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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Julius Germanicus, post: 8207825, member: 80783&quot;]The so-called Basilica of Constantine at Trier served as the imperial audience hall for the western emperors residing at Augusta Trevorum during the 4th century. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438953[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The name “Basilica of Constantine” is an anachronism as the building is neither a Basilica in architectural terms, nor has it ever served as a Catholic church.</p><p><br /></p><p>The palace aula is the largest extant hall from antiquity worldwide, even surpassing the Pantheon in Rome. One could for example easily fit the Porta Nigra inside.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438949[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The building, ranked as a World Heritage Site, was commissioned by Constantius Chlorus after his promotion to the Rank of Senior Augustus by Diocletian as his palace aula at his capital Trier in 305 and constructed by his son Constantine I (“the Great”) until 311 AD. Afterwards the construction work came to a halt as Constantine turned his attention to Rome in 312 AD in order to topple Maxentius before moving on to Constantinople from 330 AD onwards. </p><p><br /></p><p>The complex was probably finally completed by Gratian in 379 AD.</p><p><br /></p><p>I constructed a replica in 1:200 scale using 100% Lego:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438943[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>After the original roof collapsed (likely during the invasions by Germanic tribes between 407 and 455 AD and Trier came into Frankish control in 480 AD, the building was used as a fortress during the middle Ages.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is used as a protestant church since 1856, being the oldest building serving as a church in Germany today:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438948[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>After WW II the cassette roof has been restored in it´s original form but the interior was left in unclad brick instead of the original marble.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]1438941[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>After sustaining heavy damage and burning out during an American air raid in 1944 (which resulted in the complete destruction of the interior decoration), the building is now protected as Cultural Property under the Hague Convention. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438939[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Unlike the free-standing building it appears as today, I have pictured the imperial aula with it´s original vestibule and porticos that were part of the palace complex.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438954[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I must admit that I do not have a single coin of the most prolific issuer of Antiquity, Constantinus I., so here is an extremely rare Solidus with armoured bust from Wildwinds:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1438959[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>CONSTANTINVS AVG - Cuirassed bust right wearing laureate, crested helmet / </p><p>VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP - two Victories placing shield inscribed VOT X onto cippus, PR in exergue </p><p>Gold solidus, Rome 315 A.D.</p><p>19 mm / 4.41 g&nbsp; </p><p>RIC -, Cohen 641 (100 Fr.). Depeyrot 18/2 (two specimens)</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your finest, rarest, or most beloved Constantine![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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