Byzantine and Islamic Art and Religion

The Byzantine Empire and the Islamic religious cultures are similar and different in several different aspects. In the Byzantine Empire, they incorporated art into their religion by using very elaborate decorated crosses in imperial processions, and even in the military. The Islamic peoples also used art in their religion, but they mostly were paintings of significant events in their religion. The Byzantine Empire focused on using their crosses and religious art in imperial processions and in the military, but the Islamics used their art in their religion mainly with paintings of significant events in history of the religion.

The Byzantine Cross is extravagantly decorated with silver and gold busts of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ, John the Forerunner, and Michael and Gabriel (the guardian angels of heaven). The bust of Christ is placed in the center, and the rest of the figures are placed on each end of the cross. These were very important to the Byzantines and the Christian religion during that time period.

The Islam painting is of Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation. The writing around the picture, it explains that the angel is Gabriel, and he is in God’s presence being told to send a message.

1. The Byzantine Empire used crosses and their religious arts in military, and imperial processions.
1. Their crosses would also be used as donations to cure sicknesses and purify water.
1. Saints are mostly the ones who used these type of crosses in imperial processions and other ceremonies.
2. The crosses would be taken with the military when they went of to war. It would be used as a “protector”, or it could be used if one of the soldiers became ill or wounded to help them get better.
3. These crosses were very important to the Byzantine Empire, their religion, and had a major effect on how the Byzantine people they lived their lives.
2. The Islamic people used art in their religion with mostly paintings of significant events.
1. The Islam religion did not use art in any religious ceremonies or imperial processions like the Byzantines did.
2. Instead, they have several historic paintings that honor their Allah.
1. These painting could also be used to teach others about their religion and to keep the Islamic religion in their minds.
3. The Islamic did not use their art in religious ceremonies like the Byzantines, but they had other ways that their religion related to their art.
3. Even though the Byzantine Empire used art more with their religion than the Islamics did, they still both had some similarities.
1. Both of the religions used their form of art to honor their God and to help keep the religion in their minds.
4. The Byzantine Empire over all incorporates their art and religion more and in different ways than the Islamic Culture.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1993.163

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/57.51.37.3

Works Cited

"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." The Birth of Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.

"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Processional Cross [Byzantine] (1993.163). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.

"404." 404. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.