their own however, drawing upon Oriental, and in particular Islamic influences of the time from the near East and North Africa. Some elements of Moorish influence are somewhat tangible, particularly concerning the aforementioned fountain design, but also Persian Gardens
had a distinct influence, emphasizing a common theme in Byzantine Culture
, that of the clash of colours.
Little else is known about Byzantine gardens however, and very few references, let alone entire Treatises exist on the subject. The Byzantines, like their Greco-Roman predecessors, attached great importantance to such matters of aesthetics
, but throughout the whole of Greco-Roman History the Garden
never seemed to occupy the place of prestige in its culture that it occupied in the East, as their roots are largely drawn from the more practical purposes of Olive Tree
groves.
During these last 250 years, of Greek rule, starting in 1453, conditions drastically curtailed the tradition,
which stretched back to Hellenistic times, of building luxurious villas, mostly outside the
cities, with pleasing gardens, as appear in mosaics and frescoes or are recorded in texts. This period seems to have been
less thoroughly investigated than have most earlier periods, and a concentration on it should
produce a more coherent picture than another attempt to cover the whole span of Byzantine history
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Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
undoubtedly occupies an important place in the history of garden design. The city, which became Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, was capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and survived for a thousand years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
. The gardens of Byzantium were however mostly destroyed after the fifteenth century Turkish conquest.
Byzantine gardens were based largely on Roman ideas emphasizing elaborate mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
designs, a typical classical feature of neatly arrayed trees as well as man made structures such as fountains and small shrines which gradually grew to become more elaborate as time passed. Byzantine gardens developed a distinct style of their own however, drawing upon Oriental, and in particular Islamic influences of the time from the near East and North Africa. Some elements of Moorish influence are somewhat tangible, particularly concerning the aforementioned fountain design, but also Persian Gardens
Persian Gardens
The tradition and style in the garden design of Persian gardens has influenced the design of gardens from Andalusia to India and beyond. The gardens of the Alhambra show the influence of Persian Garden philosophy and style in a Moorish Palace scale from the era of Al-Andalus in Spain...
had a distinct influence, emphasizing a common theme in Byzantine Culture
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, that of the clash of colours.
Little else is known about Byzantine gardens however, and very few references, let alone entire Treatises exist on the subject. The Byzantines, like their Greco-Roman predecessors, attached great importantance to such matters of aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
, but throughout the whole of Greco-Roman History the Garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
never seemed to occupy the place of prestige in its culture that it occupied in the East, as their roots are largely drawn from the more practical purposes of Olive Tree
Olive Tree
The Olive Tree was a denomination used for several successive centre-left Italian political coalitions from 1995 to 2007.The historical leader and ideologue of these coalitions was Romano Prodi, Professor of Economics and former leftist Christian Democrat, who invented the name and the symbol of...
groves.
During these last 250 years, of Greek rule, starting in 1453, conditions drastically curtailed the tradition,
which stretched back to Hellenistic times, of building luxurious villas, mostly outside the
cities, with pleasing gardens, as appear in mosaics and frescoes or are recorded in texts. This period seems to have been
less thoroughly investigated than have most earlier periods, and a concentration on it should
produce a more coherent picture than another attempt to cover the whole span of Byzantine history
See also
- History of GardeningHistory of gardeningThe history of ornamental gardening may be considered as aesthetic expressions of beauty through art and nature, a display of taste or style in civilized life, an expression of an individual's or culture's philosophy, and sometimes as a display of private status or national pride—in private...
- Persian GardensPersian GardensThe tradition and style in the garden design of Persian gardens has influenced the design of gardens from Andalusia to India and beyond. The gardens of the Alhambra show the influence of Persian Garden philosophy and style in a Moorish Palace scale from the era of Al-Andalus in Spain...
- Roman gardensRoman gardensRoman gardens and ornamental horticulture became highly developed during the history of Roman civilization. The Gardens of Lucullus on the Pincian Hill at the edge of Rome introduced the Persian garden to Europe, around 60 BC...
External links
- http://www.gardenvisit.com/got/5/islamic_garden_history.htm Marie-Luise Gothein's history of Byzantine Gardens]
- Byzantine Garden Culture
- Private gardens in Byzantine Constantinople