Literary record of silver images, possibly statues, of Christ and the Apostles, and of Christ and four angels. Rome, 'Fastigium' of Lateran Basilica. 314-335
... fastidium argenteum battutilem, qui habet in fronte Saluatorem sedentem in sella, in pedibus V, pens. lib. CXX, et XII apostolos qui pens. sing. in quinos pedibus libras nonagenas, cum coronas argento purissimo ; 10 item a tergo respiciens in absida, Saluatorem sedentem in throno, in pedibus V, ex argento purissimo, pens. lib. CXL, et angelos IIII ex argento ...
PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
City:
Roma
Province:
Roma
Region:
Rome (including Ostia and Portus)
Details:
According to our source set up in 'Basilica Constantiniana' (today Lateran Basilica)
Current Location:
Lost
OBJECT
Object:
Statue, group
Material:
Silver
Re-Use?
No
Form:
Height(cm):
ca 148
Width(cm):
Depth(cm):
Language:
Text Type:
SUBJECT
Honorand:
Christ, twelve Apostles and four angels
Position:
Deities, Personifications and Heroes
Gender:
Male
Awarder:
Constantine I
Position:
Emperors
DATE
Earliest:
314
Latest :
335
MAIN REFERENCE
Mommsen, Th. (ed.), Gestorum Pontificum Romanorum Vol. I. Libri Pontificalis pars prior (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, inde ab anno Christi quingentesimo usque ad annum millesimum et quingentesimum), Berlin 1894, p. 52-3
Duchesne, Abbé L. (ed.), Le Liber Pontificalis. Texte, Introduction et Commentaire. Tome I, Paris 1981 (reprint), p. 172, 36 IX
TEXT
Text:
Liber Pontificalis XXXIIII. SILVESTER (314-335): 9. Huius temporibus fecit Constantinus Augustus basilicas istas quas et ornauit: Basilicam Constantinianam, ubi posuit ista dona: fastidium argenteum battutilem, qui habet in fronte Saluatorem sedentem in sella, in pedibus V, pens. lib. CXX, et XII apostolos qui pens. sing. in quinos pedibus libras nonagenas, cum coronas argento purissimo ; 10. item a tergo respiciens in absida, Saluatorem sedentem in throno, in pedibus V, ex argento purissimo, pens. lib. CXL, et angelos IIII ex argento, qui pens. sing. in pedibus V lib. CV, cum gemmis alabandenis in oculos, tenentes astas ; fastidium ipsum pens. lib. ĪĪ XXV, ex argento dolaticio.
Trans:
Liber Pontificalis XXXIIII. SILVESTER (314-335): 9 At this time Constantine built and decorated the following basilicas: The basilica Constantiniana, to which he donated the following offerings: A silver pediment (fastigium) of hammered plates; at its front it has our Saviour sitting on a stool, five feet high, with a weight of 120 pound; and the twelve Apostles, each five feet high and with a weight of 90 pounds, with crowns of purest silver. 10. Likewise at the back side facing the apse, it has our Saviour sitting on a throne, five feet high, from purest silver, with a weight of 140 pound, and four silver angels, each of them five feet high and with a weight of 105 pound; they have gems from Alabanda in their eyes and are holding staffs. The pediment itself has a weight of 2025 pounds and is made of refined silver.
