The Basilica of Santa Sabina is built on the Aventine, one of the Seven Hills of Rome. A temple to Juno was originally on the hill. The house of Sabina was built on top of this temple, and this is where she started having Christian gatherings. Years later, the basilica was built. It was called a basilica because it is a communal interior space, unlike a temple. The doors show scenes from the bible, including one of the earliest representations of the crucifixion. The columns for the colonnade were taken from the Temple to Juno. They support an arcade and have an original inlaid design above each of them.
The most important part of the interior was the apse, which was differentiated geometrically, by floor height, with windows, a vaulted ceiling, and paintings. The long nave (central space) was designed for the 2 processions that took place during services: the offering, and communion. However, this longitudinal setup caused people to have different sight lines, which created a hierarchy. The most important people sat in the center, with the side aisles being used as overflow space. The people who weren’t baptized had to stay outside in the narthex.
The most important part of the interior was the apse, which was differentiated geometrically, by floor height, with windows, a vaulted ceiling, and paintings. The long nave (central space) was designed for the 2 processions that took place during services: the offering, and communion. However, this longitudinal setup caused people to have different sight lines, which created a hierarchy. The most important people sat in the center, with the side aisles being used as overflow space. The people who weren’t baptized had to stay outside in the narthex.