Rome

Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in Rome

The Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (Basilica di Massenzio) is a building, one of the adornments of the Roman Forum (Forum Romanum), surpassing in its scale all that were built in different centuries.

Story

In 308, the construction of the basilica began on the orders of the emperor Maxentius. The basilica had a civilian purpose, it was planned to place a city prefecture in it, uniting all the representatives of the Roman administration. The construction was completed a few years later, in 312, shortly before the death of the emperor.

But in the same year 312 after the death of Maxentius already under the Emperor Constantine (Flavius ​​Valerius Aurelius Constantinus), significant changes were made to the design and the building was partially rebuilt. Therefore, this object is also called the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine.


If at Maxentius the building had a 20-meter apse on the west side with the statue of Maxentius and the entrance on the east, then Konstantin ordered to add the apse on the north side and another entrance from the south, and instead of sculpting the predecessor, establish his own sculptural image of marble and bronze. Currently, two elements have survived from this sculpture: a 2-meter-long foot and a head, presented for viewing in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori on Capitol Hill (Campidoglio).

Location

The construction site was chosen at the very sacred road (Via sacra), in its northernmost part. The basilica was to take place between the temples of Venus (Il Tempio Di Venere), Roma (Il Tempio Di Roma) and the Divine Romulus (Il Santuario Della Divina Romolo).

There, on an insignificant elevation for many centuries, there was a market for spices and medicinal potions with storage facilities. In place of the market and decided to put a basilica. To do this, the market was moved to another place, and the hill had to be leveled.

Architectural features

When developing the building plan and its decor, the ancient masters took the baths of Caracalla (Le Terme Di Caracalla) and Diocletian (Le Terme Di Diocleziano) as a sample. The peculiarity of the building was that the upper ceiling was vaulted, and did not consist of beams, as in previous buildings of the same type.

The Basilica of Maxentius in its design resembled the baths of those times, which had vaulted ceilings over the main space. Light was supposed to penetrate through the window openings in the walls of the middle and side naves. The basis for the cruciform arch was columns of concrete and columns of monolithic porphyry marble with a height of 14.5 meters.

According to the project, the total area of ​​the main space of the basilica exceeded 4 thousand m². The walls were made of concrete and lined with bricks; a large-width staircase was built at the eastern entrance. The vaults were also concrete, but decorated with gilding.

Before entering the main space from the front of the facade was a vestibule area 8 meters long.

The central nave was 80 meters long and 39 meters high, the side naves, respectively, 20.5 meters in length and 24 in height. The richness of the interior was emphasized by marble trim: white marble slabs on the walls, colored ones on the floor.

The entrance on the south side, built on the direction of Konstantin, from the Sacred Road, was decorated with a portico with columns of the Corinthian order. The apse attached to the north was decorated with sculptures and closed with gates, since there were court hearings on cases that featured the names of senior members of the Senate.

In addition to its direct purpose, the building was used as a place for business negotiations, etc.

The fate of the Basilica of Maxentius for centuries

Over the following centuries, the basilica succumbed to destruction. In 626, Pope Honorius I (Papa Onorio I) used the tiled cover of the basilica, made of copper plates with gilding, to decorate St. Peter's Basilica (La Basilica Di San Pietro).

The strong earthquakes of 847 and 1349 led to the destruction of the central part and one side gallery. During the construction in 1613 of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (La Chiesa Di Santa Maria Maggiore), on the orders of Pope Paul V (Papa Paolo V), the last surviving columns were taken from the ancient temple.

The surviving fragment of the basilica building was actively used in the 20th century. For example, at the 1960 Olympics, competitions in Greco-Roman wrestling were held in the basilica.

Today, concerts are held in the basilica.

How to get there

The basilica is located on the territory of the Roman Forums, the entrance is from the Coliseum. See instructions on how to buy tickets to the Coliseum without a queue. We recommend a visit to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

From the outskirts of the city it is most convenient to get on the subway via line B, B1 to the Colosseo station.

You can also take buses number 51, 75, 85, 87, 117, 186, 810 to the Parco Celio stop or take a walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali from the Altar of the Fatherland.

Watch the video: Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Rome, Next Article

Italian pasta - pasta types, recipes, photos, appearance
Italian food

Italian pasta - pasta types, recipes, photos, appearance

More often than not, the first thing that comes to mind when referring to Italian cuisine is, of course, pizza. After it, almost without a break in popularity, pasta follows. Let's find out what this mega-popular dish is all about. The history of pasta is much more ancient than pizza or tomato sauce, which are an integral part of Italian traditional cuisine.
Read More
Italian dishes that are not Italian
Italian food

Italian dishes that are not Italian

The whole truth about Spaghetti Bolognese, Fettuccine Alfredo and other non-Italian dishes, which are traditionally considered the works of Italian chefs around the world. And beware of chicken ... Well-known fact: Italy has the best food in the world. We are not talking about professional chefs of other nations or about furious supporters of other types of cuisine.
Read More
Italian focaccia - wheat tortilla
Italian food

Italian focaccia - wheat tortilla

Italian Focaccia (Focaccia) - one of the most popular ancient types of bread that have survived to this day. This crispy bread was born thanks to the ingenuity of the villagers, who made up for the lack of food with an irrepressible imagination. From one classic recipe in modern kitchen, many baking options with a variety of seasonings were born.
Read More
What to try in Florence with food
Italian food

What to try in Florence with food

Italian food is known all over the world, but many people do not know that every region and even city has its own special dishes. Florence (Firenze) - the capital of the Tuscany region (Toscana). Its traditional cuisine was greatly influenced by the historical events of the Middle Ages. Another factor that undoubtedly affects the formation of the local menu is the fruits of Tuscan farming and farming, such as tomatoes, rosemary, porcini mushrooms, truffles, olives, eggplant, oregano, basil, as well as various types of meat, cheese and bread.
Read More