Rome, Italy: Basilica of Saint Praxedes: Chapel of San Zeno: Column of the Flagellation
Authors
Sheppard, Beth M.
Issue Date
19-May-17
Type
Image
Language
Keywords
Italy , Rome , Basilica di Santa Prassede all Esquilino , Basilica of Saint Praxedes , Chapels , Chapel of Saint Zeno , Cappella di San Zenone , Colonna della Flagellazione , Column of the Flagellation , Pillar of the Scourging , Flagellation , Reliquary Columns , Martyrdom of Jesus Christ
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
The Basilica of Saint Praxedes (in Italian: Basilica di Santa Prassede, commonly known as Santa Prassede) is a Catholic basilica located in the Rione Esquilino (or district of Esquiline). Esquiline is the name of a Roman hill, one of seven on which the ancient city was built. The church was rebuilt by Pope Pasquale I in 822 CE and was restored multiple times since then. It was built principally as a resting place for the relics of Roman martyrs and was dedicated to the second-century Saint Praxedes, who was the daughter of a Roman senator. Along with her sister, Praxedes provided comfort and care to Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire. The sisters were murdered for burying early Christian martyrs, which defied Roman law. The church is known for being the most important example of early Christian Byzantine art in Rome because of the mosaics decorating its apse and side chapel within the right lateral Chapel of Saint Zeno (Cappella di San Zenone). Pope Paschal built the funerary chapel for his mother, Theodora. The chapel is famous for its mosaic decorations and also this reliquary holding that is believed to be the column upon which Jesus was flogged during his final days, known as the Column of the Flagellation ((Colonna della Flagellazione; Pillar of the Scourging). It is thought that the column was brought to the chapel from Jerusalem in 1223 under Pope Honorius III.
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License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0