The Reception Halls of the Roman Emperors
Axel Boëthius
In his admirable paper ‘Ravennatum Palatium Sacrum’ ( Det Kgl. Danske Videnskabernes Selskab. Archaeologisk-kunsthistoriske Meddelelser 3, 2. Copenhagen, 1941) Dr. Einar Dyggve has revealed to us the type of emperors' reception halls— la basilica ipetrale per ceremonie —in late Roman empire. Analysing in a masterly way famous mosaic S. Apollinare Nuovo showing Theoderic, missorium Theodosius, literary evidence for Magnaura Constantine, and architectural material, such as palace Diocletian Spalato, from fourth, fifth, sixth centuries A.D., he defines highly monumental tripartite complex consisting tribunalium , also be styled atrium or discoperta with triumphal arch at its upper end, then triclinium behind finally most holy innermost absidal room, choir.
The Annual of the British School at Athens