Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Basilica Style
In design terms, these early Christian churches were modelled on, and built over, Rome's
great basilicas. In ancient times, a basilica was a large rectangular hall used for public
functions, but as Christianity took hold they were increasingly appropriated by the city's
church-builders. The main reason for this was that they lent themselves perfectly to the
new style of religious ceremonies that the Christians were introducing, rites that required
space for worshippers and a central focus for the altar. Rome's pagan temples, in contrast,
had been designed as symbolic cult centres and were not set up to house the faithful - in
fact, most pagan ceremonies were held outside, in front of the temple, not inside as Chris-
tian services required.
Over time, basilica design became increasingly standardised. A principal entrance
would open onto an atrium, a courtyard surrounded by colonnaded porticoes, which, in
turn, would lead to the narthex, or porch. The interior would be rectangular and divided
by rows of columns into a central nave and smaller side aisles. At the far end, the main al-
tar and bishop's throne (cathedra) would sit in a semicircular apse. In some churches a
transept would bisect the central nave in front of the apse to form a Latin cross.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search