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. He was depicted with per square halo, indicating that he was still alive when the work was painted. This attuale was detached and was kept sopra the right hand side aisle of the church before the recent restoration -it is liable to stay there, out of the weather. The original location was above per recente ersatz of hanging curtains (there is more of this in the church). (Pope Adrian.)
- Christ mediante Majesty, with verso suppliant. (11th century.)
- Two saints (11th century). They were painted over two insopportabile loculi cut into the wall.
- Monastery passage. This was cut through the wall in the 10th century, and frescoed with saints on its walls and ceiling. The cycle continued onto the internal wall of the ingresso beyond, which was the actual monastery at the time. (10th century.)
- A bishop. (Pope Adrian.)
- The far left hand apsidal niche was a shrine preciso St Cyrus of Alexandria. He was a martyred doctor of medicine, venerated with his fellow sufferer John as SS Cyrus and John (see their Roman church of Santa Passera). Beware of his being called “St Abbacyrus” -“Abba” is a Coptic honorific. In the fresco he holds medical equipment, and has verso cavity con the niche sill which was either for verso lamp or contained a venerated relic associated with him. (Pope Paul.)
- Above the shrine: Christ Accompanied by SS Cyrus and John (10th century.)
- Verso depiction of St Anthony of Egypt, with per Latin text: “Where St Anthony is assaulted by demons” (Webb 2001). Animals and birds were depicted below. (10th century.)