Lateran Baptistery, Baptistery near Lateran Palace, Rome, Italy
The Lateran Baptistery is an octagonal structure in Rome containing eight porphyry columns supporting an architrave surrounding a circular space with a baptismal font. The building stands next to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran and displays early Christian architecture from its original period.
Construction began between 320 and 325 CE under Constantine, making it the first baptistery in the Western world for Christian baptism rituals. The five centuries that followed brought major renovations that shaped its current form.
The interior displays golden mosaics and three chapels dedicated to John the Baptist, the Holy Cross, and John the Evangelist added in the fifth century. These additions shaped how the space looks and feels for visitors today.
Access is available daily next to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, where visitors can explore the early Christian structure. Plan enough time to examine the column details and interior layout to fully appreciate the spatial arrangement.
The baptismal font consists of an ancient Egyptian green basalt sarcophagus where popes performed baptisms on Easter Eve for centuries. This water vessel directly connects early church practices to the present day.
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