The promotion of Christianity under Constantine brought with it a rapidly growing Christian population and a need for new places of worship. Christians will look to the model of the imperial basilica for their new churches, but not without modifying them to meet their needs. In turn the new basilicas, beginning with Saint John Lateran, will influence the way the Christians lived and experienced their faith.
Links:
Image of Saint John Lateran as it is today by Livioandronico2013
BACKGROUND
Map of Rome’s Titular Churches
Catacomb church of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls
IMPERIAL BASILICAS
Plan and images of the Basilica Ulpia of Emperor Trajan
Plan and images of Constantine’s Basilica at Trier can be found here, here, and here
SAINT JOHN LATERAN
Plan of Saint John Lateran
Comparison of old and new Saint John Lateran
Isometric reconstruction of Old Saint John Lateran
David Tyler Thayer, “The Lateran Baptistery: Memory, Space, and Baptism” includes many images and diagrams of the Lateran Baptistery.
GENERAL
Bernard Dick has a good article with nice images of Constantine’s churches
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#345 – A History of the Catholic Church – The First Christian Basilica
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