Use of Dentil Frieze and Imitation Marble in Byzantine Monumental Painting Art

Kaya M.

25th International Congress of Byzantine Studies, Vienna, Avusturya, 24 - 29 Ağustos 2026, ss.131-132, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Vienna
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Avusturya
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.131-132
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Marble is one of the most significant materials employed in Byzantine architecture, particularly in the decoration of interiors. A defining feature of Byzantine architectural ornamentation is the use of marble revetments covering walls up to the level of arches and vault piers. From the early Byzantine period onward, such marble cladding was extensively utilized in major buildings, including Hagia Sophia, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, and the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. In addition to genuine marble revetments, Byzantine monumental painting also incorporated imitation marble patterns, particularly on the lower sections of church walls, which were symbolically associated with the earthly realm. In Anatolia, such painted marble imitations appear in the wall paintings of Byzantine monuments in regions such as Latmos, Hadrianopolis, Olympos, Rhodiapolis, and Cappadocia. Some of these imitative patterns are purely fictitious, while others replicate specific types of marble, such as cipollino rosso, marmo proconnesio, bigio antico, and cipollino verde, all of which were widely used in Roman and Byzantine art. Another significant decorative motif in Byzantine monumental painting that can be considered an imitation element is the dentil frieze. Like painted marble patterns, dentil friezes were integrated into the Byzantine decorative repertoire from an early period. In mosaic or wall painting borders, these motifs appear either as continuous sequences or as isolated elements framed within geometric compositions, such as squares or rectangles. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of painted imitation marble and dentil motifs in Byzantine-period wall paintings from Anatolia, examining their origins, stylistic characteristics, and aesthetic significance. Through a comparative approach, the study will contextualize these decorative elements within the broader framework of Byzantine art and architecture, highlighting their symbolic and visual impact.