 Remains of theBasilica of Maxentius and Constantine. The building's northern aisle is all that remains. | |
   Basilica of Maxentius Shown within Augustan Rome | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | Regio IV Templum Pacis |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°53′31″N12°29′18″E / 41.89194°N 12.48833°E /41.89194; 12.48833 |
| Type | Basilica |
| History | |
| Builder | Maxentius,Constantine I |
| Founded | AD 312 |
TheBasilica of Maxentius (Italian:Basilica di Massenzio), sometimes known by its original Latin name,Basilica Nova or, less commonly, theBasilica of Constantine (Italian:Basilica Constantini), was a civicbasilica in theRoman Forum. At the time of its construction, it was the largest building in the Forum, and the last Roman basilica built in the city.[1]
Inancient Rome, abasilica was a rectangular building with a large central open space, and often a raisedapse at the far end from the entrance. Basilicas served a variety of functions, including a combination of a court-house, council chamber and meeting hall. There might be, however, numerous statues of the gods displayed inniches set into the walls. Under Constantine and his successors this type of building was chosen as the basis for the design of the larger places of Christian worship, presumably as the basilica form had fewer pagan associations than those of the designs of traditional Greco-Roman temples,[2] and allowed large congregations. As a result of the building programmes of the Christian Roman emperors the term basilica later became largely synonymous with a large church or cathedral.
Construction began on the northern side of the forum under the emperorMaxentius in 308 AD, and was completed in 312 byConstantine I after his defeat of Maxentius at theBattle of the Milvian Bridge.[3] The building rose on the north side of theVia Sacra,[1] close to theTemple of Peace, at that time probably neglected, and theTemple of Venus and Rome, whose reconstruction was part of Maxentius' interventions.
During the 6th century, the building was called "templum Romae".[1]
The colour of the building before it was destroyed was white. The basilica stood on a 100-by-65-metre (328 ft × 213 ft) concrete and rectangular platform. The thickness of the platform is not known/communicated.[4] The central nave was 80 metres (260 ft) long, 25 metres (82 ft) wide, 35 metres (115 ft) high, with side aisles 16 metres (52 ft) wide and 24.5 metres (80 ft) high. Eight massive marble columns 14.5 metres (48 ft) high and 5.4 metres (18 ft) in circumference stood at the corners of the nave. They were all destroyed except one that was removed byPaul V in 1613 to theSanta Maria Maggiore where it still stands.[1]
The building consisted of a centralnave covered by threegroin vaults suspended 39 metres (128 ft) above the floor on four largepiers, ending in anapse at the western end containing acolossal statue of Constantine (remnants of which are now in a courtyard of thePalazzo dei Conservatori of theMusei Capitolini). The lateral forces of the groin vaults were held by flankingaisles measuring 23 by 17 metres (75 ft × 56 ft).[citation needed] The aisles were spanned by three semi-circular barrel vaults perpendicular to the nave, and narrowarcades ran parallel to the nave beneath the barrel vaults. The nave itself measured 25 by 80 metres (82 ft × 262 ft) creating a 2,000-square-metre (22,000 sq ft) floor.[citation needed] Like thegreat imperial baths, the basilica made use of vast interior space with its emotional effect. Running the length of the eastern face of the building was a projectingarcade. On the south face was a projecting (prostyle) porch with four columns (tetrastyle).
The south and central sections were probably destroyed by the earthquake of 847.[6][1] In 1349 the vault of the nave collapsed inanother earthquake. The only one of the eight 20-metre (66 ft) high columns that survived the earthquake was brought byPope Paul V to PiazzaSanta Maria Maggiore in 1614. All that remains of the basilica today is the north aisle with its three concrete barrel vaults.[3] The ceilings of the barrel vaults show advanced weight-saving structural skill with octagonal ceilingcoffers.
On the outside wall of the basilica, facing onto thevia dei Fori Imperiali, are contemporary maps showing the various stages of the rise of the Roman Empire which were added during theFascist regime ofBenito Mussolini. A map depicting Mussolini's "New Roman Empire" was removed from the wall after the war. Thewrestling events were held here during the1960 Summer Olympic Games.
The basilica Maxentius took aspects from Roman baths as well as typical Roman basilicas. At that time, it used the most advanced engineering techniques known including innovations taken from theMarkets of Trajan and theBaths of Diocletian.
Similar to many basilicas at the time such as theBasilica Ulpia, the Basilica of Maxentius featured a huge open space in the central nave. However, instead of having columns support the ceiling like other basilicas, it was built using arches, a much more common appearance in Roman baths than basilicas. Another difference from traditional basilicas is the roof of the structure. While the former were built with a flat roof, the Basilica of Maxentius featured a folded roof, decreasing the overall weight of the structure and decreasing the horizontal forces exerted on the outer arches.[7]
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The artistGiovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778) drew many etchings of the basilica.[8]
The building became an inspiration for many buildings built afterwards, including New York City's formerPenn Station.[9]
Media related toBasilica of Maxentius at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Basilica of Junius Bassus | Landmarks of Rome Basilica of Maxentius | Succeeded by Basilica of Neptune |
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