File:Medieval architecture, its origins and development, with lists of monuments and bibliographies (1909) (14578645570).jpg

Identifier: architectureorigins02port (find matches)
Title: Medieval architecture, its origins and development, with lists of monuments and bibliographies
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Porter, Arthur Kingsley, 1883-1933
Subjects: Architecture, Medieval
Publisher: New York, The Baker and Taylor Company
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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joy the service. The narthex, which was also usedas a judgment hall, and for various secular assemblies, afterthe VI century was commonly employed as a burial-ground.There were two sorts of narthex — the exterior narthex — asat old S. Pietro (111. 35) — which was formed by extending thearcades of the atrium across the facade of the basilica; and theinterior narthex, formed by returning the side aisles acrossthe western end, as at Sta. Agnese, f.l.m. (111. 38). In Egypt 1 After the IX century these gardens came to be very elaborately laid out, and were knownas the paradise or parvis. 2 The most noteworthy atria still extant are as follows: — at Rome, S. Martino ai Monti, Sta.Prassede (both of the IX century), Ss. Quatro Coronati (1111), S. Clemente (110S); at Parenzo,the cathedral (VII century); at Milan, S. Ambrogio; at Capua and Salerno, the cathedrals (IXand XI centuries respectively); and at Feriana (Africa), the basilica. There are in additionmany atria extant in Syria. 64
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III. -tl. — Ambo of S. Clemente, Rome ORIGIN OF THE CHRISTIAN BASILICA the interior narthex enjoyed especial popularity. The galleryabove became the so-called matroneum — probably, in real-ity, not a place set apart for women, as the name would seem toimply, but rather reserved for persons of rank or wealth. Inthe West, however, the narthex was more often external. Hence,when the atrium disappeared, the narthex went with it, exceptin a few cases where it was retained as a sort of portico (111. 52). Otherwise there is little that is remarkable about the exteriorof the Christian basilica. Constructed coarsely of stone or brick,these edifices marked the completion of the transition commencedby the Romans. The exterior was no longer a dominating con-sideration in architectural design; on the interior alone the effortsof the builders were lavished. The external effect, indeed, as arule, was entirely neglected. Occasionally, as the provincialschools developed, a certain amount of exteri

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