Old Saint Peter's Basilica
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Old Saint Peter's Basilica was the building that once stood on the spot where the Basilica of Saint Peter lies today in Rome. The name Old Saint Peter's Basilica has been used since the construction of the current basilica to distinguish the two buildings.<ref name=met>Boorsch, Suzanne (1982). "The Building of the Vatican: The Papacy and Architecture". The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin: 4-8.</ref>
[edit] History
At least since the second century AD, the spot was thought to be the location of the tomb of Saint Peter, where there stood a small shrine. Construction was begun on the orders of the Roman emperor Constantine between 326 and 333, and took about 30 years to complete. The design itself was rather typical of Roman halls at the time.<ref name=sob>Sobocinski, Melanie Grunow (2005). Detroit and Rome. The Regents of the Univ of Michigan, 77. ISBN 0-933691-09-2.</ref> Over the next twelve centuries the church would gradually gain in importance, and even become a major place of pilgrimage in Rome. Papal coronations began to be held here, and in 800, Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. With its increasing prestige the church became richly decorated with statues, furnishings and elaborate chandeliers, and side tombs and altars were continuosly added. However the church had fallen to ruin by the early 16th century, and was torn down to be replaced by the grander Basilica of Saint Peter. However the original altar was preserved by the design of the new structure which would house it.<ref name=met/>
[edit] Design
The building consisted of five aisles, a wide central nave and two smaller aisles to each side, which were each divided by 21 marble columns, which were all spoils from earlier pagan builings.<ref>Garder, Helen, et al (March 17, 2004). Gardner's Art Through the Ages With Infotrac. Thomas Wadsworth, 619. ISBN 0-15-505090-7.</ref> It was over 350 feet long, and had a gabled roof which was timbered on the interior and which stood at over 100 feet at the center. An atrium, known as the Garden of Paradise, stood at the entrance and had five doors which led to the body of the church, but was actually a sixth century addition. The nave ended with an arch, which held a mosaic of Constantine and Saint Peter, who was presented a model of the church to Christ. On the walls, each having 11 windows, were frescoes of various people and scenes from both the Old and New Testament.<ref>"Old Saint Peter's Basilica." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006.</ref> The exterior however, unlike earlier pagan temples, was not lavishly decorated.<ref name=met/>
[edit] Notes
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