DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0408
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE.
Book Yll.
344
Another tomh, very similar to that of the Tossia family, is called
that of Sta. Helena, the lnother of Constantine. If not hers, at least it
helongs to the last days of the Empire, and may he taken as a fair spe-
cimen of the tomhs of the age and of tlie class. It is a vast transition
from that of Csecilia Metella, thongh in the same direction as all the
changes introduced hy the liomans, the tendency of which was con-
stantly transfonning an external into an internal architecture.
It consists of a hasement ahout 100 ft. square, containing tho crypts.
On this stands a circular tower in ,two stories. In the lower story is a
circula'r apartment ahout 66 ft. in diameter, surrounded hy 8 niches;
in the upper the niches are external, and each pierced with a window.
Its dimensions heing nearly the sanie as those of the tomh of' Ctecilia
Metella, it affords an excellent opportunity of comparing the two
extremes of the series, and of contrasting the early Eoman with the
©arly Christian tomh.
The typical example of a sepulchre of this age is tlie tomh or hap-
tistery of Sta. Costanza, the daugliter of Constantine. In this huilding
the pillars that adorned tlie exterior of such a mausoleum, for insiance,
as that of Hadrian, are introduced internally. Externally tlie huilding
never can have liad much ornament. But the hreaks hetween the
lower aisle and the central compartment, pierced with tlie clerestory,
must have liad a very pleasing effect—more so at all events than the
clumsy attempts that were made at this age to aclorn huildings hy ill-
understOod applications of the Grecian orders. In tliis example there
is still shown a certain degree of timidity, which cloes not afterwards
reappear. The columns are coupled ancl far more numerous than they
need have heen, and they are united hy a fragment of an entahlature,
as if the architect were afraid to place his vault direct on tlie capitals.
Still, notwithstanding these defects, it. is a pleasing and singularly
mstructive example of a completed transformation, just what we miss
in those secular huildings for which the Christians liad no use.
Another huilding, which now goes hy tlie name of the Baptistery
ot t onstantine, was also undoubtedly a place of sepulturo. thougli
whether it is rightly ascrihed to Coastantinc, and was intendcd b\ liim
Book Yll.
344
Another tomh, very similar to that of the Tossia family, is called
that of Sta. Helena, the lnother of Constantine. If not hers, at least it
helongs to the last days of the Empire, and may he taken as a fair spe-
cimen of the tomhs of the age and of tlie class. It is a vast transition
from that of Csecilia Metella, thongh in the same direction as all the
changes introduced hy the liomans, the tendency of which was con-
stantly transfonning an external into an internal architecture.
It consists of a hasement ahout 100 ft. square, containing tho crypts.
On this stands a circular tower in ,two stories. In the lower story is a
circula'r apartment ahout 66 ft. in diameter, surrounded hy 8 niches;
in the upper the niches are external, and each pierced with a window.
Its dimensions heing nearly the sanie as those of the tomh of' Ctecilia
Metella, it affords an excellent opportunity of comparing the two
extremes of the series, and of contrasting the early Eoman with the
©arly Christian tomh.
The typical example of a sepulchre of this age is tlie tomh or hap-
tistery of Sta. Costanza, the daugliter of Constantine. In this huilding
the pillars that adorned tlie exterior of such a mausoleum, for insiance,
as that of Hadrian, are introduced internally. Externally tlie huilding
never can have liad much ornament. But the hreaks hetween the
lower aisle and the central compartment, pierced with tlie clerestory,
must have liad a very pleasing effect—more so at all events than the
clumsy attempts that were made at this age to aclorn huildings hy ill-
understOod applications of the Grecian orders. In tliis example there
is still shown a certain degree of timidity, which cloes not afterwards
reappear. The columns are coupled ancl far more numerous than they
need have heen, and they are united hy a fragment of an entahlature,
as if the architect were afraid to place his vault direct on tlie capitals.
Still, notwithstanding these defects, it. is a pleasing and singularly
mstructive example of a completed transformation, just what we miss
in those secular huildings for which the Christians liad no use.
Another huilding, which now goes hy tlie name of the Baptistery
ot t onstantine, was also undoubtedly a place of sepulturo. thougli
whether it is rightly ascrihed to Coastantinc, and was intendcd b\ liim