The Domitianic building, c.90-96 C.E.
Santa Maria Antiqua and its adjacent structures belong to an assemblage of imperial buildings constructed during the reign of the Emperor Domitian (r.81-96) between 90 and 96 C.E., as revealed by stamped bricks recovered during excavation (Kalas 2018, 190).
Situated at the base of the northwest corner of the Palatine Hill, this complex connected the Roman Forum to the Domus Tiberiana—one among many large imperial residences erected atop the Palatine—by a vaulted ramp (no. 6 on the ground plan below).
South-oriented ground plan of Santa Maria Antiqua and adjacent structures, including the (1) quadriporticus with impluvium, later the church’s nave; (2) entrance to the tablinum, which became the church’s sanctuary; (3) tablinum/sanctuary with apse cut in the late sixth century; (4) Chapel of Theodotus; (5) Chapel of the Physician Saints; (6) vaulted ramp to the Palatine; (7) “Temple of Augustus”; (8) Oratory of the Forty Martyrs; (9) atrium. Wikimedia Commons image by Afernand74 licensed under CC BY 3.0
In the first and second centuries C.E., a visitor approaching the edifice from the Forum would have encountered familiar architectural elements reminiscent of the traditional Roman house. The visitor would have first entered the complex’s atrium or forecourt (9) before proceeding to the quadriporticus (1), an enclosed courtyard lined with porticoes, featuring an impluvium in the center of the court for gathering rainwater. The quadriporticus terminated in an elevated tablinum (3), a main interior chamber where, in the context of a domestic setting, a homeowner would receive guests and clients. This chamber was flanked by two side rooms (4, 5).
It is believed that these domestic components, as well as the adjacent ramp, facilitated ceremony that promoted the public image of the emperor: the ramp permitted the emperor to ceremonially process from his luxurious abode atop the Palatine to make appearances on the Forum, and the atrium, quadriporticus and tablinum furnished the image of the emperor as Princeps civitatis or first citizen, enabling Domitian to “[signal] that he operated as an exalted householder addressing the needs of the public” (Kalas 2018, 190).
A silver denarius of Domitian minted in Rome in 92-93 C.E. Photograph by Philippa Walton. Wikimedia Commons image made available by the UK Portable Antiquities Scheme. Licensed under CC BY 2.0
Works cited
Kalas, Gregor. “Acquiring the Antique in Byzantine Rome: The Economics of Architectural Reuse at Santa Maria Antiqua” in eds. Diana Y. Ng and Molly Sweetnam-Burland, Reuse and Renovation in Roman Material Culture: Functions, Aesthetics, Interpretations.Cambridge University Press, 2018, pp. 186-207.
Webb, Matilda. The Churches and Catacombs of early Christian Rome: a comprehensive guide. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2001, pp. 112-122.
The full bibliography for this site can be read here.
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