Examples of Basilican

Churches
Examples of Basilican Churches: West

-The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is the

largest church in Rome. It is one of the four
major basilicas and the most important place
of prayer dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
Mary.

-The most beautiful single Aisled basilica with

Ionic columns.

-Triumphal arch shows bands of mosaic

depicted the childhood of Christ.

- Coffered ceiling of the Nave was Added in

1500.
Final development on the
elevation. Not early
Christians characteristics
 Forms of early Naves:

Either a series of lintels rest

on pillars as in Santa Maria
Maggiore, Rome (432-440)
Colonnaded
Painting of the interior of Santa
Maria Maggiore in 1730.
Or was formed by a set of
arches set on pillars as in Santa
Sabina in Rome (422-430).
This became a prototype in
Italy.

Archaded
Inside the basilica of Santa Sabina (Rome) / April
2007/Wikipedia
Note : For Remember
Architectural Characteristics:
Main characteristics and additions:

1.Basilican churches had either solutions:

- Closely spaced columns carrying the entablature,
such as St. Marrie Maggiore, Rome.
Long perspective of columns carry the eye to the
sanctuary so as to appear longer than reality.

2. More widely spaced columns carrying semi-circular

arches, such as St. Clemente, Rome.
In this type there is more interpenetration in greater light
and freedom between the aisles and the nave.
The Basilica of (Santa Maria Maggiore)
Rome, S Clemente

St. Paolo Fuori Le Mura Arch of Triumph St. Paolo Fuori Le Mura
Examples of Basilican Churches: West

The Church of St. Paolo Fouri Le Mura, Rome was

founded in (380 A.D).

- Largest and most impressive of all Basilican

churches.

-Nave has eight great columns of Granite and mosaic

mural medallions of the Pope.

- Contains: Triumphal arch, double Bema, Mosaic

Apse and high remarkable Altar. All contributed to the
grandness of the Interior.
 Church of St. Paolo Fouri Le Mura

Arch of Triumph:
symbolizes the transition
from death to eternal life
creating an entrance to
the sanctuary with higher
Altar
Examples of Circular
Churches: West

The Church of St. Stefano

Rotondo was founded in (468 to
483 A.D).
This was the first circular church in
in Rome, and it was modeled on
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
in Jerusalem.

-64 meter in diameter and height.

- Central circular area encompassed by concentric inner
and outer ambulatories. The outer ambulatories were
divided into 8 segments by the four chapels which
radiates in cross formation from the inner ambulatory.
Examples of Circular Churches: West

The Church of St. Stefano Rotondo (468 to 483 A.D).

-General appearance is a cross within a circle.

- Two rings of columns supported the high central roof
and inner ambulatory.
-The colonnades of the outermost ambulatory with Ionic
columns.
- Outer range supports arches and the inner supports
horizontal architrave .
- It is possible that the central space was roofed by a
Dome of a very light material.
Examples of Basilican Churches: East
The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem (326-339 A.D).
-The first evidence of a cave in Bethlehem being
acclaimed as Christ's birthplace is in the writings of
Justin around 160 AD.

-In 326, Constantine and his mother St. Helena

commissioned a church to be built over the cave.

-This first church, dedicated in 339, had an octagonal

floor plan and was placed directly above the cave.

- In the center, a 4-meter-wide hole surrounded by a

railing provided a view of the cave. Portions of the floor
mosaic survive from this period.
Ground Plan of
the original first
Church of the
Nativity showing
opening in floor
over the the
Grotto of Christ's
birth and stairs
descending to the
Grotto.(‫)الكهف‬
View of Church of the Nativity in 1833
Examples of Basilican Churches: East
The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem (326-339 A.D).
- Monolithic Corinthian columns, 5.8 meters.
- The columns are made of pink, polished limestone,
most of them dating from the original 4th-century
Constantinian basilica.
- Nave and double Aisles.
- 3 Apses.
- Mosaics work in the sanctuary and Nave.
- Grand in its simplicity of plan.
- The Constantine church was destroyed by Justinian in
530 AD, who built the much larger church that remains
today.