AveniAdventures
  • aveniadventure
  • Blog
  • Contact

Basilica San Clemente

12/27/2014

0 Comments

 

Situated on Via San Giovanni approximately a quarter mile south of the Colosseum is the basilica San Clemente, dedicated to Pope Clement I and the designated basilica of the current Cardinal from New York. The basilica proper is ringed with several frescos and sculptures ranging from the second through the tenth century. What makes this an attraction for tourists is that the facility is a three tired complex (i. e. A church, built upon another church, built upon a home).The upper-most level is the present basilica originally built just before 1100 AD. Approximately four meters below this level is a mid-4th century to early 5th century basilica, converted out of a home of a Roman nobleman. Historical documents indicate that this level briefly served as a church during the first century and the basement of this mid-level structure during the 2nd century may have served as a pagan temple ( a place of worship for the followers of the mysterious religion known as Mithraism). The lower third level was the home of the Roman nobleman which was built upon the foundations of a republican era building destroyed by the great fire of 64 AD. You can explore the remains of the earlier Basilica and the nobleman's home by crossing the present-day Basilica and through the bookstore on the far side and going down the stairs.

Picture
The front entrance of the Basilica San Clemente.
Picture
Part of the lower level excavations.
Picture
The pagan temple altar of Mithras.
Picture
One of the antechamber a in the nobleman's home
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Carl and Lorraine  Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.