them, whether Greek or Roman. Then again, throne of the Cæsars, and when the heathen when the Ostrogoths and the Lombards poured priesthood gave place to the ministers of the over the Alps into Italy they brought no archi- Christian faith, it was found that the Basilicas tectural style along with them. They were ready presented the most convenient form for Christian to accept such edifices as they found in their use. These buildings combined the two features new homes, and hence the style of the Roman of an exchange and a court of justice. They were Christian prevailed not in Italy alone, but it was oblong rectangular buildings, with a semi-circular recess at the end, remote from the entrance. The ory of St. Paul, St. Lawrence, and St. Agnese. | before it. In time also, though when it is uncer These edifices were built in the suburbs; for the central parts of Rome continued to be Pagan, long after the time of Constantine. Little is known of these churches which were built by Constantine; for they soon disappeared, and when Theodosius reached the sceptre, he had to rebuild them. The heathen temples, if adorned externally, satisfied the populace without much internal convenience; but the nature of Christian worship led to the erection of spacious buildings, to accommodate the audiences and those who took part in the various services. The choristers who sung, tain, a cross aisle was carried out beyond the flank walls, and thus the transepts originated. The structure thus became cruciform in shape, and the term "Greek cross" was given to those buildings where the arms were of equal length, while the term "Latin cross" designated those churches where the nave was longer than the transepts, and the apse or choir which extended beyond the crossing formed by the four parts into which the whole was thus divided. Though the Latin cross thus became the type of the Western Church, there were some buildings in which circular and polygonal forms were In consequence of the low state of art, as well | rather patched in a style inconsistent with the as owing to want of funds, the exteriors of the original. early Roman churches were remarkably plain. They were built of brick. At the entrance end was a low portico, which only rose about half the height of the building, thus showing utter ignorance of the real use of a portico. Over the portico three round-headed windows were usually placed, and over them again was a circular window. In the flank walls, windows were opened high up near the eave. The entrances were squareheaded, the common decoration being taken from One of the Basilicas built by Constantine is known to have had a hemispherical vaulted roof; but it was quite common in early Christian struc tures to have open wooden roofs, and this custom has continued from age to age and from land to land, especially in those buildings which affect an adherence to the antique in style. After the reign of Constantine, little was done for some years in church architecture. The greatest product of the times was the Basilica of Theodosius, which remained until 1823, when it was destroyed by vine, Daniel, Lazarus, David, Goliath, Theseus, fire; but it has been rebuilt on the old plan. This LOMBARDIC ARCH. B finest of the edifices of the age was four hundred and twenty feet long by two hundred and twenty, the church having a central nave eighty feet wide with four aisles. The pillars of the Colonnade, which were fine, were taken from other buildings, the walls were resplendent with frescoes, and the doors were of bronze. New dynasties and new varieties of architecture appear in the seventh century in Italy. The Lombards had risen to influence, and they were great builders. In the forms of their churches, as well as in architectural details, they combined many different elements. The Latin Basilica, the Byzantine Cupola, the polygonal and the circular forms were adopted by them. They decked their churches with striking features. Coming from northern regions through Germany, they had Pagan and Christian symbols blended together. Externally they used slender compound piers, which were carried up the fronts of the churches from the ground to the eaves. Small arcades followed the shape of the gable internally, rules and proportions were neglected, the pillar or pier rested on a simple base, and the arch sprung direct from the capital, while the decorative imagery was profuse and heterogeneous. The four beasts of the Apocalypse, the dove, the Paschal Lamb, the fish, the hart, the syrens, serpents, eagles, dragons and other symbols were of common use. The imagery was not confined to the portals, but was carried in bands along the whole front. In time, however, the Scandinavian elements of these symbols disap peared, and the ornamentation became more congruous. Thus in the districts of Italy where the Lombard influence prevailed, such changes were introduced as led in time to the prevalence of the style which has long been known as Lombard or Italian, and which may be seen in the cathedrals and structures of the Peninsula; but the inhabitants of the capital still adhered to the Basilican type. North and west of the Alps, the edifices which were now erected for ecclesiastical uses had the leading features of the Lombard style, inasmuch as the arches were carried from capital to capital, the arch being semi-circular, but the forms of the ground plans usually adhered to the old model. Gradually a style was developed which, by the massiveness of the column, the 'elaboration of ornament on the curves of arches of doors, and of circular windows attained to a deserved celebrity. In Normandy and in England it reached the highest perfection of which the style was capable, and to it the next paper must be devoted. Such was the early condition and its transitional history in "Old Rome." To the eastern part of the 606 LOMBARDIC ARCH. Empire and to the style which prevailed along the Bosphorus and in the East it is necessary now to turn. Constantine was fully aware of the fact that the which any ruler ever attempted, and the capital power of the heathen priesthood over the populace, thus founded survived by a thousand years the and the influence which vested interests in an old glory of the elder Rome; while its final fall was and regularly organized state can always exert, only affected by the appearance of foes far more would prove a formidable obstacle to any scheme powerful than those by whom Italy and Rome had by which he would attempt to undermine or sup- been overthrown. Far different from the expecplant the ancient national faith. Accordingly, tation of Constantine was the result of his scheme, he conceived the idea of founding a new capital for the founding of this Eastern capital contributed. where he would be at liberty to carry out his policy without such opposition as he expected to encounter at Rome. Byzantium, the place which he selected, though a small town, was admirably situated. No doubt he entertained the belief that the consolidation of his power on the Bosphorus would enable him to hold the sway of the East with a firmer grasp, while the influence of the old capital would still uphold the mastery of the Empire in the West. Thus, at a single stroke, one of the greatest measures was accomplished very directly to the downfall of Rome. The sons and nephews of Constantine, by their quarrels respecting the provinces which had been assigned to them, weakened the central power; and the party which recognized Constantinople as the capital gradually became consolidated, and the Empire thus formed, became known as the Eastern, the Greek, the Lower, the Byzantine and the Constantinopolitan Empire. A peculiar variety of architecture was developed. in these regions, which spread eastward, southward |