Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Byzantine Art focus is on human figures, whose identities reveal three main elements in the formation of the Byzantine Empire. Most famous are the holy figures of the Christian faith: Christ, the Virgin Mary, the saints, and the apostles. Angels often are represented in their company. Byzantine artists created impressive and innovative pieces of art. Art played a vital role in visualizing his power. Images of cherubs, mythological heroes, gods and goddesses indicate the continuing influence of Byzantium's classical heritage. They created figures that were actually beautiful but no longer solid to express the spirituality of the Christian religion. They worshipped icons and mosaics. While in Islamic Art, the traditions of calligraphy, vegetal ornament, and geometric patterning are strongly expressed in most pieces on view. Human figures in Islam were not encouraged because of the association with idols and statues. Even the prophet did not let artists draw him or straight human statues. Islam rejects the concept of trinity and considers it a contradiction of pure monotheism. In worship places no figures, pictures or statues were allowed. The Byzantine piece of art is called “The Presentation in the Temple”; it was probably