Monuments of the early church . wm& ii Fig. 56. — Altar with fenestella confessionis, in S. Alessandro, Rome. Fifth century. exhibit substantially the early scheme. The opening into theconfessio was closed by a grating of stone or metal — t\\Q fenes-tella confessionis — which allowed the worshippers a glimpseof the tomb. It is evident that this arrangement required nochange in the table form of the altar. In the case, however,that the presbyterium was not raised above the level of thechurch, the fenestella had sometimes to be inserted betweenthe legs of the altar, as in S. Alessandro at Rome (
Monuments of the early church . wm& ii Fig. 56. — Altar with fenestella confessionis, in S. Alessandro, Rome. Fifth century. exhibit substantially the early scheme. The opening into theconfessio was closed by a grating of stone or metal — t\\Q fenes-tella confessionis — which allowed the worshippers a glimpseof the tomb. It is evident that this arrangement required nochange in the table form of the altar. In the case, however,that the presbyterium was not raised above the level of thechurch, the fenestella had sometimes to be inserted betweenthe legs of the altar, as in S. Alessandro at Rome (Fig. 5Q).This example furnishes an excellent illustration of a typicalfenestella of an early and Classical pattern. The fenestellawas provided with an orifice large enough to admit an arm; FURNITURE—Tlie Altar 163 small objects, particularly handkerchiefs, introduced here andbrought in contact with the sacred tomb acquired the charac-ter of relics (branclea, ixdliola). Any mention of the exporta-tion of relics durin
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectchristi, bookyear1901
