Comparing and Contrasting Islam & Christianity’s Impact on Society during the Byzantine Empire: Art
There are many differences between Islam and Christianity, art is a connection between them and it helps to create an understanding between the two religions. The most popular medium between the two religions is the use of mosaics. Mosaics were used in places of worship, to display holy images. Art was used religiously and it was also tied to that civilizations governmental beliefs. Art was mostly placed in sacred places and places of worship. Islam and Christianity have both been survived through their religious texts, passed-on stories, and most visually art. Art in the Byzantine era was more than just religion, it was also a thread between government and the people. It was used so the two parties could better understand each other. Art in this period was the foundation to informing the people about the wonders in their life and faith.
Art in Islam focused on the glorification of God. There were many different types of art used to express their religious beliefs. Islamic art was based on two ideas, the first was discouraged subject matters, “For example, since Muslims believed that only Allah can create life, images of living beings were discouraged. Thus, many artists turned to calligraphy, or the art of beautiful hand-writing” (Beck 276). Since they couldn’t draw people, they made everyday objects more beautiful. The Muslims used calligraphy to write about their religious beliefs. Calligraphy was also beneficial in writing the Qur’an. It is described that “Muslim artwork sometimes focuses on strictly geometric patterns. Geometric designs can be found in everything from pottery to architecture” (277). Most of Muslim art is balanced geometric patterns. For example, small painted ceramic tiles (mosaics) can be used in various methods like domes on churches and murals. “The second restriction discouraged the use of costly materials. Islamic artists, therefore, worked mainly with brass, clay, and wood” (Bosch). Art on a budget gave a challenge to the Islamic artists, these materials would have to become beautiful pieces of art. The two restrictions on Islamic art was an obstacle for all artists in this era, but it helped create a sense of meaning in the diverse world of Islamic artwork.
Art in Byzantine focused on creating what we can’t see. “Generally speaking, Byzantine art differs from the art of the Romans in that it is interested in depicting that which we cannot see-the intangible world of Heaven and spiritual” (Hurst). Byzantine art is about giving worshippers perspective and also real-world political beliefs. In Byzantine, churches always have a dome. Like the Islam culture, Byzantine’s also used mosaics to display holy images like heaven. One of Byzantine’s most popular churches, the Hagia Sophia is decorated in mosaics, “All the walls of the Hagia Sophia except the ones covered by marble have been decorated with exceptionally beautiful mosaics. Gold, silver, glass, terracotta and colorful stones have been used to make the mosaics” (Hagia History). These mosaics cover the church and create a holy environment for all the worshippers. The art is a gate between heaven and earth, it opens a perspective of how beautiful faith can be. “Similarly, mosaics, such as those within the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, sought to evoke the heavenly realm” (Hurst). The mosaics in the San Vitale expresses the thought of creating what we cannot see. In the middle of one Justinian mosaic, Justinian is standing there to connect the religious, military, and governmental beliefs of the Byzantine empire. The halo around Justinian’s head is interpreted to show that he is divine, the connector of the heavenly realm. Byzantine art is not only seeing the unseeable but it is also a thread between the three main branches of the civilization; government, military, and religion.
Islam and Byzantine art were both very similar, they influenced each other too. “Islamic leaders were impressed by Byzantine mosaics to work on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem” (Labatt). Art helped bind the two religions together on a common goal. The Byzantine’s helped with an Islamic church because, “Few places are as holy for Christians, Jews and Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif” (Macaulay-Lewis). The dome of the rock has Byzantine architecture and for the most part is filled with Byzantine style mosaics. This church is a real-world example on how two religions can have separate beliefs but still cooperate and create a sacred masterpiece. Both religions involve political and spiritual aspects in their art to ensure a harmony of the people, it is all about seeing beauty and light in everything. Art is an outlet for most religious people, it is always an interpretation. Popular art is about the audience being able to relate to an interpretation, even if it is controversial. Even if these two religions have conflicts in their beliefs, art can be a balance on how close they really are.
It is obvious that these two religions are not the same, however, comparison can add a new lens on the perspective of the two. The Islams, would praise God through their methods in art and the Byzantines would create what God has made for them. Both used art as visual proof to the worshippers. Mosaics, for example, were used in both religions and the followers of religion can be compared to the individual ceramic tiles. Each one is different but when they are put together to create a mosaic, art is created. This may be a cliché analogy but it is an accurate representation on religion. Art is a beautiful way for people of faith to express their interpretations with like minded people.
Works Cited:
Macaulay-Lewis, Elizabeth. "Khan Academy." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
<https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/beginners-guide-islamic/a/arts-of-the-islamic-world>.
Macaulay-Lewis, Elizabeth. "Khan Academy." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
Bosch, Gulnar K. "Islamic Art and Architecture." Islamic Art and Architecture | Scholastic ART |
Scholastic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. <http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753881>.
Labatt, Annie. "Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The
Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/geom/hd_geom.htm>.
Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Orlando, FL.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Pub., 2012. Print.
"History." History | Hagia Sophia Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. <http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/history>.
1. The Picture was very good
ReplyDelete2. I liked learning more about the reasons behind islamic art.
3. I wish you had an example of Islam Art
1. I liked how you talked about how art connects people in a community.
ReplyDelete2. I learned about how art was extremely significant in writing the Qu'ran.
3. I want to learn more about how the two empires related with their art and caligraphy.
1. I liked how you went into a lot of detail. You were very specific, and I learned a lot.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that Islamic artist could not use costly materials.
3. I would like to see examples of Islamic art because you included a picture for Byzantine and I would like to see comparison.
I liked your quotes because they were very supportive and helped make the point you were trying to convey. I thought it was really interesting how the two art forms influenced each other, and that each different religions used aspects of the other religions art. I would like to see some pictures of the different types of art and see the differences a similarities.
ReplyDelete1. I liked the detail he put into explaining the art. Also, the pictures were good because they gave a reference to what you were writing about and made it easy to picture.
ReplyDelete2. I learned a lot about the significance of the art they made.
3. An example of Islamic art in addition to the picture of Byzantine would make it easier to envision them both.