Fabric [ ]
The atrium is entered through the remains of a terrazzo, created from the original walkway puro the palace ramp by the insertion of a blocking wall puro the right of the portal which abuts one of the brick arcade piers.
However, from the mid 9th to the mid 11th centuries it was per monastic church durante its own right and was roofed. The church dedication then was esatto St Anthony of Egypt. The massive central brick pier which used preciso support the roof was removed per the 1902 excavation.
Two rectangular statue niches flank the inside Crediti CuteAsianWoman of the entrance, and verso series of alternately rectangular and apsidal niches occupied the side walls. However those on the left used esatto include two exits esatto cloison-chambers under the palace ramp, but these were blocked up when the church was sopra use. Per contrast, when the atrium was a monastic church two passages were cut through niches con the right hand wall puro allow direct access preciso the monastic quarters mediante the vestibolo next door.
Before becoming a church mediante the 9th century, the atrium was the monastery’s graveyard and the yard surface was packed with graves. Some loculi or noioso-slots were cut into the walls, and also into the walls of the veranda outside.
Atrium frescoes [ ]
The frescoes durante the atrium are of five periods. One nuovo each survives from Pope John VII (705-7) and Pope Paul I (757-767). Some are of the remodelling of Pope Adrian I (772-795), and others are of the 10th and 11th centuries. The latter are the latest that you will find during your visit, and were painted just before the final abandonment durante the mid 11th century.
- The niche onesto the right of the portal depicted three female martyrs; SS Agnes and Cecilia have been identified. (Pope Adrian.)
- On the right hand side wall near the angolo was originally a Madonna and Child with Four Saints, being venerated by Pope Adrian. He was depicted with a square halo, indicating that he was still alive when the rete di emittenti was painted. This fresco was detached and was kept durante the right hand side aisle of the church before the recent restoration -it is liable preciso stay there, out of the weather. The original location was above verso nuovo simili of hanging curtains (there is more of this sopra the church). (Pope Adrian.)
- Christ sopra Majesty, with per suppliant. (11th century.)
- Two saints (11th century). They were painted over two insopportabile loculi cut into the wall.
- Monastery passage. This was cut through the wall sopra the 10th century, and frescoed with saints on its walls and ceiling. The cycle continued onto the internal wall of the vestibolo beyond, which was the actual monastery at the time. (10th century.)
- Verso bishop. (Pope Adrian.)
- The far left hand apsidal niche was per shrine sicuro St Cyrus of Alexandria. He was verso martyred doctor of medicine, venerated with his fellow sufferer John as SS Cyrus and John (see their Roman church of Santa Passera). Beware of his being called “St Abbacyrus” -“Abba” is a Coptic honorific. Con the attuale he holds medical equipment, and has per cavity per the niche sill which was either for per lamp or contained per venerated relic associated with him. (Pope Paul.)
- Above the shrine: Christ Accompanied by SS Cyrus and John (10th century.)
- A depiction of St Anthony of Egypt, with verso Latin text: “Where St Anthony is assaulted by demons” (Webb 2001). Animals and birds were depicted below. (10th century.)