Whispers of the Past

Pictured above is one of Rome’s most significant and famous monuments. For when a person envisions the city, this church is often one of the first images to appear. However, despite its significant impact on the city, it often trumps that of one that could be considered to have the same level of importance. While this church of Saint Peter’s basilica is the one that is currently still looming over the city, the whispers regarding the significance of the first basilica dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles on this spot can still be heard throughout Rome.

The site upon which this present basilica lies is one that belongs to a complex history. For originally, this was where a circus was constructed in 40 A.D. by the Emperor Caligula, which would later be attributed to his successor Nero. Here, the emperors would hold chariot races that would on the occasion feature the punishment of Christians. It is for this reason and on this site that the Apostle Peter was said to have be martyred sometime between the years of 64-68 A.D. Furthermore, this location was considered by the early Christians as later being the burial place of the saint. References to this fact can be found in several accounts including that of Eusebius when he writes, “Caius reports: ‘I am able to point out the burial monuments of these apostles: if you care to go out to the Vatican field or the road to Ostia, you will find the monuments of the founders of our Church.

”Furthermore, according the Liber Pontificalis, Constantine constructed a grand church dedicated to the first pope both on the site his martyrdom and over his tomb. The first Basilica of St. Peter was 85 by 64 meters and had five aisles separated by twenty-two columns. It was composed in the shape of a Latin cross and is often considered as being the first church to do so. This church was widely considered the greatest in the world and was in utilization up until the reign of Pope Julius II when he decided that reconstruction of the site was without hope and that it should be completely replaced by a newer structure. For over a thousand years, the old Basilica of St. Peter stood proudly on the Vatican hill, but it gave way to the one that now stands in its place.

To conclude, it must be considered whenever a purpose is involved in an act of eavesdropping that there may be more than what is on the surface. Each story and fact comes with a complete history and list of events that led up to it as proved with the chronicle of the site of the Basilica of St. Peter.

Sources:Eusebius of Caesarea, On the Teophania:; Or, Divine Manifestation of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus ChristJan Hendrik Jongkees, Studies on Old St. Peter’sTheodor Mommsen, Liber Pontificalis