FWIW: it’s a basilica (more of a public building than just a church or cathedral

FWIW: it’s a basilica (more of a public building than just a church or cathedral) which is an evolution of the roman buildings dedicated to court and such.

–“In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica was a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town’s forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name to the architectural form of the basilica.

Originally, a basilica was an ancient Roman public building, where courts were held, as well as serving other official and public functions”–

So this ‘church’ was an evolution of the court building on the roman city forums, and is an example of how the church gradually took over the functions of the state.

The design of this basilica was an attempt to depart from medieval gothic designs that included buttresses (and which took up space). Instead, this was the largest dome every made of brick. And at the time it was a technological marvel.

Now, is this odd convergence of styles aesthetically successful over time as were the gothic? No. But Indian saris, east asian kimono, greco roman togas, English cavalryman’s uniform as the template for all modern suits. Are they?

Reply addressees: @monitoringbias @kevinrcantrell