Norman-Arab-Byzantine culture

As Norman- Arab- Byzantine art, a typical Sicilian Christian-Islamic mixed culture is known that arose 1060-1088 after the Norman conquest of Palermo and was superseded by the Norman- Hohenstaufen art in the 13th century. It is also known as Norman- Sicilian style or as Sicilian Romanesque. Their effects are, however, to notice until after Salerno on the Italian mainland and to the subsequent Gothic.

Synthesis and symbiosis

At this synthesis occurred because the Normans of Sicily not populated, but there simply presented the guiding layer. The population and thus also the craftsmen and artists who carried out the Norman buildings, was still a mixture of the Greek- Byzantine population and the Muslim Arabs who had conquered and inhabited the island in the 9th century. Also on the farm it came to a temporary symbiosis, the Norman kings surrounded themselves with both Greek and Arabic consultants to get an oriental harem held, selected government slogans from the Koran and Islamic honor could name stamp on their coins.

Architecture

Main characteristic of this era is a highly individual style, the architecture shows strong Islamic and Byzantine influences which flow together into a harmonious whole. Since the Norman King Roger II as a " defender of Christianity," on the one hand, but also as the "King of Ifriqiya " on the other side still sought Church and the Papacy with spacious buildings to win the most typical representatives of this style of architecture are mainly churches.

Examples of buildings in the Arab- Byzantine-Norman style are:

  • Cathedral of Salerno (1076-1085)
  • The Norman Palace with the Palatine Chapel (1130-1140) in Palermo
  • The locks Maredolce, Uscibene, La Zisa ( 1165 ), Cuba ( 1180) and Cuba Soprana with the Cubula in Palermo
  • Palermo Cathedral ( 1184 )
  • Many other churches of Palermo, for example, San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi ( 1071 ), San Giovanni Hermits (1130 ), La Martorana ( 1143 ), San Cataldo ( 1154-1160 ), La Magione
  • The Cathedral of Cefalù ( 1131 )
  • The Cathedral of Monreale, near Palermo, built in 1172-1176 under the last Norman King William II
  • Cathedral of Messina, built in 1197 by the Hohenstaufen successors of the Normans
  • The Chiesa di Santissima Trinità di Delia (1140 - 1160), west of Castelvetrano

Crafts

Another example of this mixed culture is also influenced Fatimid Arab ornate mantle of Roger II, who was later adopted by Staufer and German emperors.

Poetry

From a mixture of Norman, French, German, Arabic and Sicilian elements the Sicilian school of poetry arose.

Example

As an example of the synthesis of the different styles of the Cathedral of Monreale is explained, as it is usually considered most outstanding building that direction.

The squat exterior corresponds to the Norman architecture in the Romanesque style. Facade details such as the overlapping blind arcades, which can be seen above the porch on the facade and particularly impressive with inlaid work on the Rückapsiden, are Arabic style elements. Inside, show the gold ground mosaics on the walls of the Byzantine influence.

  • Front View
  • Facade detail
  • Rückapsiden
  • Interior
Cappella Palatina Romanesque art Italy Gothic art Roger II of Sicily San Giovanni degli Eremiti Chiesa di San Cataldo
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