So as you all know, Byzantine empire and Roman empire had a dispute over who was going to rule over christendom. This dispute lasted some hundred years, and the tensions got bigger for each century. After letters were exchanged between the ruler of Byzantine and the advisor of the Papacy, the Great Schism occurred, and now the church was officially divided in two.
Given that the dispute was about authority and power, wouldn't it be fair to conclude that the new St. Peter Basilica was built because of the fall of Byzantium? After the fall of Byzantium, the churches was converted to mosques, Hagia Sophia, the St. Peter's Basilica of Byzantium for instance. Eastern christendom had lost all its power. The fall of Byzantium is marked 1453.
Now, from the Pope's perspective, wouldn't it be a big strategic move to build a grand construction that will show the world where the capital of christendom lies? This is what the Papacy has wanted for so long; complete rule over christendom. The construction started in the year 1506. In my opinion, the construction of the Basilica of St. Peter, really was a power demonstration, and this isn't so far fetched to conclude when you look at how catholic policy was conducted in the upcoming years; striving for complete power, focusing on the materialistic, don't let scientists challenge their beliefs.
So guys, what do you think. Was the Basilica only a demonstration of power? I cant seem to find any sources on this. Makes complete sense to me.
>>2661573
Pagans love obelisks. Ties them all in together.
>>2661573
Fun fact:
The original plan of St Peter Basilica as designed by Michelangelo is closer to Byzantine central plan church or even Ottoman mosque rather than the final cross plan shape that we have now, which was an addition and alteration by Maderno and Bernini
>>2662349
>>2662356
Are these the original plan for St Peter Basilica? Can we get a comparison image?
>>2662356
>getty images
Gross and lazy
>>2662349
>Byzantine central plan church
>Ottoman mosque
Same fucking thing.
>>2663143
>>2663162
Im not gonna pay for a damn image
>>2661573
That's only part of a project of renovatio urbis that started since the papacy came back from avignon.
Now, if you look at Venice, they totally wanted to shout to the world "we are the romans" to the world