62 A RECENT VISIT TO THE DALMATIAN COAST. 
present afforded by the structural peculiarities of the classical 
basilicas, and the very marked influence which these have had 
upon the form and arrangement of Christian churches. 
The earliest known basilicas of Rome do not date back to a 
later period than 150 to 200 years B.c. They were buildings 
which were originally used for very much the same purposes as 
our Merchants’ Exchanges, and as the convenience of their form 
became more recognised they were used also, with some modifica- 
tions, as courts of law. In plan they generally consisted of large 
rectangular halls, with one, or in some cases, two rows of columns 
on each side of the central area. These columns were returned 
at either end, thus cutting off at one extremity a vestibule or 
narthex, and at the other a tribunal forming a kind of transept. 
Above the aisles so formed was often a second row of columns 
supporting the roof, and forming at the same time a gallery for 
the general public. The building was lighted with windows in the 
side walls and at the back of the galleries, by a clerestory in fact. 
The end wall was generally in the form of an apse, and in the 
centre of the curve of the apse stood the pretor’s curule chair, 
whilst in the centre of the chord of the apse stood an altar upon 
which the judges took an oath to administer true justice. 
These halls furnished to the early Christian communities exactly 
what was wanted for their religious assemblies, and we conse- 
quently find their churches built on this pattern, and it will be 
evident to all of you that the classical basilica has determined the 
general form of the Christian church in all ages. “ The 
capacious nave accommodated the ordinary congregation, the 
galleries or aisles the females, and the more dignified worshippers ; 
while the raised tribunal formed the dema or sanctuary, separated 
by lattice-work from the less sacred portion below, the bishop and 
his clergy occupying the semi-circular apsis. The przetor’s curule 
chair became the episcopal throne, the curved bench of his 
assessors the seat for the presbyters of the church. The inferior 
clergy, readers and singers took the place of the advocates below 
the tribunal ; while on the site of the heathen altar rose the holy 
table of the Eucharistic Feast.”—Canon Venables. 
