Resumen de Sightlines, hagioscopes, and church planning in Byzantine Cappadocia
Taking a cue from the hagioscope in Western medieval church architecture, this essay examines aspects of privileged, private viewing in the Byzantine rock-cut churches of Cappadocia. In two well-known examples, the Tokali Kilisie in the Göreme Valley and the Karabas Kilisie in the Sognali Valley, the maintenance of a privileged sightline affected the overall design of the church complex. In both, the design depended on the position of the cell of a revered hermit, who was provided with visual access into the nave and sanctuary. In both, moreover, understanding the significance of the privileged view helps to unravel the complicated internal chronology of the church complexes, as well as explain some unusual planning decisions.
