Editing Basilica (section)

== Early Empire ==
Beginning with the [[Forum of Caesar]] ({{Langx|la|forum Iulium|links=no}}) at the end of the Roman Republic, the centre of Rome was embellished with a series of [[imperial fora]] typified by a large open space surrounded by a peristyle, honorific statues of the imperial family ({{Langx|la|[[gens]]|label=none}}), and a basilica, often accompanied by other facilities like a [[Roman temple|temple]], [[market halls]] and [[public libraries]].<ref name=":18" /> In the imperial period, statues of the emperors with inscribed dedications were often installed near the basilicas' tribunals, as Vitruvius recommended. Examples of such dedicatory inscriptions are known from basilicas at [[Lucus Feroniae]] and [[Veleia (Italy)|Veleia]] in Italy and at [[Cuicul]] in [[Africa Proconsolaris]], and inscriptions of all kinds were visible in and around basilicas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hurlet |first=Frédéric |date=6 January 2015 |chapter=The Roman Emperor and the Imperial Family |chapter-url=http://oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195336467.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195336467-e-010 |editor-last=Bruun |editor-first=Christer |editor-last2=Edmondson |editor-first2=Jonathan |title=The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy |edition=Online |publisher=Oxford University Press |volume=1 |pages=178–201 |language=en |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195336467.013.010 |isbn=978-0-19-533646-7}}</ref>

At Ephesus the basilica-''stoa'' had two storeys and three aisles and extended the length of the civic ''agora''<nowiki/>'s north side, complete with colossal statues of the emperor Augustus and his imperial family.<ref name=":25" />

The remains of a large subterranean [[Neopythagorean]] basilica dating from the 1st century AD were found near the [[Porta Maggiore]] in Rome in 1917, and is known as the [[Porta Maggiore Basilica]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bagnani|first=Gilbert|date=1919|title=The Subterranean Basilica at Porta Maggiore |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/295990|journal=The Journal of Roman Studies|volume=9|pages=78–85|doi=10.2307/295990 |jstor=295990 |s2cid=163868898 }}</ref>

After its destruction in 60 AD, [[Londinium]] ([[London]]) was endowed with its first forum and basilica under the [[Flavian dynasty]].<ref name=":16">{{Cite book|last=Merrifield|first=Ralph|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39wl2I48e7kC&pg=PA61|title=London, City of the Romans|publisher=University of California Press|year=1983|isbn=978-0-520-04922-2|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles|pages=61–67|language=en}}</ref> The basilica delimited the northern edge of the forum with typical nave, aisles, and a tribunal, but with an atypical semi-basement at the western side.<ref name=":16" /> Unlike in [[Gaul]], basilica-forum complexes in [[Roman Britain]] did not usually include a temple; instead a shrine was usually inside the basilica itself.<ref name=":16" /> At Londinium however, there was probably no temple at all attached to the original basilica, but instead a contemporary temple was constructed nearby.<ref name=":16" /> Later, in 79 AD, an inscription commemorated the completion of the {{Convert|385 x 120|foot|m|abbr=}} basilica at [[Verulamium]] ([[St Albans]]) under the governor [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola]]; by contrast the first basilica at Londinium was only {{Convert|148 x 75|feet|m|abbr=}}.<ref name=":16" /> The smallest known basilica in Britain was built by the [[Silures]] at [[Caerwent]] and measured {{Convert|180 x 100|feet|m|abbr=}}.<ref name=":16" />

When Londinium became a {{lang|la|[[Colonia (Roman)|colonia]]}}, the whole city was re-planned and a new great forum-basilica complex erected, larger than any in Britain.<ref name=":24">{{Cite book|last=Merrifield|first=Ralph|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39wl2I48e7kC&pg=PA63|title=London, City of the Romans|publisher=University of California Press|year=1983|isbn=978-0-520-04922-2|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles|pages=68–72|language=en}}</ref> Londinium's basilica, more than {{Convert|500|feet|m|abbr=}} long, was the largest north of the [[Alps]] and a similar length to the modern [[St Paul's Cathedral]].<ref name=":24" /> Only the later basilica-forum complex at [[Treverorum]] was larger, while at Rome only the {{Convert|525|foot|m|abbr=}} Basilica Ulpia exceeded London's in size.<ref name=":24" /> It probably had arcaded, rather than [[Post and lintel|trabeate]], aisles, and a double row of square offices on the northern side, serving as the administrative centre of the {{lang|la|colonia}}, and its size and splendour probably indicate an imperial decision to change the administrative capital of Britannia to Londinium from [[Camulodunum]] ([[Colchester]]), as all provincial capitals were designated ''coloniae''.<ref name=":24" /> In 300 Londinium's basilica was destroyed as a result of the rebellion led by the ''[[Augustus (title)|Augustus]]'' of the break-away [[Britannic Empire]], [[Carausius]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Ben|title=The Remains of London's Roman Basilica and Forum|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Londons-Roman-Basilica-Forum/|access-date=2020-06-29|website=Historic UK|language=en-GB}}</ref> Remains of the great basilica and its arches were discovered during the construction of [[Leadenhall Market]] in the 1880s.<ref name=":24" />

At [[Corinth]] in the 1st century AD, a new basilica was constructed in on the east side of the forum.<ref name=":25">{{Citation|last=Davis|first=Thomas W.|title=New Testament Archaeology Beyond the Gospels|url=http://oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199369041.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199369041-e-34|work=The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology|pages=45–63|year=2019|editor-last=Caraher|editor-first=William R.|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199369041.013.34|isbn=978-0-19-936904-1|editor2-last=Davis|editor2-first=Thomas W.|editor3-last=Pettegrew|editor3-first=David K.}}</ref> It was possibly inside the basilica that [[Paul the Apostle]], according to the ''[[Acts of the Apostles]]'' ([[Acts 18|''Acts'' 18:12–17]]) was investigated and found innocent by the [[Suffect Consul]] [[Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus]], the brother of [[Seneca the Younger]], after charges were brought against him by members of the local [[Jewish diaspora]].<ref name=":25" /> Modern tradition instead associates the incident with an open-air inscribed ''[[bema]]'' in the forum itself.<ref name=":25" />

The emperor [[Trajan]] constructed his own imperial forum in Rome accompanied by his [[Basilica Ulpia]] dedicated in 112.<ref name=":30" /><ref name=":2" /> [[Trajan's Forum]] ({{Langx|la|forum Traiani|links=no}}) was separated from the [[Temple of Trajan]], the [[Ulpian Library]], and his famous [[Trajan's Column|Column]] depicting the [[Trajan's Dacian Wars|Dacian Wars]] by the Basilica.<ref name=":30">{{Citation|last=Campbell|first=John Brian|title=Trajan|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198706779.001.0001/acref-9780198706779-e-640|work=The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization|year=2014|editor-last=Hornblower|editor-first=Simon|others=Eidinow, Esther (asst ed.)|edition=2nd|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198706779.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-870677-9|editor2-last=Spawforth|editor2-first=Antony}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> It was an especially grand example whose particular symmetrical arrangement with an apse at both ends was repeated in the provinces as a characteristic form.<ref name=":2" /> To improve the quality of the [[Roman concrete]] used in the Basilica Ulpia, volcanic [[scoria]] from the [[Bay of Naples]] and [[Mount Vesuvius]] were imported which, though heavier, was stronger than the [[pumice]] available closer to Rome.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|last=Lancaster|first=Lynne|editor-last=Oleson|editor-first=John Peter|title=Roman Engineering and Construction|url=https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199734856.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199734856-e-11|website=The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World|year=2009|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199734856.001.0001|isbn=9780199734856}}</ref> The Bailica Ulpia is probably an early example of [[Tie rod|tie bars]] to restrain the lateral thrust of the [[barrel vault]] resting on a colonnade; both tie-bars and scoria were used in contemporary work at the [[Baths of Trajan]] and later the Hadrianic domed vault of the [[Pantheon, Rome|Pantheon]].<ref name=":23" />

In early 123, the [[Augusta (title)|''augusta'']] and widow of the emperor Trajan, [[Pompeia Plotina]] died. [[Hadrian]], successor to Trajan, [[Deified Roman emperor|deified]] her and had a basilica constructed in her honour in southern [[Gaul]].<ref>{{Citation|last1=Birley|first1=Anthony R.|title=Hadrian|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198706779.001.0001/acref-9780198706779-e-302|work=The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization|year=2014|editor-last=Hornblower|editor-first=Simon|others=Eidinow, Esther (asst ed.)|edition=2nd|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198706779.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-870677-9|last2=Hornblower|first2=Simon|last3=Spawforth|first3=Antony|editor2-last=Spawforth|editor2-first=Antony}}</ref>

The [[Basilica Hilariana]] (built {{Circa|145–155}}) was designed for the use of the cult of [[Cybele]].<ref name=":2" />

The largest basilica built outside Rome was that built under the [[Antonine dynasty]] on the [[Byrsa]] hill in [[Carthage]].<ref name=":10">{{Citation|last1=Weech|first1=William Nassau|title=Carthage|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198706779.001.0001/acref-9780198706779-e-127|work=The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization|year=2014|editor-last=Hornblower|editor-first=Simon|others=Eidinow, Esther (asst ed.)|edition=2nd|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198706779.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-870677-9|last2=Warmington|first2=Brian Herbert|last3=Wilson|first3=Roger J. A.|editor2-last=Spawforth|editor2-first=Antony}}</ref> The basilica was built together with a forum of enormous size and was contemporary with a great complex of public baths and a new aqueduct system running for {{Convert|82|mile|km|abbr=}}, then the longest in the Roman Empire.<ref name=":10" />

The basilica at [[Leptis Magna]], built by the [[Septimius Severus]] a century later in about 216 is a notable 3rd century AD example of the traditional type, most notable among the works influenced by the Basilica Ulpia.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The basilica at Leptis was built mainly of [[limestone]] [[ashlar]], but the apses at either end were only limestone in the outer sections and built largely of [[rubble masonry]] faced with brick, with a number of decorative panels in ''[[opus reticulatum]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wilson|first=Andrew I.|year=2003|title=Opus reticulatum panels in the Severan Basilica at Lepcis Magna|url=https://www.academia.edu/435555|journal=Quaderni di Archeologia della Libya|volume=18|pages=369–379}}</ref> The basilica stood in a new forum and was accompanied by a programme of Severan works at Leptis including ''thermae'', a new harbour, and a public fountain.<ref name=":18" /> At [[Volubilis]], principal city of [[Mauretania Tingitana]], a basilica modelled on Leptis Magna's was completed during the short reign of [[Macrinus]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rogerson|first=Barnaby|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=89pTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT283|title=In Search of Ancient North Africa: A History in Six Lives|publisher=Haus Publishing|year=2018|isbn=978-1-909961-55-5|location=London|pages=283|language=en}}</ref>

=== Basilicas in the Roman Forum ===
[[File:Defaced bust of Augustus - Ephesus Museum.jpg|thumb|Bust of [[Augustus]] from the basilica-''stoa'' of [[Ephesus]], defaced with a [[Christian cross]]<ref name=":242">{{Citation|last=Kristensen|first=Troels Myrup|title=Statues|url=http://oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199369041.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199369041-e-19|work=The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology|year=2019|pages=332–349|editor-last=Caraher|editor-first=William R.|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199369041.013.19|isbn=978-0-19-936904-1|editor2-last=Davis|editor2-first=Thomas W.|editor3-last=Pettegrew|editor3-first=David K.}}</ref>]]
* Basilica Porcia: first basilica built in Rome (184 BC), erected on the personal initiative and financing of the censor Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Elder) as an official building for the [[tribune of the plebs|tribunes of the plebs]]
* [[Basilica Aemilia]], built by the censor [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul 187 BC)|Aemilius Lepidus]] in 179&nbsp;BC
* [[Basilica Sempronia]], built by the censor [[Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (consul 177 BC)|Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus]] in 169&nbsp;BC
* [[Basilica Opimia]], erected probably by the consul [[Lucius Opimius]] in 121&nbsp;BC, at the same time that he restored the [[temple of Concord]] (Platner, Ashby 1929)
* [[Basilica Julia]], initially dedicated in 46 BC by [[Julius Caesar]] and completed by Augustus 27 BC to AD 14
* [[Basilica Argentaria]], erected under [[Trajan]], emperor from AD 98 to 117
* [[Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine]] (built between AD 308 and 312)