BASILICA
• The Latin word basilica was derived from the Greek “basilike stoa.”
“Basilike” is an adjective meaning kingly or royal, qualifying the noun
“stoa,” an open aired portico.
• Traditionally basilicas were used as public market places and
courthouses, acting as the roofed extension to the Forum.
• In ancient Rome, basilicas were the site for legal matters to be
carried out and a place for business transactions.
Aisles Nave Aisles
• Architecturally, a basilica typically had a rectangular base that was
split into aisles by columns and covered by a roof. section of basilica ulpia
• The central aisle came to be called the nave. Side aisles were divided
by colonnades (rows of evenly spaced columns).
• Windows above the central aisle allowed light to penetrate inside the
structure became known as clerestory windows.
• The first known basilica—the Basilica Porcia in the Roman Forum— 1. Nave.
2. Aisles.
was constructed in 184 BC by Marcus Porcius Cato. 3. Apses.
4. Entrances Plan of basilica ulpia
Basilica of Maxentius
• Maxentius began the construction of the Maxentius Basilica in 308
AD [the Basilica Nova as it is also known].
• It was actually finished by Constantine in 312 AD.
• Generally, an ancient Roman Basilica would be a political meeting
place.
• Maxentius had intended it to be an audience hall.
• It was the largest building in the Forum, and the last Roman basilica Maxentius Location of the basilica in the Roman Forum.
built in the city.
• Earlier basilicas had mostly had wooden roofs, but this basilica
dispensed with timber trusses and used instead cross-vaults made
from Roman bricks and concrete to create one of the ancient
world's largest covered spaces: 80 m long, 25 m wide, and 35 m
high.
Remains of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in
Colossus of Constantine was originally located in the Basilica of Constantine
Rome. The building's northern aisle is all that remains.
It is now located in the Capitoline Museums
• The basilica stood on a 100-by-65-metre (328 ft × 213 ft) concrete and Plan
Apse added by
Constantine
rectangular platform.
Barrel-vaulted
• Covering 6500 metres squared, the site is impressive. Original bays
apse
• The central nave was 80 metres (260 ft) long, 25 metres (82 ft) wide, 35
groin-vaulted Original
metres (115 ft) high, with side aisles 16 metres (52 ft) wide and 24.5 nave entrance
metres (80 ft) high.
Groin-
Barrel-vaulted Vaulted
• Eight massive marble columns 14.5 metres (48 ft) high and 5.4 metres bays porch
(18 ft) in circumference stood at the corners of the nave.
• They were all destroyed except one that was removed by Paul V in Entrance added by Constantine
1613 to the Santa Maria Maggiore where it still stands.
• The lateral forces of the groin vaults were held by
flanking aisles measuring 23 by 17 metres (75 ft × 56 ft).
• The aisles were spanned by three semi-circular barrel vaults
perpendicular to the nave, and narrow arcades ran parallel to the nave
beneath the barrel vaults.
• The nave creating a 2,000-square-metre (22,000 sq ft) floor.
Cross section
• The colour of the building before it was destroyed was white.
Barrel Vaults
• A barrel vault is essentially an extruded or
elongated arch.
• Imperial Roman vaults were supported by
walls, columns, and eventually buttressing
elements.
• After the construction of the supporting walls, the barrel vaults
were constructed.
• One technique that the Romans used on vaults was lattice ribbing.
• Lattice ribbing requires a specific pattern of bricks, which improves Barrel vaults
load distribution and also helps to stiffen the vaults
lattice ribs were constructed in barrel vaults
sketch
Cross Vaults
• Cross vaults are arguably more efficient than
barrel vaults.
• Cross vaults can view as the combination of
two perpendicular barrel vaults, hence the
name cross vault.
• After the barrel vaults were constructed, marble was applied to the
face of wall, and the column to support the cross vault was raised into
position.
• The Romans also utilized lighter aggregates and materials on the
upper part of the vaults to further reduce weight and outward thrust.
• Lastly, the roof above the vaults was triangular, which helped to Barrel vaults running perpendicular to the cross vaults above
distribute the weight to the corners of the cross vaults below.
face of the upper part
of the supporting
wall of a pair of
barrel vaults, to
which was attached sketch
one of the columns
supporting the cross
vaults over the Picture of what remains of the supporting cross or groin vault which shows the forces
central nave. column for one of the corners of the cross vault. distributing towards the corners of the vault.
Use of Terracotta Tubes
• For the importance of measurement and placement, the Romans used
terracotta tubes.
• The terracotta tubes were used to measure the thickness of concrete
and as a plumb line to determine positing.
• The terracotta tubes were also used in the construction of the barrel
vaults.
• The points in which the
terracotta tube and the holes
intersected served as reference
points that could quickly be
referred to. East end , remains of terracotta tubes used as reference devices
on the face of the wall and along the edge of the cross vault.
Porch north end , remains of a well preserved terracotta tubes at the spring of the
cross vault placed perpendicularly to the exterior limit of the upper wall.
Triple windows seen from
the Via dei Fori Imperiali
North wall and apse of the Basilica
seen from the Via Sacra
Remains of the barrel vaults view