Basilica of Maxence and Constantin

The Basilica of Maxence and Constantin ( Basilica Maxentii and Constantini ) or Basilique Nova was started with the emperor Maxence at the beginning of the IVe century but was achieved by Constantin I {{er}}, victorious of Maxence, the usurper, with the Bataille of the bridge Milvius.

The basilica was built at the edge of the Via Sacra , between the Forum Romanum and the Temple of Venus and Rome, in the Velia .

Architecture

Preliminary draft of Maxence

The material used for the construction of this basilica was the Béton and the brick. The basilica held on an enormous rectangular platform of Béton of 100 meters length and 65 meters broad, and was made up of a central Nef 80 meters length for 25 meters broad and 35 meters in height, with the side naves 16 meters broad for 24,5 meters in height. These wings were divided into three sections. The three naves were built according to the East-West direction. With the corners of the nave, there were eight monolithic columns of Marbre, 14,5 height meters for 5,4 meters of circumference.

The ceiling was decorated by hexagonal and octagonal boxes deep.

The roof was covered with gilded tiles of Bronze.

The main entrance of the project of Maxence was in the east, vis-a-vis the Colisée, while a Abside prolonged towards the west the central Nef. The north-western corner of the basilica united the wall of the Forum of Peace, stopping of this fact the transportation route previously existing between the Forum Romanum and the zone of the Carinae (Subure). Maxence thus built a passage under this north-western corner of the building, of approximately 4 meters broad for 15 meters length.

The frontage of the basilica built by Maxence was in direction of the east, and at this end a 8 depth meters was hall, which were prolonged all along the building. Five entries in the basilica existed in this hall, three giving in the central Nef, and one in each wing.

Modifications of Constantin Ier

After its victory over Maxence with the bridge Milvius in 312 ap. J. - C., Constantin Ier modified the preliminary draft. It created a new North-South axis by construction in the south of a gantry of entry on the Via Sacra , and of one second Abside on the northern side opposed to the gantry. With respect to this new entry, this semicircular apse, as large as the other, 20 meters in diameter, sheltered the colossal statue of bronze Constantin Ier and marble.

The semicircular apse in the central hall contained sixteen rectangular places in two lines, with a Piédestal in the center. The apse was separated from the remainder of the hall by two columns of Marbre, by thus forming a kind of court.

Scale of the basilica

The great thickness of the walls (up to 6 meters) and the enormous size and scale of the roof did of this monument one of most remarkable of Rome. The magnificence of its interior decoration was proportioned with its size and its imposing character. It was built with the image of the large halls of the thermal baths.

This monument is the last and the largest building of imperial time builds in this part of Rome, in the middle of the city.

Today

The southern wing and the roof of the Nef probably crumbled at the time of the earthquake of 847. Nothing the Nef remains except the bases of the large pillars. There remains today only the northern part of the building whose only vaults of the side aisle subistent and which one can admire the octagonal boxes.

Fragments of marble of the basilica, found at the 15th century century, are preserved today in the court of the Palais of the Conservatives, like the head of the colossal statue of Constantin Ier.

The monolithic columns were destroyed excluded that which was removed by Paul V in 1613, and which was placed on Piazza di S. Maria Maggiore as a Obélisque.

Gallery

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