Fabric [ ]
The atrium is entered through the remains of per veranda, created from the original walkway esatto the palace ramp by the insertion of per blocking wall sicuro the right of the portal which abuts one of the brick arcade piers.
However, from the mid 9th preciso the mid 11th centuries it was verso monastic church per its own right and was roofed. The church dedication then was esatto St Anthony of Egypt. The massive central brick pier which used to support the roof was removed con the 1902 excavation.
Two rectangular statue niches flank the inside of the entrance, and a series of alternately rectangular and apsidal niches occupied the side walls. However those on the left used puro include two exits sicuro panneau-chambers under the palace ramp, but these were blocked up when the church was con use. Sopra contrast, when the atrium was amo le donne Slovacco per monastic church two passages were cut through niches con the right hand wall sicuro allow direct access puro the monastic quarters con the vestibolo next door.
Before becoming per church mediante 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 galleria outside.
Atrium frescoes [ ]
The frescoes con the atrium are of five periods. One fresco 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 esatto 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 verso Donna and Child with Four Saints, being venerated by Pope Adrian. He was depicted with a square halo, indicating that he was still alive when the work was painted. This recente was detached and was kept in the right hand side aisle of the church before the recent restoration -it is liable sicuro stay there, out of the weather. The original location was above verso nuovo substitut of hanging curtains (there is more of this sopra the church). (Pope Adrian.)
- Christ sopra Majesty, with a suppliant. (11th century.)
- Two saints (11th century). They were painted over two insopportabile loculi cut into the wall.
- Monastery passage. This was cut through the wall durante the 10th century, and frescoed with saints on its walls and ceiling. The cycle continued onto the internal wall of the hall beyond, which was the actual monastery at the time. (10th century.)
- A bishop. (Pope Adrian.)
- The far left hand apsidal niche was verso shrine preciso St Cyrus of Alexandria. He was a 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 a Coptic honorific. Durante the recente he holds medical equipment, and has a cavity per the niche sill which was either for per lamp or contained verso venerated relic associated with him. (Pope Paul.)
- Above the shrine: Christ Accompanied by SS Cyrus and John (10th century.)
- Verso depiction of St Anthony of Egypt, with verso Latin text: “Where St Anthony is assaulted by demons” (Webb 2001). Animals and birds were depicted below. (10th century.)