Fabric [ ]
The atrium is entered through the remains of verso veranda, created from the original walkway sicuro the palace ramp by the insertion of verso blocking wall to the right of the portal which abuts one of the brick arcade piers.
However, from the mid 9th to the mid 11th centuries it was per monastic church mediante its own right and was roofed. The church dedication then was onesto St Anthony of Egypt. The massive central brick pier which used to support the roof was removed mediante the 1902 excavation.
Two rectangular statue niches flank the inside of the entrance, and verso series of alternately rectangular and apsidal niches occupied the side walls. However those on the left used esatto include two exits sicuro abri-chambers under the palace ramp, but these were blocked up when the church was in use. Per contrast, when the atrium was verso monastic church two passages were cut through niches per the right hand wall onesto allow direct access esatto the monastic quarters con the atrio next door.
Before becoming per church con the 9th century, the atrium was the monastery’s graveyard and the yard surface was packed with graves. Some loculi or pesante-slots were cut into the walls, and also into the walls of the portico outside.
Atrium frescoes [ ]
The frescoes mediante the atrium are of five periods valentime costo. One giovane each survives from Pope John VII (705-7) and Pope Paul I (757-767). Some are of the remodelling of Pope Adrian I (772-795), and others are of the 10th and 11th centuries. The latter are the latest that you will find during your visit, and were painted just before the final abandonment sopra the mid 11th century.
- The niche puro the right of the portal depicted three female martyrs; SS Agnes and Cecilia have been identified. (Pope Adrian.)
- On the right hand side wall near the angolo was originally a Vergine and Child with Four Saints, being venerated by Pope Adrian. He was depicted with verso square halo, indicating that he was still alive when the sistema was painted. This nuovo was detached and was kept mediante the right hand side aisle of the church before the recent restoration -it is liable esatto stay there, out of the weather. The original location was above per fresco substitut of hanging curtains (there is more of this con the church). (Pope Adrian.)
- Christ sopra Majesty, with per suppliant. (11th century.)
- Two saints (11th century). They were painted over two grave loculi cut into the wall.
- Monastery passage. This was cut through the wall in the 10th century, and frescoed with saints on its walls and ceiling. The cycle continued onto the internal wall of the atrio beyond, which was the actual monastery at the time. (10th century.)
- Verso bishop. (Pope Adrian.)
- The far left hand apsidal niche was verso shrine to St Cyrus of Alexandria. He was per martyred doctor of medicine, venerated with his fellow sufferer John as SS Cyrus and John (see their Roman church of Santa Passera). Beware of his being called “St Abbacyrus” -“Abba” is verso Coptic honorific. Mediante the nuovo he holds medical equipment, and has a cavity con the niche sill which was either for per lamp or contained a venerated relic associated with him. (Pope Paul.)
- Above the shrine: Christ Accompanied by SS Cyrus and John (10th century.)
- A depiction of St Anthony of Egypt, with a Latin text: “Where St Anthony is assaulted by demons” (Webb 2001). Animals and birds were depicted below. (10th century.)
