|
Adapting the Roman Basilica By Michael S. Rose |
|
Constantine's architects adapted the general form of the Roman basilica for Christian worship - and with good reason.
|
The earliest Christian “houses of God” not only established themselves as permanent sacred places, they reflected in many ways the divinely inspired design and construction of Solomon’s Temple and its transient precursor, the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. But because of the religious persecutions of Christians, the faithful were not able to build such great edifices to the glory of God until 300 years after Christ’s death on the Cross.
Transforming Caligula’s Circus
In Rome, Constantine commissioned the church now known as Old St. Peter’s. The site upon which this earliest of Roman churches was built has a notorious history. It began as the garden of Agrippina, the mother of Caligula (A.D. 12-41), a Roman emperor particularly noted for his cruelty, and the grandmother of Emperor Nero. Caligula built...
Want to read the whole article with accompanying images? You have two options:
- Charter member offer: Subscribe now for a one-time fee of $20 for access to all web content at dellachiesa.com, or
- One-day Free Pass: Sign up for a one-time 24-hour free pass for access to all web content at dellachiesa.com.
