Open AccessImperial Connotations in Roman Church Interiors. The Significance and Effect of the Lateran Fastigium
Author(s) -
Sible de Blaauw
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.101
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2611-3686
pISSN - 0065-0900
DOI - 10.5617/acta.5702
Subject(s) - altar , emperor , context (archaeology) , liturgy , ancient history , art , bronze , late antiquity , object (grammar) , history , classics , philosophy , archaeology , linguistics
The fastigium donated by emperor Constantine to the Lateran Basilica is a key object in the study of imperial connotations in Early Christian Roman churches. The fastigium was a pediment surmounted by silver statues and supported by four bronze columns, standing as a linear structure in front of the altar of the basilica. In contrast to other objects of imperial largitio donated to the Christian churches, the fastigium was recognized from the very beginning as an explicit monument of imperial presence. Both its shape and its unusual nature in the context of Christian liturgy were responsible for this association.