Old Russian architecture Automatic translate

The art of Ancient Russia began with the birth of the Kiev state in the ninth century and continued until the transformation of Peter the Great in the seventeenth. Thus, in the centuries-old existence of Russia, the period of ancient Russian art was about eight centuries.

The Russian state was created by the Eastern Slavs, in the architecture of which wood was the main building material. But in the tenth century, after the adoption of Christianity by Prince Vladimir and the proclamation of his state religion, methods of construction previously unknown in Russia appeared in Kievan Rus. Particularly strong influence was the Byzantine direction in church construction.

The architecture of Ancient Russia is characterized by majesty, which did not overshadow the smoothness of lines, the elegance of forms. The architecture of this period is commensurate with the size of a person and his needs, it gives an inexplicable feeling of peace and holiness. All of the above applies to both secular and religious buildings.

As already mentioned, the Eastern Slavs determined the origin of ancient Russian architecture. Eastern Slavs were good farmers, with respect to nature. They worshiped the gods who personified the forces of nature, made figures of these gods - idols.

The images of Pramateri (patroness of the clan), sacred horses, the Firebird and other mythological motifs have been preserved in our village embroidery and woodcarving to our time. But now these symbols have lost their original meaning and we perceive them simply as a beautiful pattern. Household items and jewelry, mainly metal, coated with black and enamel (rings, wrist bracelets, necklaces, earrings) most clearly reflected the artistic work of the ancient Slavs. This craft was distinguished by high originality and craftsmanship.

After the adoption of Christianity and the strengthening of the Kiev state, Old Russian architecture, which was subjected to Byzantine influence, lost its fabulousness and childish naivety, however, it acquired monumentality and reached its peak by the ninth century.

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