If there is anything I have learned so far, it is that every era of art is influenced by those that precede it at least a little bit. In the case of early Christian architecture, Roman architectural influence is especially prevalent. After decades of persecution in Roman society for their religion, Christianity was finally accepted and made the official religion of Rome. In contrast to the underground catacombs that they were reduced to inhabiting prior to Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, Christians could finally practice their faith in public and as such churches were erected for that purpose. Christian churches were typically either rectangular based basilicas or circular or squared structures (Stockstad 166).
One common layout characteristic of early Christian architecture is the longitudinal plan church as seen in what was Old St. Peter’s Basilica as well as the Basilica of Santa Bina, both churches being built in Rome where Christianity flourished thanks to Emperor Constantine. Below is an artist’s representation of Old St. Peter’s Church. The basilica was actually erected over where Christians believe St. Peter to have been buried in Rome. The focal point of the church is its apse in the rear of the structure. The apse was a sort of semicircle protrusion from the transept which intersected the nave. From the inside, the nave’s aisle would be lined with columns that centralize and bring focus to the apse from wherever one might be standing inside the congregational area.
The longitudinal plan characteristic of Christian Churches was also aptly named the Latin Cross layout because of the transept’s ninety-degree intersection with the nave forming a sort of cross figure especially in aerial views. The graphic below is particularly helpful to identifying the various architectural aspects that became canon in early Christian architecture.
The architecture of the early Christians are very reminiscent of the Roman basilicas that preceded them. Below is the floor plan for the Basilica Ulpia that seems to have greatly influenced the construction of longitudinal plan churches especially. 