DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44944#0115
BASILICA AEMILIA
75
Mitt. 1899, 260), have been used as the basis of the identification of the
front arcades of the basilica with the porticus Gai et Luci. Here lie
other fragments, including some of the entablature of the upper order of
the fagade, with a cornice resembling that of the temple of Divus Iulius,
but smaller. The massive main order was Doric, with bucrania and
paterae alternating in the metopes, and fragments of it are preserved,
though up to 1500 a portion of the north-west side fagade (which faced
originally on to the Argiletum, and owing to the direction of the latter,
was not at right angles to the front) was standing, as various
Renaissance drawings show (notably Sangallo, Barb. 26), and the so-
called Coner, PBS ii. pl. 77).
From the fagade three narrow steps descended to a broad landing,
from which four more steps led to the forum level. The shrine of Venus
Cloacina (q.v.) was built at the foot of the steps, not far from the north-
west end. The steps on the south-east side have recently been exposed
at one point, which has rendered it possible to determine the length
of the building.
At the beginning of the fifth century a.d. the wooden roofs of the nave
and aisles were set on fire (perhaps in 410, when Alaric captured Rome)
and numerous coins, from the time of Constantine to the end of the
fourth century, were found on the marble pavement. Above the stratum
of ashes is a layer, about 1 metre thick, of earth mixed with fragments
of architecture, statues, bricks, pottery, etc. ; and upon this stratum
has fallen the brick wall which replaced the back wall of the tabernae
after its destruction by fire. From this it is clear that the nave of the
basilica was abandoned after the fire (from which, as the fragments show,
the africano columns suffered especially) and was to a certain extent used
as a quarry even in ancient times. Nor were the tabernae nor the
fagade rebuilt, though a large private building was established in the
south-east portion ; in some of the tabernae are marble pavements of
the seventh-ninth century, and on the back wall of the last taberna
but one, a fragment of an inscription, with the name of a saint, was
found. The sixteen columns of red granite (Ill. 11) which stood on high
white marble pedestals (none of which were found in situ) may have
belonged to its portico. Certainly, the attribution of them to a restoration
of the fagade of the basilica in the fifth century must be given up. Nor,
on the other hand, can they belong to the mediaeval church of S. Iohannes
in Campo (HCh 270), which must have lain at a much higher level.
The final ruin of the whole, which caused the collapse of the brick
wall at the back of the tabernae, may best be attributed to the earthquake
of Leo IV in 847 a.d. (LPD ii. 108 ; see Venus et Roma, templum).
See RE i. 540; Suppl. i. 16; BC 1899, 169-204 ; 1900,3-8; 1901,20-30;
CR 1899, 465; 1901, 136; 1902, 95; DR 396-408; Mitt. 1902,
41-57; 1905, 53-62; Atti 566-570; HC 123-132; Pl. 194-198; RL 1912,
758-766; LS ii. 191-193; AJA 1913, 14-28; BA 1914, Cr. 73; JRS
75
Mitt. 1899, 260), have been used as the basis of the identification of the
front arcades of the basilica with the porticus Gai et Luci. Here lie
other fragments, including some of the entablature of the upper order of
the fagade, with a cornice resembling that of the temple of Divus Iulius,
but smaller. The massive main order was Doric, with bucrania and
paterae alternating in the metopes, and fragments of it are preserved,
though up to 1500 a portion of the north-west side fagade (which faced
originally on to the Argiletum, and owing to the direction of the latter,
was not at right angles to the front) was standing, as various
Renaissance drawings show (notably Sangallo, Barb. 26), and the so-
called Coner, PBS ii. pl. 77).
From the fagade three narrow steps descended to a broad landing,
from which four more steps led to the forum level. The shrine of Venus
Cloacina (q.v.) was built at the foot of the steps, not far from the north-
west end. The steps on the south-east side have recently been exposed
at one point, which has rendered it possible to determine the length
of the building.
At the beginning of the fifth century a.d. the wooden roofs of the nave
and aisles were set on fire (perhaps in 410, when Alaric captured Rome)
and numerous coins, from the time of Constantine to the end of the
fourth century, were found on the marble pavement. Above the stratum
of ashes is a layer, about 1 metre thick, of earth mixed with fragments
of architecture, statues, bricks, pottery, etc. ; and upon this stratum
has fallen the brick wall which replaced the back wall of the tabernae
after its destruction by fire. From this it is clear that the nave of the
basilica was abandoned after the fire (from which, as the fragments show,
the africano columns suffered especially) and was to a certain extent used
as a quarry even in ancient times. Nor were the tabernae nor the
fagade rebuilt, though a large private building was established in the
south-east portion ; in some of the tabernae are marble pavements of
the seventh-ninth century, and on the back wall of the last taberna
but one, a fragment of an inscription, with the name of a saint, was
found. The sixteen columns of red granite (Ill. 11) which stood on high
white marble pedestals (none of which were found in situ) may have
belonged to its portico. Certainly, the attribution of them to a restoration
of the fagade of the basilica in the fifth century must be given up. Nor,
on the other hand, can they belong to the mediaeval church of S. Iohannes
in Campo (HCh 270), which must have lain at a much higher level.
The final ruin of the whole, which caused the collapse of the brick
wall at the back of the tabernae, may best be attributed to the earthquake
of Leo IV in 847 a.d. (LPD ii. 108 ; see Venus et Roma, templum).
See RE i. 540; Suppl. i. 16; BC 1899, 169-204 ; 1900,3-8; 1901,20-30;
CR 1899, 465; 1901, 136; 1902, 95; DR 396-408; Mitt. 1902,
41-57; 1905, 53-62; Atti 566-570; HC 123-132; Pl. 194-198; RL 1912,
758-766; LS ii. 191-193; AJA 1913, 14-28; BA 1914, Cr. 73; JRS