St Peter Basilica Research Paper

In precisely which year St Peter's basilica was begun is not known. Since it relied on the financial support of the empire, its progress depended on who was in charge at the time. By Constantine's death, the structure of the old basilica was laid out. It was originally laid out on top of the tomb of St. Peter and it is because of this that men claim it has divine dispensation. However, many years after it was originally built, plans to rebuild it were being made. Pope Julius II said-when he commissioned the rebuilding of the St.Peters basilica- he wanted it to be the most magnificent, Biggest church in all of Christendom. This basilica has very significant religious meaning to the people who know it. Beginning with the old basilica; Charlemagne was …show more content…
Peter who is considered to be the first pope. Furthermore, there are well over one hundred tombs located in this basilica which include 91 popes, the Holy Roman emperor Otto II, and Swedish Queen Christina, who abdicated the throne to convert to Catholicism. Meaning that this church is considered one of the very sacred in history and only the most important religious figures have the privilege of being buried here. The basilica also holds some very prestigious artifacts such as Michelangelo's Pieta, as well as the "Holy Door" which is known as such because it is only opened in jubilee years for special occasions and people who pass through it receive a plenary indulgence. Back in this day, plans, elevations and sections, strictly orthogonal, highly detailed and often rendered with shadows were the new norm. There was a resurgence of Greek architecture that focused on finding the ideal perfection in every structure. Bramante (the first architect) wanted the church to be laid out in a very specific way; in the shape of a cross confined within a square. There is a dome over the center of it with smaller domes surrounding it. However, his design did not

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