Santa Maria Antiqua
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Santa Maria Antiqua | |
|---|---|
 Front of the church | |
| English name: | Ancient St Mary's |
| Dedication: | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Type: | Deconsecrated church |
| Clergy: | None |
| Titular church | No |
| National church: | No |
| Built: | 5th century |
| Consecrated: | 5th century |
| Architect(s): | Unknown |
| Artists: | Unknown |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 1 Largo Romolo e Remo (Forum Romanum archaeological site) |
| Phone: | N/A |
| Fax: | N/A |
Santa Maria Antiqua is an ancient church on the Forum Romanum archaeological site. The church is not always open to the public, due to ongoing excavations.
The basilica was constructed in the 5th century in what was once a monumental approach to the imperial palaces on the Palatine. During the reign of Pope John VII (705–707), the church was used by the Holy Father as bishop of Rome. It was also a centre of Eastern-inspired piety in Rome.
The church was partially destroyed in 847. An eartquake undermined the imperial buildings overlooking the Forum, and the church was buried under rubble. A new church, known as Santa Maria Nuova (now Santa Francesca Romana) was built nearby as a replacement.
It was completely buried in 1084, when nearby buildings during the fire started by the Normans whos sacked Rome that year.
A new church, Santa Maria Liberatice, was built on the site. This was demolished in 1902 so that the older church could be uncovered.
More pictures of the church at Wikimedia Commons. [1]
[edit] Interior
There are a number of frescoes, some of which are well preserved, dating from the 7th and 8th centuries. Pope Martin I (649–655) had the Lateran Council's decisions recorded on the walls.
Some of the frescoes are known to have been ordered by Pope John VII, and other by Pope St Zacharias (741–752). At the end of the left aisle, there is a Crucifixion scene, dated between 741 and 752. Christ is dressed in a blue garment with Roman bands of rank. He is flanked by the Blessed Virgin and St John the Evangelist, and the smaller figure is Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side. Below is a portrait of Pope Zacharius, the donor Theodotus, an official of the diaconia and Sts Quricus, Julitta, Peter and Paul flanking the Virgin and Child. The other paintings are damaged, but you can still make out some details. The painting of St Anne holding the Blessed Virgin in her arms, dated 649, can be identified from a Greek inscription, as can the painting of the Maccabees (also 649).
In the same aisle, there is a Christian sarcophagus with a relief of the story of Jonas, which is symbolic of resurrection.
