Issues:

I. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT (280-337). Constantine entered Rome having defeated his rival Maxentius in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312)--commemorated in the Arch of Constantine. The legend of the "Vision of the True Cross" describes Constantine's second conversion (to Christianity) on the eve before the battle and is recorded by Eusebius in his biography of Constantine (see Wren and Wren). In 313 Constantine issued an imperial edict (Edict of Milan) granting Christianity official status. From its traditional private level of existence, church architecture suddenly entered the public, monumental realm. This new architecture satisfied Christian needs and functions and clearly reflected its imperial patronage, pagan heritage, and contemporary taste. This was a period of great experimentation and innovation in architectural "types". The Tetrarchy. Chi Rho monogram (Greek letters of Christ's name). Foundation of Constantinople, 324-330 (Byzantium and Istanbul). Constantine the Great, fragments of colossal statue, marble, early fourth century (originally in the Basilica of Maxentius, renamed the Basilica of Constantine). The Four Tetrarchs (The Augusti--Diocletian and Maximian, the Caesars--Galerius and Constantius Chlorus), 305, now embedded in wall of St. Mark's church, Venice, originally from Constantinople, c. 300, porphyry marble.

II. CATHEDRAL. S. Giovanni in Laterno (Saint John Lateran or Lateran Basilica), Rome, begun 313, completed 320, attached to imperial palace, bishop's cathedra. Compare to the Roman Imperial basilica's of Ulpia, Rome, c. 110; or Basilica of Maxentius, Rome, c. 307; and Constantine's basilica at Trier.

III. COVERED CEMETERIES AND MARTYRIA. Martyrs as witnesses to the truth of Christianity. See Wren and Wren, Prudentius, Crowns of Martyrdom and The Martrydom of Perpetua and Felicitas. Old Saint Peter's, Rome, begun 324, on Vatican Hill outside the city walls in a necropolis. Building over shrine of St. Peter which had existed since c. 150-170. Elements include propylaeum, atrium, narthex, five-aisled nave, trabeated arcade in central vessel and arcuated arcade in side aisle, continuous transept, triumphal arch, apse, ciborium over shrine, use of spolia. (See attached document describing Constantine's gifts to St. Peter's and St. John Lateran from the Book of the Popes.) Santa Costanza, Rome, c. 350 (imperial mausoleum attached to the covered cemetery of S. Agnese).

IV. CODIFICATION OF ROMAN CHRISTIAN BASILICA IN FIFTH CENTURY. Santa Sabina, Rome, 422-32, founded by Pope Celestine I.

V. CONSTANTINIAN CHURCH BUILDING OUTSIDE ROME (Combined cathedrals and martyria in Holy Land). Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, dedicated 336, site visited by Dowager Helena (Constantine's mother). Site of Christ's crucifixion and entombment--Anastasis Rotunda. Cathedral basilica, hemisphairion with 12 columns representing the Apostles. Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, c. 333, octagon over grotto of Christ's birth attached to cathedral basilica.

Saint John Lateran, Rome

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

back to lectures page

back to Hart 205 Main Page