Monuments of the early church . decorated, whichseparated the transept from the nave. These two arches withthe apse formed one complex as seen from the nave; the Apoc-alyptic visions which adorned them are the very triumph ofthe mosaic art. The apse and these neighboring arches con-tributed most essentially to the total effect of the basilica; theyconstituted the only variety which enlivened the monotonouslines of its architecture ; it was at the triumphal arch the hor-izontal lines were first broken, and the gaze which was irre-sistibly drawn to the altar was then first bid to soar. This THE
Monuments of the early church . decorated, whichseparated the transept from the nave. These two arches withthe apse formed one complex as seen from the nave; the Apoc-alyptic visions which adorned them are the very triumph ofthe mosaic art. The apse and these neighboring arches con-tributed most essentially to the total effect of the basilica; theyconstituted the only variety which enlivened the monotonouslines of its architecture ; it was at the triumphal arch the hor-izontal lines were first broken, and the gaze which was irre-sistibly drawn to the altar was then first bid to soar. This THE BASILICA—The rreshyterium 121 complex of arch and apse, with the noble decoration whichadorned it, constituted the crowning glory of the basilica; itdeserves to be compared to the prospect which was enjoyed bythe Greek worshippers, who stood without and gazed beyondthe altar to the pediment of the temple. Having already described the vestibule of the church and theroom of the congregation, it remains only to speak of the room. Fig. 37. — S. Apollinare Nuovo, Kavenua. Sixth centurj-. of the clergy. This part of the church was known by variousnames according as one or another aspect of it was present tothe mind. The name iweshyterium was given it as the place ofthe higher clergy; apsis, exedra, and concha refer to its form;bema refers to the fact that it was raised by several steps abovethe floor of the church; and tribunal (also tribuna), to its like-ness to the platform occupied by the magistrates in the civil 122 ARCHITECTURE basilica. A good deal that belongs to this topic has alreadybeen anticipated incidentally in the course of the precedingparagraphs ; still other subjects which one might expect to findtreated here must be postponed, so far as any detailed descrip-
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