Arth_100-Lecture_10-Abrahamic_religions_I_PT_5

Discussion of two churches made 200 years apart in the Western and Eastern Roman Empires.
Focus on architectural plans used in Rome (Western Empire) and Constantinople (Eastern Empire, Byzantine).
Roman Empire divided in the 3rd century; both empires became Christian by the end of the 4th century, leading to a boom in church architecture and Christian art.

Basilica Plan: Used in the Western Roman Empire.
- Derives from Roman architecture adapted for Christian worship.
- Features a longitudinal (rectangular) layout.
- Key Elements:
  - Nave: Central hall for congregational meetings.
  - Aisles: Passageways beside the nave for movement.
  - Apse: Reserved for the priest, situated at the far end, directed towards Jerusalem.
  - Transept: Crosswise section that separates sacred from profane spaces.
  - Atrium: An open entrance area.
Centrally Planned Churches: Used in the Byzantine Empire.
- A visual distinction characterized by a dome at the center.

Largest and earliest church built in Rome; commissioned by Emperor Constantine.
Built on the site of the Circus of Nero, where many Christians, including Saint Peter, were persecuted.
Significance of Saint Peter:
- Apostle of Christ, preached Christian teachings in Rome, martyred under Emperor Nero in 64 CE.
- His burial site was marked by the basilica, symbolizing the transition to Christianity as the state religion.
Construction Details:
- Built with masonry and a wooden roof; reflects basilica plan features.
- Became a model for later churches across Europe.

Old Saint Peter's Basilica served as a prototype for future church buildings, establishing a standard for ecclesiastical architecture in the Middle Ages.
Basilicas adapted as the primary structure for Roman civic buildings; early Christian churches featured a single apse for religious rituals.
The differences between the basilica plan and centrally planned churches denote varying theological and liturgical emphases in the two empires.