The Basilica Aemilia
The original Basilica Aemilia was a
civil basilica with and elaborate public hall erected on the site of 5th
century BC butcher shops (tabernae lanienae). Constructed in 179 BC by the
censors Marcus Fulvius Nobilior and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus the Basilica was
located in the Forum Romanum. The Basilica has been destroyed, rebuilt
and restored several times. After the structure was built it was redecorated
and in 14BC it was restored under the reign of Emperor Augustus after
much of the Basilica was destroyed by fire. The Basilica Aemilia is a public court building likely to
have been used as a place of business transactions, financial loans, tax
collection and legal proceedings.
The Basilica could be accessed through three separate entrances and along the sides of the structure ran two rows of sixteen arches. The Basilica was 100 meters in length and about 30 meters in width. The columns, located in the central aisle or nave were carved from African marble and had Corinthian capitals and friezes which referenced the history of Republican Rome. The columns in the second row were carved from cipolline marble and the external columns included Ionic capitals. The main hall or court measured 100 m long and 29.9 m deep and was located behind the Tabernae Novae (new shops) which faced the Forum Romanum. The Tabernae and the façade of the Basilica Aemilia were both completely destroyed when Rome was attacked by the Visigoths (nomadic tribes of Germanic people) and their King Alaric I in 410 AD. Green stains can still be seen on what remains of the marble floor, caused by the bronze coins which melted in the heat of the fire. The Basilica was rebuilt again but in 847 AD an earthquake caused the structure to collapse.
The Basilica could be accessed through three separate entrances and along the sides of the structure ran two rows of sixteen arches. The Basilica was 100 meters in length and about 30 meters in width. The columns, located in the central aisle or nave were carved from African marble and had Corinthian capitals and friezes which referenced the history of Republican Rome. The columns in the second row were carved from cipolline marble and the external columns included Ionic capitals. The main hall or court measured 100 m long and 29.9 m deep and was located behind the Tabernae Novae (new shops) which faced the Forum Romanum. The Tabernae and the façade of the Basilica Aemilia were both completely destroyed when Rome was attacked by the Visigoths (nomadic tribes of Germanic people) and their King Alaric I in 410 AD. Green stains can still be seen on what remains of the marble floor, caused by the bronze coins which melted in the heat of the fire. The Basilica was rebuilt again but in 847 AD an earthquake caused the structure to collapse.
In 22 AD the Basilica Aemilia was
declared by Pliny as one of the most beautiful buildings in Rome. The Basilica
held both public and legislative significance to the Ancient Roman society
although not a great deal of information is known about the extent of the
building’s impact of the Roman people.
Activities
1. What were the decorative architectural features of the Basilica Aemilia?
2. How was this structure used?
1. What were the decorative architectural features of the Basilica Aemilia?
2. How was this structure used?
Bibliography
Wikipedia, ‘Basilica Aemilia’
Retrieved 29th August 2015, last updated 25th July 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Aemilia
Wikipedia, ‘Basilica’
Retrieved 30th August 2015, last update 8th July 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica
‘Basilica Aemilia’, Roman Empire
Retrieved 21st August 2015
http://www.roman-empire.net/tours/rome/basilica-aemilia.html
‘Basilica Aemilia’, Digital Roman Forum
Retrieved 22nd August 2015
http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Forum/reconstructions/BasilicaFulvia_1
Wikipedia, ‘Basilica Aemilia’
Retrieved 29th August 2015, last updated 25th July 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Aemilia
Wikipedia, ‘Basilica’
Retrieved 30th August 2015, last update 8th July 2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica
‘Basilica Aemilia’, Roman Empire
Retrieved 21st August 2015
http://www.roman-empire.net/tours/rome/basilica-aemilia.html
‘Basilica Aemilia’, Digital Roman Forum
Retrieved 22nd August 2015
http://dlib.etc.ucla.edu/projects/Forum/reconstructions/BasilicaFulvia_1