Byzantine Culture & Floral Design (320-600 AD)

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Roman traditions continued in the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium. Known more regularly as “Constantinople,” the Byzantine Empire was a term created after the realm existed. Ancient citizens still referred to this area as Romania, or Rome, even well into Ottoman times. Although the Roman Empire did continue during this time, albeit differently, and its traditions were maintained, there were many changes in how culture evolved—including aspects of floral design.

While Byzantine culture still utilized the same flowers as the Greeks and Romans, they arranged floral designs differently. While the Roman Empire preferred full, wide arrangements that displayed their wealth, Byzantine citizens created very narrow banded garlands and wreaths.

Like their floral adornments, arrangements also changed. Symmetrical, tree style arrangements were preferred over the loose, full arrangements that the Roman Empire and Ancient Greeks preferred. Foliage arrangements were often in small baskets or low containers and were conical or spiral, resembling trees. Daises, lilies, cypress, and pine would be combined in clusters of blossoms with garlands of fruit. Arrangements were also known to include stones, jewels, and metals, which matched the colored mosaic tiles that were popular during this time.

Although the Romans and Greeks preferred very vibrant primary colors with abundant fragrances, Byzantine culture leaned more toward neighboring hues of green, blue and violet. Combined with complementary accents of red, orange, and yellow, these color choices led to a more muted arrangement than the Roman Empire, which more closely resembled arrangements we might see in Westernized culture during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Modern example of the Byzantine Culture influence on floral design using a low vessel with hues of green, blue and violet.

Interior of Ayasofya Hagia Sophia Istanbul Constantinople Christian patriarchal basilica