| San Lorenzo in Miranda (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
San Lorenzo in Miranda
San Lorenzo in Miranda
The church of San Lorenzo in Miranda in the Roman Forum is about half way along the Sacra Via. San Lorenzo in Miranda was originally the Temple of Faustina and Antonius, and is one of the best preserved temples in the Forum. It was built around 140 and dedicated to Empress Faustina and then also to her husband Antonius Pius after his death in 161, becoming the Temple of Faustina and Antonius.The temple probably become a church in the 7C, and is thought to be the place where S Lorenzo (St. Lawrence) was sentenced to death during the persecution of Christians by Valerian in 258. Lorenzo is often portrayed as being burnt alive in a gridiron and his death had a profound impact in Rome, and had the opposite effect to that intended by Valerian with many more people turning away from the Roman gods to the Christian faith. The Valerian persecution also resulted in the crucifixion of Sixtus II the bishop and pope of the time.
The front of San Lorenzo in Miranda shows the original pagan dedication DIVO ANTONINO ET / DIVA FAUSTINAE EX S(ENATUS) C(ONSULTO) (to the divine Antoninus and the divine Faustina by decree of the Senate). This is very unusual for a converted temple as usually evidence of pagan origins was destroyed. The columns themselves marks of chains which were at one time used to try to topple them.
The reconstructed flight of stairs up the front of the church allows access to the pronaos and the pillars from which you can get a good view back over the Roman Forum. Entrance to the church proper is from the rear of the building, through the College of Chemists and Pharmacists.
Unfortunately, the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda is often closed, though it is possible to get inside on a Thursday between 10am and noon. Inside is a single nave under a white barrel-vaulted ceiling with 3 side chapels. Above the high altar is the Martyrdom of St Lawrence by Pietro da Cortona, painted 1636-1646. This is framed by an aedicula (small shrine) bordered by four black marble columns.
To the left of the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda, partly obscured by the ruins in the foreground, is the Curia (the senate house where Roman senators met during the Republic). Behind this the dome of the church of S Luca e Martina is just visible. You can also see the Arch of Septimus Severus and the Column of Phocas (a monument dedicated to the Byzantine emperor Phocas 608). The Column of Phocas is in front of the most prominent remaining columns of what was the Temple of Saturn.
The groups of large pillars in the foreground facing away from the Temple of Antonius and Faustana are the remains of the Temple of Castor and Pollux. The open space to the right of these columns is where the Comments and Reviews. Please login or register and you can also add your own reviews and panoramic pictures as well!