Reconstructions of the Interior of St. Peter's Basilica as Built by the Emperor Constantine

There is always a great deal of interest into possible insights into the look and feel of the original St, Peter's Basilica in Rome that was constructed under the Emperor Constantine. There are, of course, various reconstructions or the odd period first hand depiction which are well enough known, and we have shown a few of these in a previous article, What Sits Underneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, but I recently came across some additional reconstructions that seemed of interest to share to readers. 

In some ways there is little of surprise here; it is a classic Roman basilica as one would expect. However it is in some of the details shown in these that lay some of the particular interest. 

Of course, even these details, which are architecturally focused, still only give a vague insight into what it must have been like to enter the splendour of the Constantinian basilica when one considers some of the ornaments found within which are detailed in the Liber Pontificalis.

This includes ornaments such as:

 "...four brass candlesticks, 10 feet in height, overlaid with silver, with figures in silver of the acts of the apostles, weighing each 300 lbs. ...  a golden crown before the body, that is a chandelier, with 50 dolphins, which weighs 35 lbs.; 32 silver lamps in the body of the basilica, with dolphins, weighing each 10 lbs.; for the right of the basilica 30 silver lamps, weighing each 8 lbs. ; the altar itself of silver overlaid with gold..."

For these we will have to use our imaginations and in doing so we should not only imagine the beautiful and precious metalwork described, but also the living, warm flickering glow of the lamps which were so eloquently described by the fourth century Christian poet, Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, in his poem, Hymnus ad Incensum Lucernae, where he speaks of the atmosphere of these paleo-Christian churches:

Ceilings fretted with gold, gleam with brilliant light
Shed from pendulous lamps swaying on supple chains;
The flame fed by the oil languidly swims about,
Casting flickering rays through the translucent glass.

With all that in mind, here are some of the digital recreations I recently came across. The first shows the interior of the basilica taken from the nave, and here I would also cross reference you to the first image shown at the beginning of the post. Here we see the classical basilica form, lined by various coloured marble columns. Between these columns one can make out some of the aforementioned lamps. 

A closer view of the nave and altar with the confessio beneath:

This next illustration shows some of the marble detailing that may have been found on some of the outermost, interior walls.  

For those for whom this is a new subject, the following shows a reconstruction of the original exterior of the original Constantinan basilica of St. Peter's in Rome. 

-------

Do you like Liturgical Arts Journal's original content? You can help support LAJ in its mission and vision to promote beauty in Catholic worship either by: 

Making a one-time donation or

Subscribing monthly/yearly 

You choose the amount! Your support makes all the difference.