Marisa Lazenby

Dr. Barzegar
RELS 2001
15 December 2014
Old St. Peters Basilica and the Apostle Within
St. Peters Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world. Located within the
massively guarded Roman Catholic Vatican City, the church is not only revered by those
a part of the Christian world but others who revel in its grandiose architecture. Also
believed to be one of Catholicisms holiest sites in the world, St. Peters is special in that
it purportedly houses the tomb of its namesake. 1Simon Peter, disciple to Jesus Christ and
leader of the Apostles, was martyred at the hands of Pagan religious zealots who
dominated the 1st century Roman Empire. Although thousands of followers lost their
lives in the brutal rounds of persecution that plagued Christianitys adherents in its early
existence, there is evidence substantiating that even at the time of his death Simon Peter
became one of the most glorified of saints. 23 Excavations of the site have revealed that it
is highly probable that a shrine incorporated within the redesigned church is in fact in
tribute to the saint.4 While it has long been believed that the converted Roman emperor,
Constantine the Great, idolized Saint Peter and coordinated the construction of St. Peters
Basilica, some scholars are now doubtful of his involvement.5

Tronzo, William, St. Peters in the Vatican. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Scaliger, Charles, Rise of Christendom, New American 28, no. 24 (2012): 35..
3 Tronzo, William, St. Peters in the Vatican.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
2

The religious climate of the Roman Empire, leading up to Simon Peters crucifixion,
was tense with the merciless persecution of Christians by Roman pagans. Although there
had been previous instances of persecution, evidenced by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ,
the turning point in the Roman Empire occurred as the fire of 64 A.D. blazed destroying a
portions of the city and with it many Pagan holy artifacts.6 The emperor Nero - in an
attempt to deflect accusations aimed toward him - openly blamed the Christians for the
attack. Despite their former indifference in regards to the social force of Christianity, the
majority of non-Christians began to feel as though Christianity was an imminent threat to
Roman culture and Paganism. It is through the culmination of these events that Nero is
thought to have become the first Roman emperor to openly display his abhorrence of the
Christian faith through major instances of public persecution. 7
Although there is no way to ascertain the date with precision, many believe that
Simon Peter succumbed along with a large fraction of the Christian population following
the Great Fire of 64 in the Roman Empire.8 Only a young boy at the time, the future
Roman senator, Cornelius Tacitus, describes the scene of the martyrdom in the Annals.
He tells of those persecuted covered with the skins of beasts torn by dogs and
perishednailed to crosses doomed to the flames and burnt 9According to scholars,
Saint Peter was crucified upside down, per his request, in Neros circus at the foot of an
obelisk that now towers in front of the basilica erected in his honor. Conferred by Roger

Scaliger, Charles,Rise of Christendom, 35.

Ibid.
8 Miller, Keith. St. Peters (Wonders of the World). Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2007.
9 Nincheri, Boccini. The Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Pentecost. Stained Glass: Quarterly of the Stained Glass
Association of America 105, no. 3 (2010): 198.
7

Nincheri in Tbe Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Pentecost, the Saint is buried within the
necropolis that was only a short distance from Neros Circus. 10
Prior to Constantines legalization and sponsorship of Christianity throughout the
Roman Empire, basilicas were secular buildings used to carry out business or legal
matters. There were various reasons why Christians were drawn to the basilica form to
carry out their worship services, including an urge to disconnect from the polytheistic
temples prominent at the time.11 The basilica structure was more favorable to the function
of congregating during worship versus the Greco-Roman temples structural elements,
adapted for the ritualistic practices of the Pagans. 12 Ironically, though St. Peters is still
recognized as a basilica church, the reconstruction of its architectural elements, carried
out in the Middle Ages, no longer constitute it as a true basilica. 13 The characteristics that
are a part of a traditional basilica church include a wide central nave with flanking aisles
and an apse at the end14. The towering dome that is now attached to St. Peters is the
defining characteristic that would disqualify it as a traditional Christian basilica church. 15
Moreover, the T-shaped transept added was a special feature of this particular church at
the time, as it is said to once have housed Saint Peters relics attracting crowds of
pilgrims. 16
Even so, there has been much debate concerning the authenticity of the relics found at
the commemorative shrine of Saint Peter. In the necropolis below the church, excavators

10

Ibid., 198-199.
Miller, Keith, St. Peters (Wonders of the World). Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2007.
12 Kleiner, Fred S, Gardners Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Massachusetts: Cengage Learning,
2013.
13 Miller, Keith, St. Peters (Wonders of the World).
14 Kleiner, Fred S, Gardners Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective.
15 Miller, Keith, St. Peters (Wonders of the World).
16 Kleiner, Fred S, Gardners Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective.
11

have uncovered what many scholars and believers deem to be the bones of Simon Peter.17
There is no way to tell with certainty who the remains belong to, although the bones were
found wrapped in a purple and gold cloth which is indicative of the remains belonging to
some revered figure.18 Standing directly over the tomb of the saint, the shrine was
revealed in excavations to be under a central location (papal altar) within the church and
cased in bronze. Glen Bowersock in St. Peters in the Vatican, believes that the
positioning of the shrine at the center of the Old St. Peters church was deliberate, and
signifies that even in the second century, followers believed the spot to be the final
resting place of the saint.19
Although there are those who denounce the probability that any other ruler aside from
Constantine orchestrated Old St. Peters fourth century construction, uncertainty stems
from a possible conflict between the date of construction and Constantines defeat of the
lands, which Old St. Peters sat upon.20 Some even believe it to be fairly likely for one of
Constantines successors to be due credit for the construction of the basilica. This
includes Bowersock, as he offers the son of Constantine, Constans, as the successor who
could have possibly overseen the building of the structure. He corroborates this theory by
noting that upon its first demolition, there was a description of brick stamps found in the
apse giving the abbreviation of what he interpreted as Constans.21 Despite valid
arguments, critics of the Constans theory could use the Liber pontificalis, written by a 6th
century author, to refute the claims. The book lists Constantines gifts to Old Saint

17

Miller, Keith, St. Peters (Wonders of the World).

"The Bones of the Fisherman." TIME 5 July 1968. Print.
19 Tronzo, William, St. Peters in the Vatican. New York.
20 Ibid.
21 Ibid.
18

Peters including altars, chandeliers, candlesticks, pitchers, goblets, and plates fashioned
of gold and silver. 22 Although further discussions are necessary to specifically
determine the circumstances surrounding Old St. Peters erection, it cannot be refuted
that Constantine pioneered the Christianization of the Roman Empire aligning the factors
necessary for its construction in honor of the saint - Simon Peter.

22

Kleiner, Fred S, Gardners Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective.

Bibliography
"The Bones of the Fisherman." TIME 5 July 1968. Print.
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardners Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Massachusetts:
Cengage Learning, 2013.
Miller, Keith. St. Peters (Wonders of the World). Massachusetts: Harvard University Press,
2007.
Nincheri, Boccini. The Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Pentecost. Stained Glass: Quarterly of
the Stained Glass Association of America 105, no. 3 (2010): 198-203.
Scaliger, Charles. Rise of Christendom. New American 28, no. 24 (2012): 34-39.
Tronzo, William. St. Peters in the Vatican. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.