San Clemente
It was erected during the IV century. In the
inferior basilica there are some frescos
which refer to the life of the saint.
San Clemente is one of the most intriguing of
all Rome's buildings, a twelfth-century
basilica built on top of a fourth century one ,
built into the first floor of an ancient palazzo,
The twelfth-century church is a smaller version of
the older church below it, which was burnt
down when the Normans sacked Rome in 1084, The
schola cantorum, a walled marble choir,
survived, and was moved upstairs to the new
church, where it still stands, However, the most
striking feature is a vivid medieval mosaic
in the apse, showing the vine of life spiraling
around delightful pastoral scenes. Peasants tending
their flocks and crops are interspersed with
saints and prophets, and the whole
mosaic centers Also worth seeing is the
chapel of Saint Catherine, with frescoes
by Masolino, now partially uncovered after lengthy
restoration work.
the
layout of which is obscured by a series of walls
built to support the church above.
Some
faded frescoes illustrate episodes from Saint
Clement's miracle-packed life.
Some
of them are difficult to interpret. Mithraism was a
complex, mystical religion of Persian origin.
It
had several parallel's with Christianity (Mithras
himself was born on 25th December).
Three
rooms have been excavated: the anteroom, with
benchesanda stucco ceiling; the sanctuary, with an
altar depicting Mithras killing a bull; and a school
room, which may have been used for initiation
ceremonies,
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