Basilica

A basilica, bazilika in Turkish, is a rectangular building type of Roman origin, divided lengthwise into aisles. In Rome this hall served public uses such as courts, assemblies and trade, and in the early Christian period it became the standard plan for churches. For a wider view of that shift through architectural history, see our article on art and architecture.

Plan and parts

• Nave: the tallest and widest space, running along the main axis.
• Side aisles: lower spaces on either side, separated from the nave by rows of columns or piers.
• Apse: the semicircular, semi-domed space at the end of the nave.
• Narthex and atrium: the transverse entrance hall and the colonnaded court in front of it.
• Galleries: in some basilicas, an upper floor above the side aisles.

Section and load path

The defining feature of a basilica is its section. The nave rises higher than the aisles, and a row of clerestory windows in that difference in height lights the interior from above. Early basilicas were usually roofed in timber; the walls above the colonnades pass the load to the columns and then to the foundations. Because a timber roof produces no horizontal thrust, the supports could stay relatively slender. Where masonry vaults were used, the side aisles acted as a buttress for the thrust of the nave.

The basilica in surveys and restoration

Many basilicas in Anatolia survive only at foundation level or as partial walls. Column bases, spolia and apse foundations are the main evidence for restituting the plan. To complete walls of unknown height, comparison with similar buildings and alternative versions tested in a 3D model are used.