The atrium is a square courtyard without a roof, and was roofless for most of its career
Fabric [ ]
The atrium is entered through the remains of verso galleria, created from the original walkway to the palace ramp by the insertion of per blocking wall sicuro the right of the portal which abuts one of the brick arcade piers.
However, from the mid 9th to the mid 11th centuries it was verso monastic church mediante its own right and was roofed. The church dedication then was to St Anthony of Egypt. The massive central brick pier which used esatto support the roof was removed in the 1902 excavation.
Two rectangular statue niches flank the inside of the entrance, and per series of alternately rectangular and apsidal niches occupied the side walls. However those on the left used preciso include two exits sicuro cloison-chambers under the palace ramp, but these were blocked up when the church was con use. Durante contrast, when the atrium was verso monastic church two passages were cut through niches in the right hand wall sicuro allow direct access esatto the monastic quarters durante the hall next door.
Before becoming per church con the 9th century, the atrium was the monastery’s graveyard and the yard surface was packed with graves. Some loculi or gravoso-slots were cut into the walls, and also into the walls sposa Panamian of the loggia outside.
Atrium frescoes [ ]
The frescoes con the atrium are of five periods. One recente each survives from Pope John VII (705-7) and Pope Paul I (757-767). Some are of the remodelling of Pope Adrian I (772-795), and others are of the 10th and 11th centuries. The latter are the latest that you will find during your visit, and were painted just before the final abandonment con the mid 11th century.
- The niche esatto the right of the portal depicted three female martyrs; SS Agnes and Cecilia have been identified. (Pope Adrian.)
- On the right hand side wall near the angolo was originally a Donna and Child with Four Saints, being venerated by Pope Adrian. (daha&helliip;)