BASILICA. The word basilica (meaning a Icingly or magnificent building) is of Greek derivation, but the buildings so termed appear to have originated with the Romans. The basilica edifices of the Greeks and Romans were the courts of justice and conunercial meeting places of the people. The judicial court was presided over by the archon basikus. As its title describes, it was a building of magnificence comporting with the importance it held in the civic functions. The basilica style of construc tion was that used for the earliest of the churches of the priznitive Christians, and it is claimed by some authorities that the first Chris tian worship in public (on Constantine's ac cepting the Oiristian creed) was held in the pagan basilicas.
The typical basilica was an oblong edifice surrounded by a colonnade (peristyle) and the interior also was divided by rows of coltunns. Vitruvius says the old Roman basilica was closed in by a wall having a doorway within it, or was freely open like the Greek Colon nades. The interior of the building was di vided lengthways, by two rows of columns, into three naves, the central one being the widest. At one end was the tribunal where the seated judges presided over the public court, and the opposite end was the entrance. The early Christian basilica was planned on the above lines. The interior of the C,onstantine style of basilica has been described as being divided into the three following open sections or spaces: Starting with the proxaos, destined for the catechtunens, next came the chorus, where the choristers, instnunental musicians and exorcists performed their functions. Lastly, beyond, was the sacrarium, where the altar was located, near which the deacons and sub deacons were seated. The abside (apse) or presbyterium held the ordained priests on a semi-circular bench (consistorium) interrupted iu the middle by a more elevated seat (tug gestus) reserved for the bishop. The side aisles received the congregation (men at the right, women at the left). Most basilicas had an atrium or narthex (covered vestibule sup ported by columns) as entrance. The early buildings were covered with a flat, wooden roof. .
About the first innovation in, basilka struc ture made by the early Christian Church was the extension from the main buildinz4hof the apsis, usually in seini-circular form. e roof over the central nave was also raised a story higher than the side walls (ckrestory), afford tklvight from windows in the extended walls_ excrescences crept in from time to time, such as side chapels for special services, and even towers on the f ront walls. Sorne
ties define the basilica Period as from 300 to 800 A.D.
Pagan Basilicas.— Probably the first basil ica was that erected in Rome by Cato Censori mu (184 ac.) —the basilica Porcia. Other noted ancient pagan basilicas in Rome were: Basilica Semproma, erected by Tiberius Sem Corresp. archeolog.) 1880) ; Quicherat, J., (La Basilique de Fanum, construite par Vitruv' (in
Christian Basilicas.— Of basilicas that were in ancient Rome we know of : Saint Peter's, Saint Paul's, those of Saint John Lateran, Saint Clement, Sta. Maria in Trastevere and Saint Lawrence. Present existing basilicas in Rome are: Saint Peter's, Saint Paul's, those of Saint John Lateran, Saint Clement, Saints Nereo and Achilleo, Sta. Maria Maggiore, Saint Paul's without the walls (reconstructed 19th century). Other noted basilicas are: Saint Apollinaris in Classe, near Ravenna; Saint Apollinaris in Ravenna; Torcello Cathedral, near Venice; Saint Ambrose, Milan; Saint Res titua, Naples. In Germany are: The Cathedral at Treves, built about 4th century (has one story and flat roof) ; Saint Godehard and Saint Michael in Hildesheim; the Abbey Church in Quedlinburg. In England are, notably: Saint Barnabas at Oxford and Saint James at Leices ter. Saint Jean-Baptiste Church,Lexington ave nue and 76th street, New York city (recently erected), is said to best represent the basilica style of any edifice in the United States.
Bibliography.— Clausse, Gustave, 'Les Monuments du Christianisme au Moyen Age, basiliques et mosaiques chretiennes) (Paris 1893); Dehiot and Bezold, 'Die kirch Eche Baukunst des Abendlandes' (Leipzig 1884) ; Hare, 'Walls in Rome) (London 1913); Martigny, (Dictionnaire des antiquites chre tiennes) (article (Basilique)); Pellegrini, 'Basilica Fulvia) (in 'Bollettino dell Instit.
der abendlandischen Kirchengeblude) (Vienna 1878); Wurz, Hermann,