founded on the site of S. Clement's house, it is supposed, in the time
of Constantine. S. Jerome says: "The church built to S. Clement keeps
the memory of his name to this day." So that it must have been erected
before A.D. 400.
An inscription found in the excavations, bearing the name of Pope
Nicholas II., shows that this basilica was perfect in 1061, when
Nicholas died, so that it could not have been destroyed, as some
think, by the earthquake of 896; but it was ruined in 1084, when
Robert Guiscard burned all the public buildings from the Lateran to
the Capitol, when he came to the rescue of Pope Gregory VII.
The ruin seems to have been purposely filled in by the builders of the
upper church, and all the fittings possible removed into the latter,
which, from the nature of its walls, was evidently constructed in
haste, and before 1099, as Paschal II. was elected pope there on
August 13th of that year. The lower church was discovered in 1857,
when Father Mullooly was making some repairs in the church above. It
consists of a nave and two aisles, formed by a line of ancient columns
of various marbles: the space between each column has been built up to
support the foundations of the church above.
In descending, the walls are covered with ancient fragments, and a
small statue of the Good Pastor, found in making the excavations; as
also the two sarcophagi and other fragments in the portico of the
ancient basilica. At the entrance, on the left hand, is a painting of
an ancient female figure, and a male head on the opposite wall; a
little further, on the left, Christ surrounded with Saints, giving his
benediction in the Greek manner; opposite, the Miracle at the Tomb of
S. Clement at Cherson.[15]
THE ANGEL IS PREPARING THAT TOMB SUBMERGED IN THE SEA.
BEHOLD UNHURT HE LIES WHOM HIS RETURNING MOTHER SEEKS AGAIN.
IN THE NAME OF THE
Portrait of S. Clement. LORD, I, BENO DE RAPIZA,[16]
FOR THE LOVE OF BLESSED
SEEKING ME IN PRAYER, CLEMENT AND THE
BEWARE OF HURTFUL THINGS. SALVATION OF MY SOUL,
HAD IT PAINTED.
Further along, translation of the relics of S. Clement from the
Vatican to this basilica:--
FOR ALL AGES: MAY THE PEACE
OF THE LORD BE EVER WITH YOU.
--HITHER FROM THE VATICAN IS BORNE (NICHOLAS BEING POPE) WITH
DIVINE HYMNS WHAT WITH AROMATICS HE BURIED.
--I, MARIA MACELLARIA, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND REDEMPTION OF MY
SOUL, HAD IT PAINTED.
_Right, north aisle_, right hand wall, painting of S. Catherine;
further on, in a niche, Virgin and Child, with two females, SS.
Catherine and Euphemia; below, Abraham and Isaac; at the top, Head of
our Lord; beyond, a Council; the next, above the steps of the tribune,
Christ in the act of giving the Benediction; just beyond, an
inscription:--
WHOEVER READS THESE LETTERS OF MY NAME, LET HIM SAY, GOD HAVE
MERCY ON UNWORTHY JOHN.
Passing into the _nave_, in the right-hand corner, is a fresco of our
Saviour releasing Adam from Limbo. On the left wall, looking towards
the modern altar (erected beneath the one in the church above, under
which are placed the remains of S. Ignatius and S. Clement. Behind
this a door leads to a space, recently excavated, where a portion of
the first church, once covered with marble slabs, may be seen),
Installation of S. Clement by S. Peter; Clement performing Mass; the
Miracle of Sisinius; and Men drawing a Column--all on one pier.
THE LORD BE WITH YOU THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE EVER
WITH YOU.
--I, BENO DE RAPIZA, WITH MARY, MY WIFE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND
BLESSED CLEMENT, HAD IT PAINTED FOR A FAVOUR RECEIVED.