Basilica of Maxentius
The Basilica of Maxentius ( Basilica Nova also, occasionally also called Constantine Basilica ) is the last and largest Roman basilica. It is located on the edge of the Roman Forum.
The basilica was built in 307-313 on an area of 70 x 100 meters. The builder, Emperor Maxentius, rejected the hitherto traditional type of the column basilica and oriented in his new plan the model of large thermal bath halls, such as the Baths of Diocletian. He let this basilica built as a monumental entrance hall. The building should have its visitors who could approach him from the front only, and thus had to pace off the longitudinal axis of the massive structure intimidated. The emperor himself did not live to complete his basilica, he fell 312 at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in which he defeated his rival Constantine I.
So it was Constantine, the Roman senate consecrated the building. However, before he carried out some changes. He left in the apse a colossal statue of his erect even in Akrolithtechnik, also another entrance to the Via Sacra towards opened and over, added to the center arcade of the south aisle, a niche apse, which generated a new perspective axis transverse to the original. Since 354, the building was also called because Basilica Constantini, Basilica of Constantine.
The basilica was built on a large artificial terrace next to the Velia. This area was originally part of Nero's Domus Aurea and was later turned into a camp for exotic import from the Orient. A special feature of the Basilica of Maxentius was the ceiling. It was not, as usual, a pillared beam ceiling, but a cross vault, which was supported by pillars. This made it possible to leave the coffered nave 35 meters tall rise up to the ceiling rosettes, which should complete the overall picture of harmony.
The height of the nave can be fairly accurately estimated. Since the side spaces obtained are 24.50 meters high, the nave must have been about 35 feet high. Thus, it reaches a height, the 1000 year later surpassed until the vaults of Gothic cathedrals (eg in Cologne Cathedral 43 m). In the design of such enormous vault the Romans accomplished one of its many feats in the field of architecture. The floor plan and wall structure of the Basilica of Maxentius were used by Carlo Maderno 1607-1614 as a model for the construction of the nave of St. Peter's Basilica (where 45 meter vault height ). For the marble parts of the entablature partially spoils (remains) were reused from older antique large buildings.
In 1349 the vault of the nave collapsed in an earthquake. The only one of the eight 20 meter high pillars that survived the earthquake, was launched in 1614 by Pope Paul V to Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore. Today only the right aisle is still preserved, but this can be the huge dimensions of the structure even now imagine yet.