Book contents
- Old Saint Peter's, Rome
- Series page
- Old Saint Peter's, Rome
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Plates
- Tables
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Saint Peter's and the city of Rome between Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages
- 2 From Constantine to Constans
- 3 Spoliain the fourth-century basilica
- 4 The Early Christian baptisteryof Saint Peter's
- 5 The representation of Old Saint Peter's basilica in theLiber Pontificalis
- 6 The mausoleum of Honorius
- 7 Popes, emperors and clergyat Old Saint Peter's from the fourth to the eighth century
- 8 Theearly liturgy of Saint Peter's and the Roman liturgical year
- 9 Interactions between liturgy and politics in Old Saint Peter's, 670–741
- 10 A reconstruction of the oratory of John VII (705–7)
- 11 Old Saint Peter's and the Iconoclastic Controversy
- 12 The Veronica, theVultus Christiand the veneration oficons in medieval Rome
- 13 The Carolingiansand the oratoryof Saint Peter the Shepherd
- 14 Plus Caesare Petrus
- 15 The Legendary of Saint Peter's basilica
- 16 The stucco crucifix of Saint Peter's reconsidered
- 17 Saint Peter's in the fifteenth century
- 18 Filarete's renovation of the Porta Argenteaat Old Saint Peter's
- 19 The altarof Saint Maurice and the invention of tradition in Saint Peter's
- 20 Epilogue. A hybrid history:
- Appendix Letter of the canons of Saint Peter's to Paul V concerning the demolition of the old basilica, 1605
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - From Constantine to Constans
The chronology of theconstruction of Saint Peter's basilica
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2013
Book contents
- Old Saint Peter's, Rome
- Series page
- Old Saint Peter's, Rome
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Plates
- Tables
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Saint Peter's and the city of Rome between Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages
- 2 From Constantine to Constans
- 3 Spoliain the fourth-century basilica
- 4 The Early Christian baptisteryof Saint Peter's
- 5 The representation of Old Saint Peter's basilica in theLiber Pontificalis
- 6 The mausoleum of Honorius
- 7 Popes, emperors and clergyat Old Saint Peter's from the fourth to the eighth century
- 8 Theearly liturgy of Saint Peter's and the Roman liturgical year
- 9 Interactions between liturgy and politics in Old Saint Peter's, 670–741
- 10 A reconstruction of the oratory of John VII (705–7)
- 11 Old Saint Peter's and the Iconoclastic Controversy
- 12 The Veronica, theVultus Christiand the veneration oficons in medieval Rome
- 13 The Carolingiansand the oratoryof Saint Peter the Shepherd
- 14 Plus Caesare Petrus
- 15 The Legendary of Saint Peter's basilica
- 16 The stucco crucifix of Saint Peter's reconsidered
- 17 Saint Peter's in the fifteenth century
- 18 Filarete's renovation of the Porta Argenteaat Old Saint Peter's
- 19 The altarof Saint Maurice and the invention of tradition in Saint Peter's
- 20 Epilogue. A hybrid history:
- Appendix Letter of the canons of Saint Peter's to Paul V concerning the demolition of the old basilica, 1605
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
A thoroughly revisionist account of the historical origins of the basilica was published by Glen Bowersock, who proposed that the foundation and construction of the basilica should be attributed not to Constantine, but probably to Constans. This chapter takes the doubts they have raised as an opportunity to reconsider both the chronology of the fourth-century basilica, and also the evidence for possible changes in its design during construction. An inscription, referring unambiguously to Constantine as the founder of Saint Peter's, was located on the triumphal arch of the basilica and was executed in letters of gold, forming part of a mosaic scene. Whatever the precise chronology of the preceding stages of development, the remodelling or rebuilding of the apse in its definitive form seems to have followed on only after the accession in 337 of Constans, whose probable stamp occurred on bricks used in its construction.
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- Old Saint Peter's, Rome , pp. 35 - 64Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013
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