Archaeologists have uncovered a significant early Christian basilica in Aquileia, Italy, shedding new light on the city’s religious and geopolitical role during the Byzantine era. The discovery, made by researchers from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), marks the first large-scale building found in Aquileia after decades of intensive archaeological research.
A Roman Metropolis with Byzantine Ties
Aquileia, now a small town of 3,000 residents located near the Gulf of Trieste, was once a vital Roman city. Founded in 181 BC as a military colony, its strategic position at the terminus of the Amber Road made it a key economic hub of the Roman Empire. Despite its modest present-day appearance, Aquileia’s historical importance continues to captivate archaeologists.
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The newly discovered basilica is a monumental structure with architectural features modeled after the Eastern Roman Empire. “The city was fortified under Emperor Justinian I with a mighty zigzag wall, for which the best comparisons can be found in Thessaloniki. The discovery of the new basilica probably suggests a larger Byzantine building program,” said ÖAW archaeologist Stefan Groh.
The basilica’s design reflects its expansion during the reign of Justinian I in the 6th century. Originally built in the 4th century, it evolved into a three-aisled transept basilica with three apses, symbolizing both religious significance and Byzantine cultural influence.
The architecture of the basilica offers striking similarities to structures found in the Eastern Roman Empire, such as in Egypt, Turkey, and the Balkans. “Transept basilicas with apses can be found in the Eastern Roman Empire from Egypt through the Middle East, such as in Bethlehem, the Lycian coast, in southwestern Turkey and the Balkan region in Durrës, Albania, and now also in the Upper Adriatic,” explained Groh.
The southeast-facing orientation of the basilica, towards Constantinople and Jerusalem, reflects its role not just as a religious building but also as a symbol of the Byzantine reconquest of northern Italy from the Arian Goths.
This research, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and conducted in partnership with the Italian cultural heritage authority, underscores the extensive reach of Byzantine architectural practices. “The extent to which these ancient ‘geopolitical’ building measures even radiated into our region can be seen in the episcopal church of Teurnia in the town of St. Peter in Holz, Carinthia, which was adapted in the 6th century AD with a similar building plan to the new basilica of Aquileia,” noted Groh.
The discovery of this early medieval basilica highlights Aquileia’s enduring role as a crossroads of culture, faith, and power, bridging the Roman and Byzantine worlds.
Archaeologists have uncovered a significant early Christian basilica in Aquileia, Italy, shedding new light on the city’s religious and geopolitical role during the Byzantine era. The discovery, made by researchers from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), marks the first large-scale building found in Aquileia after decades of intensive archaeological research.
A Roman Metropolis with Byzantine Ties
Aquileia, now a small town of 3,000 residents located near the Gulf of Trieste, was once a vital Roman city. Founded in 181 BC as a military colony, its strategic position at the terminus of the Amber Road made it a key economic hub of the Roman Empire. Despite its modest present-day appearance, Aquileia’s historical importance continues to captivate archaeologists.
The newly discovered basilica is a monumental structure with architectural features modeled after the Eastern Roman Empire. “The city was fortified under Emperor Justinian I with a mighty zigzag wall, for which the best comparisons can be found in Thessaloniki. The discovery of the new basilica probably suggests a larger Byzantine building program,” said ÖAW archaeologist Stefan Groh.
The basilica’s design reflects its expansion during the reign of Justinian I in the 6th century. Originally built in the 4th century, it evolved into a three-aisled transept basilica with three apses, symbolizing both religious significance and Byzantine cultural influence.
Parallels with the Eastern Roman Empire
The architecture of the basilica offers striking similarities to structures found in the Eastern Roman Empire, such as in Egypt, Turkey, and the Balkans. “Transept basilicas with apses can be found in the Eastern Roman Empire from Egypt through the Middle East, such as in Bethlehem, the Lycian coast, in southwestern Turkey and the Balkan region in Durrës, Albania, and now also in the Upper Adriatic,” explained Groh.
The southeast-facing orientation of the basilica, towards Constantinople and Jerusalem, reflects its role not just as a religious building but also as a symbol of the Byzantine reconquest of northern Italy from the Arian Goths.
Connecting Regions and Eras
This research, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and conducted in partnership with the Italian cultural heritage authority, underscores the extensive reach of Byzantine architectural practices. “The extent to which these ancient ‘geopolitical’ building measures even radiated into our region can be seen in the episcopal church of Teurnia in the town of St. Peter in Holz, Carinthia, which was adapted in the 6th century AD with a similar building plan to the new basilica of Aquileia,” noted Groh.
The discovery of this early medieval basilica highlights Aquileia’s enduring role as a crossroads of culture, faith, and power, bridging the Roman and Byzantine worlds.
Top Image: Geophysical measurements in the area of the newly discovered church. © ÖAW/ÖAI
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