Santo Stefano Rotondo

Entrance Santo Stefano Rotondo    Other side

The Santo Stefano Rotondo is one of the earliest examples of a centrally-planned church, in this case a high, large central room with two ring-shaped aisles around it. The round church has a cross-shaped map.

Santo Stefano Rotondo map   Drawing exterior    Aerial picture
1. Core
2. Interior revolution, as high as the cross arm
3. Exterior revolution
4. Cross arms
5. Court

Santo Stefano Rotondo    Top view

“The church was built on pre-existing Roman buildings, part of the Roman barracks of the Castra Peregrina, or Peregrinorum, ie accommodation of provincial troops, and over a Mithraeum dating back to 180 AD that was discovered in the 1973 to 1975 jobs. But above all it must be a round temple was reused, so archaic or otherwise dedicated to a Great Mother, as was, for example Isis. In fact they were also found remains of this temple: a head of Isis right next to the statue of Cautopates in Luni marble, 22 cm. Often the cult of Mithras was joined to the cult of Isis, perhaps because both had a mystery cult. According to the reconstructive hypothesis of some scholars on Macellum Magnum di Neroe, it was similar to the present church of S. Stefano Rotondo al Celio, ie with circular surrounded by columns around the perimeter surmounted by a dome.” Source:  Imperium Romanum

Mithras Petra Genetrix

“The Castra Peregrina was ultimately abandoned and handed over to the Church in the fifth century. A church dedicated to Saint Stephen was then built over the barracks. Excavations in the twentieth century have revealed that there is a a Mithraeu beneath the Santo Stefano, a shrine dedicated to the light god Mithras (often mistaken as the source for Christmas). This is hardly surprising, as the secretive cult of Mithras was very popular among soldiers.” Source Corvinus

According to some scholars, the Castra Peregrina also had the form of a central building with columns and a dome. Excavations under the Santa Stefano include a relief of Mithras, a head of Mithras and a statue of Mithras petra genetrix (Mithras born from a rock).