"Soon after, he erected the basilica of St. Peter, of the Vatican. This magnificent edifice was constructed about the year 32.1, upon the site of the circus of Nero, and the temples of Apollo and Mars, which were destroyed for that purpose. It was divided internally into five aisles from east to west, which terminated at the end in another aisle from north to south, in the centre of which was a large niche or tribunal giving the whole the form of a cross. The larger aisle was enclosed by forty-eight columns of precious marble, and the lateral aisles had likewise thrty-eight columns of smaller dimensions ; two columns were placed on each wing of the terminating aisle. The whole was covered with a flat ceiling, composed of immense beams, which were cased with gilt metal and Corinthian brass, taken from the temples of Romulus and Jupiter Capitulinus. A hundred smaller columns ornamented the shrines and chapels. The walls were covered with paintings of religious subjects, and the tribunal was enriched with elaborate mosaics. An incredible number of lamps illuminated this temple ; in the greater solemnities 2,400 were reckoned, of which one enormous candelabrum contained 1,30. The tombs of pontiffs, kings, cardinals, and princes, were reared against the walls, or insulated in the ample porticos.
" This superb temple was respected by Alaric and Totila, and remained uninjured in the various fortunes uf flume during the lapse of twelve centuries ; but crumbling with age, it was at last pulled down by Julius 11., and upon its site has arisen the famous basilica, the pride of modern Rome.
The third great basilica built by that of St. Paul, on the road to Ostia, still exists. The interior of this building resembles precisely that of St. Peter, which has just been described. Of the forty eolunms enclosing the great aisle, twenty-four are supposed to have been taken from the mausoleum of Adrian ; they are Corinthian. about three feet diameter, fluted their whole length, and cabled to one third : the columns are of blue-and-white marble, and anti presents nothing in this kind more precious for the materials and workmanship. But these beautiful remains seem only to be placed there to the disgrace of the rest of the construction, which is of the age of Constantine and Theodosius, and which most strikingly exemplifies the rapid decline of the arts.
"The churches we have hitherto described, bear a very complete resemblance to the antique basilica in plan and pro po•tion. The only remarkable difference is, that the superior galleries are suppressed, in the place of which a wall is raised upon the columns of the great aisle, which is pierced with windows, and supports the roof.
"The church of St. Agues out of the walls, though not
one of the seven churches of Ilome which retain the title. is t however a perfect imitation of the antique basilica. This resemblance is so complete, that without the testimony of writers, who inform us that it was built by Constantine, at the request of Constantia, his sister or (laughter, and without the details of its architecture, which forbid us to date it higher, it might, be taken rather for an ancient tribunal of justice, than a modern church. It forms an oblong internally, . three *ides of which are surrounded with columns forming the 'porticos; the fourth side opposite the entrance is recessed in a semicircle ; this is the tribunal. The first order of columns carries a second, forming an upper gallery, above which begins the ceilinp. of the edifice. The shortening of the columns recommended by Vitruvius, is observed in the upper order.
" We have hitherto observed in the Christian basilicas, but small variations from the antique construction : they were still simple quadrilateral halls, divided into three or five aisles, the numerous columns of which supported the flat ceil ing; but the cross-form, the emblem of Christianity, which began to be adopted in these buildings, operated the most essential changes in their shape. The intersection of the crossing aisles produced a centre, which it was natural to enlarge and make principal in the composition ; and the invention of domes, supported on pendentives, enabled the architects to give size and dignity to the centre, without interrupting the vista of the aisles. The church of St. Sophia, at Constantinople, was the first example of this form.
"The seat of the Ronan empire being transferred to Con stantinople, it is natural to suppose that the disposition of the ancient St. Peter's of Rome, esteemed at that time the most magnificent church in the world, was imitated in that which Constantine erected for his new capital, under the mime of St. Sophia. This last did not exist long Constantius, the son of Constantine, raised a new one, which experienced many disasters. Destroyed in part, and rebuilt under the reign of Arcadius, it was burnt under ITono•ius, and re established by Theodosius the younger; hut a furious sedition having arisen under Justinian, it was reduced to ashes. This emperor having appeased the tumult, and wishing to immor talize his name by the edifice he was about to erect, assem bledf rom various parts the most famous architects. Anthe mins of Truffles, and Isidore of Aliletus, were chosen; and as they had the boldness to attempt a novel construction. they experienced many diffieulties and disasters; but at last they had the glory of finishin7 their design.