07_23_09_St Peter's Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s is built over the grave sight of St. Peter’s grave and began construction in 319 A.D. Constantine sponsored the construction of the basilica. From the outside of St. Peter’s, which is in Vatican City, is a monstrous and beautiful structure with columns and a dome on top. As you enter the main doors you are suddenly surrounded with gold, statues, tombs, a large arch, a mass of exquisite internal beauty, especially Michelangelo’s sculpture of Mary and Jesus. The land on which St. Peter’s Church sits today is said to be the place of his burial near Nero’s Circus where his crucifixion took place. Many churches around the world are dedicated to Peter, the first known Christian who lived as a pious Jew finding Christ as his Messiah. St. Peter’s is the first basilica built in his honor under Constantine in 319 A.D. Until the 1400’s the church amassed much cachet through art, statues, tombs (of popes, saints, emperors), and gold. After a little more then a thousand years the building began showing signs of collapsing. In 1450 Nicholas V began replacement of the deteriorating church with stone from the Coliseum, however in 1455 the construction stopped due to his death. Upon election of Julius II an entirely new church was called for by the architect Bramante who was the first architect of the High Renaissance. After many changes in design, architect, and ruler the reconstruction landed in the hands of Michelangelo. Later others changed a few parts of the church including Maderno and Bernini. I chose St. Peter’s for not only for its immense size but significance in the church. The idea that Peter was not only crucified but also buried beneath the mass of the church creates a very prestigious place for all Christians. I assume the average Christian Roman praised Peter and his belief in Jesus and dwelled in the importance of the basilica. Those who were polytheistic probably found the church to preposterous and meaningless.
Krystyna Lijek, Survey Art and Architecture, St. John's University