DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0083
Africa under the Caesars 45
only one yet found in Africa, which makes direct allusion to
the expulsion of the Vandals.
Nutu divi7io felicissimis temporibus
piissimorum dominorum
nostromm Justiniani et Theodores
Augiistorum post abscissos ex Africa
Vandalos extinctamque per Solomonem
gloriosissimo magistro militum ex
consulte Prcefecto Libycs acpatricio
universam Manrusiam geiitem
providentia ejusdevi ceminentissimi
viri Theveste civitas a fundamentis
cedificata est.
This Roman Basilica stood on the north side of a forum,
approached through two lofty gateways, one of which is still
standing. A broad flight of thirteen steps, now partly destroyed,
gave access to an open court, 65 feet by 60 feet, surrounded by
an arcade. The Basilica had a nave and aisles separated by
piers and engaged shafts in two superimposed orders, the whole
being arcaded. The nave had an apsidal end, and the aisles
had galleries. The material of the walls is a finely grained
limestone, in large stones of regular size, the courses being
about 20 inches high, and the stones bedded in very little thin
mortar. The columns were of granite and grey marble, not fluted,
and the capitals of both stages were of the Corinthian order of
pure white marble, the carving showing great delicacy of form
and execution. The simplicity of the arch construction is
remarkable. There were no archivolts, and the faces of the
voussoirs were polished like marble. The entire floor surfaces
were covered with beautiful mosaics, portions of which are still
in fair preservation.
It has been suggested that the Basilica of Theveste, as we
now see it in ruined condition, was a work of the sixth century,
and that Solomon rebuilt it, as well as the city, a fundamentis.
Had this been the case, the stones of the older Roman work-
would have been re-used, and the facework, like other masonry at
Theveste of the Byzantine period, would have been irregular.
It should be observed that when Constantine removed the seat
of empire to Byzantium, A.D. 328, the basilica form of plan,
which had been adopted for the purposes of the early Christian
Church, underwent many changes, the most noticeable being
only one yet found in Africa, which makes direct allusion to
the expulsion of the Vandals.
Nutu divi7io felicissimis temporibus
piissimorum dominorum
nostromm Justiniani et Theodores
Augiistorum post abscissos ex Africa
Vandalos extinctamque per Solomonem
gloriosissimo magistro militum ex
consulte Prcefecto Libycs acpatricio
universam Manrusiam geiitem
providentia ejusdevi ceminentissimi
viri Theveste civitas a fundamentis
cedificata est.
This Roman Basilica stood on the north side of a forum,
approached through two lofty gateways, one of which is still
standing. A broad flight of thirteen steps, now partly destroyed,
gave access to an open court, 65 feet by 60 feet, surrounded by
an arcade. The Basilica had a nave and aisles separated by
piers and engaged shafts in two superimposed orders, the whole
being arcaded. The nave had an apsidal end, and the aisles
had galleries. The material of the walls is a finely grained
limestone, in large stones of regular size, the courses being
about 20 inches high, and the stones bedded in very little thin
mortar. The columns were of granite and grey marble, not fluted,
and the capitals of both stages were of the Corinthian order of
pure white marble, the carving showing great delicacy of form
and execution. The simplicity of the arch construction is
remarkable. There were no archivolts, and the faces of the
voussoirs were polished like marble. The entire floor surfaces
were covered with beautiful mosaics, portions of which are still
in fair preservation.
It has been suggested that the Basilica of Theveste, as we
now see it in ruined condition, was a work of the sixth century,
and that Solomon rebuilt it, as well as the city, a fundamentis.
Had this been the case, the stones of the older Roman work-
would have been re-used, and the facework, like other masonry at
Theveste of the Byzantine period, would have been irregular.
It should be observed that when Constantine removed the seat
of empire to Byzantium, A.D. 328, the basilica form of plan,
which had been adopted for the purposes of the early Christian
Church, underwent many changes, the most noticeable being