DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42778#0144
84 THE ARCHITECTURE OF ANCIENT ROME.
N.E. (the irregularity in the central hall may have been due to the
desire to make the roof central), and, like the basilica Julia, had no
apses. The nave had two orders of Corinthian columns of Africano
(Chian marble), with bases, capitals and entablature of white
marble : the decoration of these architectural members is extremely
fine. The facade facing on the Forum had a Doric arcade below
with a massive entablature (Plate XX); of the upper arcade no
remains are preserved. Inside this were tabernae, between which
three entrances led into the S.W. aisle. Like the basilica Julia, it
had a clerestory, and the pilasters which divided its double windows
show some of the finest decorative carving that has come down to
us from the Augustan period.
The Ulpian basilica, though covering a slightly smaller area,
had in addition two great semi-circular halls which constituted the
courts of justice. Architecturally its interior must have presented
a much finer appearance than the basilica Julia, as monolithic
columns took the place of the arcade piers. The plan was similar
to that of the basilica Julia, with a central area with double aisles
all round and enclosure walls on the two longest sides. All the
shafts of the columns of the ground storey were of red granite from
Syene, in Egypt, with Corinthian capitals of white marble. Gal-
leries are supposed to have been carried over both aisles. As
regards its roof, Canina in his restoration shows a horizontal ceiling
with deep coffers and a trussed roof in timber, and he lights the
interior by clerestory windows above the galleries. Pausanias’
statement that the roof was all in bronze probably refers only to
its decoration, not to its construction.
The third great basilica was commenced by Maxentius and com-
pleted by Constantine (Plate XLV, Fig. 20). It is half as large
again as either of the other two just described, and is totally different
in its nature and construction, being virtually a reproduction of the
vaulted central hall of the Thermse hitherto (but wrongly) known
as the Tepidarium1. It consists of an immense hall 266 feet long
(exclusive of the apse) by 82 feet wide and 114 feet high, divided
into three bays, and covered with an intersecting barrel vault, and
aisles or side halls 55 feet deep. The huge columns which stood
in the nave were merely ornamental, and did not support the vault.
Between the walls contrived to resist the thrust are three rectangu-
lar halls on each side ; these communicate one with the other
1 Compare the description of the central hall of the Thermae of Diocletian
(infra p. 107).
N.E. (the irregularity in the central hall may have been due to the
desire to make the roof central), and, like the basilica Julia, had no
apses. The nave had two orders of Corinthian columns of Africano
(Chian marble), with bases, capitals and entablature of white
marble : the decoration of these architectural members is extremely
fine. The facade facing on the Forum had a Doric arcade below
with a massive entablature (Plate XX); of the upper arcade no
remains are preserved. Inside this were tabernae, between which
three entrances led into the S.W. aisle. Like the basilica Julia, it
had a clerestory, and the pilasters which divided its double windows
show some of the finest decorative carving that has come down to
us from the Augustan period.
The Ulpian basilica, though covering a slightly smaller area,
had in addition two great semi-circular halls which constituted the
courts of justice. Architecturally its interior must have presented
a much finer appearance than the basilica Julia, as monolithic
columns took the place of the arcade piers. The plan was similar
to that of the basilica Julia, with a central area with double aisles
all round and enclosure walls on the two longest sides. All the
shafts of the columns of the ground storey were of red granite from
Syene, in Egypt, with Corinthian capitals of white marble. Gal-
leries are supposed to have been carried over both aisles. As
regards its roof, Canina in his restoration shows a horizontal ceiling
with deep coffers and a trussed roof in timber, and he lights the
interior by clerestory windows above the galleries. Pausanias’
statement that the roof was all in bronze probably refers only to
its decoration, not to its construction.
The third great basilica was commenced by Maxentius and com-
pleted by Constantine (Plate XLV, Fig. 20). It is half as large
again as either of the other two just described, and is totally different
in its nature and construction, being virtually a reproduction of the
vaulted central hall of the Thermse hitherto (but wrongly) known
as the Tepidarium1. It consists of an immense hall 266 feet long
(exclusive of the apse) by 82 feet wide and 114 feet high, divided
into three bays, and covered with an intersecting barrel vault, and
aisles or side halls 55 feet deep. The huge columns which stood
in the nave were merely ornamental, and did not support the vault.
Between the walls contrived to resist the thrust are three rectangu-
lar halls on each side ; these communicate one with the other
1 Compare the description of the central hall of the Thermae of Diocletian
(infra p. 107).