SECRETS AND MISTERY IN ROME. ATERNATIVE ITINEARIES - PART 1
THE BASILICA OF ST. CLEMENTE
One of the very oldest in Rome, it was built towards the end of the 4th century AD and was dedicated to St. Clement, the third Pope after St. Peter.... The interior ratains a medieval aspect, with 2 aisles and a central nave, terminating in three apses, ancient columns with ionic capitals and a Cosmateque pavement. In the central apse a marvellous mosaic is preserved, depicting the crucified Christ between the Virgin and St John the Evangelist.
From the sacristy there is the access to the lower palaeo-Christian basilica, built at the end of the 4th century AD.
In the subsoil it is possible to approach mithraeum, built over the remains of 2nd-century houses and composed by 3 rooms. The first 2act as a vestibule and a Mithraic school. From the vestibule can be seen the room for worship properly so called, where the mystical banquet for those initiated into the cult of Mithras was served.
In the centre there is a marble altar decorated on all four sides with reliefs depicting the god Mithras slaying a bull, two torchbearers, cautes and Catopates, symbolizing sunrise and sunset, and a serpent. The third one is the mithraeum itself in the shape of a cavern, the typical place of the Mithraic religion, with Mithras sacrificing the bull.
THE BASILICA OF ST. CLEMENTE
One of the very oldest in Rome, it was built towards the end of the 4th century AD and was dedicated to St. Clement, the third Pope after St. Peter.... The interior ratains a medieval aspect, with 2 aisles and a central nave, terminating in three apses, ancient columns with ionic capitals and a Cosmateque pavement. In the central apse a marvellous mosaic is preserved, depicting the crucified Christ between the Virgin and St John the Evangelist.
From the sacristy there is the access to the lower palaeo-Christian basilica, built at the end of the 4th century AD.
In the subsoil it is possible to approach mithraeum, built over the remains of 2nd-century houses and composed by 3 rooms. The first 2act as a vestibule and a Mithraic school. From the vestibule can be seen the room for worship properly so called, where the mystical banquet for those initiated into the cult of Mithras was served.
In the centre there is a marble altar decorated on all four sides with reliefs depicting the god Mithras slaying a bull, two torchbearers, cautes and Catopates, symbolizing sunrise and sunset, and a serpent. The third one is the mithraeum itself in the shape of a cavern, the typical place of the Mithraic religion, with Mithras sacrificing the bull.
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento