Old Saint Peter's Basilica.pptx

Old Saint Peter's Basilic

1. OLD ST. PETER’S BASILICA

2. Location – Vatican City , Rome Architectural Style - Ancient Roman Architecture Catholic church Peter’s Basilica begins in the 4 th century when the Emperor Constantine decides to build a basilica where the apostle had been buried. It was the first church built after the death of Saint Peter to memorialize his martyrdom. Construction was begun between 326 and 333 Took about 40 years to complete It is a five aisled basilican – plan church with apsed transept at the west end

3. The church was entered through an atrium called Paradise that enclosed a garden with fountains. From the atrium there were five doors into the body of the church.

4. FLOOR PLAN

5. The church was capable of housing from 3,000 to 4,000 worshipers at one time. It consisted of five aisles, a wide central nave and two smaller aisles to each side, which were each divided by 21 marble columns It was over 350 feet (110 m) long, built in the shape of a Latin cross, and had a gabled roof which was timbered on the interior and which stood at over 100 feet (30 m) at the center

6. The basilica is cruciform in shape, with an elongated nave in the form of a Latin cross

7. Many of the columns used in Old St. Peter’s were taken from earlier Roman buildings ; Materials thus reused are known as Spolia The group of spiral columns that decorated the altar area had a special significance , for they were thought to have been taken from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem

8. Old St.Peter’s had rather plain brick exterior but the interior was adorned with precious materials, including Marbles, Roman columns, Mosaics and Frescoes

9. Old St. Peter’s was torn down in 16 th century and and replaced by New St. Peter’s

10. THANK YOU VAIBHAV S4 A 32