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 SAINT PETER

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SAINT PETER

out the centuries, and in the present Chiu-ch of St. Peter is marked by an altar. Directly past the circus of Nero ran the Via Cornelia which, like all Roman highways, was bordered with sepulchral monuments. In Christian times a small city of churches and hos- pices gradualh- arose here, but without this part of Rome being included in the city limits. When in the year 847 the Saracens pillaged the Basihca of St. Peter and all the sanctuaries and estabhshments there, Leo IV decided to surround the extensive sub- urb with a wall, interrupted at intervals by exceed- ingly strong and well-fortified towers. Two of these towers, as well as a fragment of the wall, are still pre- served in the Vatican gardens and afford an interest- ing picture of the manner of fortification. Owing to this circumvallation by Pope Leo the Vatican portion of the city received the name Civitas Leonina, which it has preserved to the present day (Leonine City). The Vatican Hill rises in close proximity to the river Tiber. Between it, the river, and the mausoleum of Hadrian (Castle of Sant' Angelo) lies a small plain which was not filled with houses until the early Mid- dle Ages. The Vatican territory did not assume a

part of the basiUca. Its rebuilding during the Early Renaissance is to be regretted, for the plan of the new church became the plaything of artistic humours. It is due to Michelangelo, who saved all that was pos- sible of Bramante's original plan, that something aesthetically satisfactory was created.

History of the Buildixg. — Owing to the neglect of the churches at Rome during the papal residence at Avignon, by the fifteenth century the decay of Saint Peter's had progressed to an alarming extent. Nicholas V, an enthusiastic Humanist, therefore con- ceived the plan of levelhng the old church and erect- ing a new structure in its place. Bernardo Rossel- hni of Florence was intrusted with the undertaking and in accordance with his plans the new basilica was to completely surround the choir and transept of the old, and to have the ground plan of a Latin cross with an elongated nave. But with the exception of the tribune begun in 1450 and the foundations of the wall surrounding the transept nothinf^ further was built, as the pope died in

Michelangelo Ground-Plans of St. Peter's

thoroughly urban character until the end of the fif- teenth century.

Basilica of Constantine. — The simple sanctuary of the Prince of the Apostles gave place under Con- stantine the Great to a magnificent basilica, begun in the year 323 but not completed until after his death. The southern side of the ancient basilica was erected upon the northern side of the circus, which in the Middle Ages bore the name Palatium Neronis. It was built in the form of a cross and divided into five naves by four rows of twenty-two columns each. Vast treasures were collected in the course of cen- turies in this principal sanctuary of Western Christen- dom: precious mosaic decoration internally and ex- ternally, offerings of great value surrounding the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, magnificent vest- ments in the wardrobes of the sacristy, richly deco- rated entablature, and bright but harmoniously col- oured pavements, paintings, and whatever else the love and veneration of high and low could conceive in the way of adornment. Connecting the basilica with the Porta di S. Pietro at the Castle of Sant' Angelo was a covered colonnade, through which innumerable pilgrims passed. Provision was made in the Vatican territfjry for tlifir shelter, and the nfcfssity soon arose of building a palace near thf basilica in which the pope cfjuld live and receive visitors when sojourning at St. Peter's. Churches and monasteries, cemeteries and hospices arose in great numbers around the tomb of the "fisher of men".

^ Twelve centuries elapsed between the building of St. Peter's and the first demolition of an important

1455. Julius II, adopting the idea of reconstructing the basilica, instituted a competition in which Bra- mante, as is related, gained the prize. His unlimited enthusiasm for the mighty conception of the im- petuous pope is attested by his numerous plans and drawings, which are still preserved in the Uflfizi Galler}', Florence. Bramante wished to pile the Pantheon upon the Constant inian basilica, so that a mighty dome would rise upon a building in the form of a Greek cross. In the spring of the year 1506 Julius, in the presence of thirty-five cardinals, laid the founda- tions of this imposing structure, which posterity has spoiled and changed for the worse in an inexcusable manner. Bramante died in 1514. Giuliano da San- gallo and Fra Giacondo da Verona, who together with Raphael continued his work, died in 1516 and 1515 respectively. Raphael, yielding to all manner of in- fluences, undertook changes but did not promote the building to any considerable extent. After his death in 1520 a sharp conflict arose whether the church should remain in the form of a Greek cross, or the nave be extended so as to form a Latin cross.

Antonio da Sangallo, who wius appointed architect in 1518. and Bahlassari Peruzzi, appointed in 1520, were without fixed plans and attempted all manner of experiments, of which Michelangelo, when he re- ceived control in 154S, made an end so far as this wa« still ])ossil)le. Bramante's plan seemed to him so excellent that he built in accordance with it. By 8trength<ning the central piers he made it possible for them to bear a dome. He did not live to see the com- pletion of his artistic conception, since only the drum