The Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls is one of the four major papal basilicas of Rome, standing on the road to Ostia, outside the old city walls. Tradition holds that it was built over the burial place of the apostle Paul, and the first church on the site was erected by the Emperor Constantine. In the late fourth century, three emperors began to replace it with a far larger basilica, which was consecrated some years later and remained for centuries one of the grandest churches in Christendom. A disastrous fire in 1823 destroyed most of it, and it was rebuilt in the nineteenth century as a faithful reconstruction of the early Christian design. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with other properties of the Holy See in Rome.
Before and after
- 9 August 378 CEThe Goths destroy a Roman army at Adrianople
- 27 February 380 CEChristianity becomes the state religion of Rome
- 381 CEFirst Council of Constantinople
- 386 CEOrigins of Sümela Monastery
- 386 CEConstruction of Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls
- from 386 CE to 535 CENorthern Wei
- from 5 September 394 CE to 6 September 394 CEBattle of the Frigidus
- 17 January 395 CEThe Roman Empire is permanently divided
- 399 CEThe monk Faxian sets out for India
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- 600 BCEFounding of Milan
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 4th century.