The main purpose which the structure and architectural style of basilicas served was to allow space for public meetings, courts, and town administration. Maxentius, who originally began the building of the basilica, intended it to serve as administrative offices for the city's Prefect; however, when Constantine took over construction, the basilica served as a church.
The basilica, as it was a very large structure, eventually collapsed. It is believed to have collapsed during an earthquake. Although there is some minor construction and restoration which occurs at the site of the monument, the structure itself was never fully restored or repurposed for some other use, and it lies in a ruinous state today.
Basilica Constantini modum architectura Romanorum ostendit.
Modus architectura Romanorum a Basilicā Constantini ostentus est.
By: Ashwin Pillai and Nick Gregovich
Information Sources:
Bunson, Matthew. Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome, Third Edition. New York: Facts On File, 2012. Infobase eBooks. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.<http://ebooks.infobaselearning.com/View.aspx?ISBN=9781438138602&InstID=14862>.
Adkins, Lesley, and Adkins, Roy. Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome, Updated Edition. New York: Facts On File, 2004. Infobase eBooks. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.<http://ebooks.infobaselearning.com/View.aspx?ISBN=9780816074822&InstID=14862>.
"Basilica of Constantine." University of Chicago, 1994. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.
Citation for the artist's rendering of the basilica:
Anthony Minoprio. "A Restoration of the Basilica of Constantine, Rome." Papers of the British School at Rome, Vol. 12 (1932), pp. 1-25. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/40310435>
Credits:
Created with images by KatieThebeau - "Basilica di Massenzio/Basilica of Maxentius" • Dun.can - "Constantine the Great" • isawnyu - "Basilica of Constantine (I)" • Dave Hamster - "The Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius"