\paperw4995 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 \fs22 THE BASILICA\par
A building of Greek and Asiatic origin, it became common in Rome and the Roman world from the late
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\b \cf4 \ATXht88 Republican era\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 onward (second century BC). The basilica, used for the dispensation of justice and various civil ceremonies of an official character, generally consisted of a rectangular hall with the interior divide
d into a nave and aisles by \b \cf1 \ATXht3 columns\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , and a semicircular \b \cf1 \ATXht1 apse\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 on one of the short sides. \par