E00404: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, recounts the founding and endowment of the basilica of St *Laurence (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00037) on the via Tiburtina outside Rome by the emperor Constantine (312-337).
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posted on 2015-04-22, 00:00authored byrobert
Liber Pontificalis 34.24
For the following passage it is impossible to reconstruct the text of the first edition.
Second edition
24. Eodem tempore fecit basilicam sancto Laurentio martyri via Tiburtina in agrum Veranum supra arenario cryptae et usque ad corpus sancti Laurenti fecit grados ascensionis et descensionis. In quo loco construxit absidam et exornavit marmoribus purphyreticis et desuper loci conclusit de argento et cancellos de argento purissimo ornavit, qui pen. lib. Ī ; et ante ipsum locum in crypta posuit lucernam ex auro purissimo cum delfinos L, pens. lib. XX; coronam ex argento purissimo cum delfinos L, pens. lib. XXX; candelabra aerea II in pedibus denos, pens. sing. lib. CC; ante corpus beati Laurenti martyris argento clusas sigillis passionem ipsius cum lucernas binixes argenteas, pens. sing. lib. XV. Donum quod obtulit: patenam auream, pens. lib. XX; patenas argenteas II, pens. lib. XXX; sciphum ex auro purissimo, pens. lib. XV; sciphos argenteos II, pens. lib. X; calices argenteos ministeriales X, pens. sing. lib. II; amas argenteas II, pens. sing. lib. X; fara argentea XXX, pens. sing. lib. XX; metreta ex argento, pens. lib. CL, portanate medemnos II;
'24. Then he [Constantine] built a basilica to the martyr saint Laurence on the via Tiburtina at the Ager Veranus, above the arenarium of the crypt; to reach the body of the martyr saint Laurence he built steps for going up and down. In that place he built an apse and decorated it with purple marble, and above the burial place he sealed it with silver, and decorated it with railings of finest silver weighing 1000 lb; and in front of the actual burial place in the crypt he placed a lantern of finest gold with 10 wicks, weighing 20 lb, a crown of finest silver, with 50 dolphins, weighing 30 lb, 2 bronze candelabra 10 ft in size, each weighing 300 lb; in front of the body of the martyr saint Laurence, his martyrdom (passio) in medallions chased with silver, with 6-wick silver lanterns each weighing 15 lb. The gift he presented: a gold paten weighing 20 lb; 2 silver patens each weighing 30 lb; a scyphus of finest gold weighing 15 lb; 2 silver scyphi each weighing 10 lb; 10 silver service chalices each weighing 2 lb; 2 silver amae each weighing 10 lb; 30 silver lights each weighing 20 lb; a metreta of silver weighing 150 lb, capacity 2 medimni.'
There follows a list of the endowments of saint Laurence' s basilica.
Text: Duchesne 1886, 181-182. Translation: Davis 2010, 21, lightly modified. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)
Language
Latin
Evidence not before
530
Evidence not after
546
Activity not before
312
Activity not after
337
Place of Evidence - Region
Rome and region
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Rome
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Rome
Rome
Rome
Roma
Ῥώμη
Rhōmē
Major author/Major anonymous work
Liber Pontificalis
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - independent (church)
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Cult activities - Use of Images
Commissioning/producing an image
Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives
Monarchs and their family
Cult Activities - Relics
Bodily relic - entire body
Cult Activities - Cult Related Objects
Oil lamps/candles
Chalices, censers and other liturgical vessels
Precious material objects
Source
The Liber Pontificalis consists of a series of short lives of popes. The preface attributes it to pope Damasus (366-384), but this attribution is obviously false. According to Louis Duchesne, the first modern editor of the Liber Pontificalis, the original series of lives was written in Rome by an anonymous author, probably a member of the lesser clergy, in the 530s, and contained the lives from *Peter the Apostle to Felix IV (ob. 530). Shortly after, before 546, the text was re-edited by another anonymous author and only this edition survives. The first edition, however, can be reconstituted on the basis of its two epitomes (and the second edition). The second edition started to be continued systematically from the time of pope Honorius (625–638). It should be noted that Theodor Mommsen dated both editions of the Liber Pontificalis to the 7th century, but his opinion is widely rejected and the commonly accepted dating is that of Duchesne.
For the pre-Constantinian period (before 312), the credibility of the Liber Pontificalis is very low. The chronology is confused, and details concerning the personal lives, decisions, and ordinations of the bishops of Rome at best reflect what people in the 6th century trusted to be true, at worst are a pure invention of the author. The situation changes with the later lives. Already the information of 4th century papal foundations and offerings are generally trustworthy. The early 6th century evidence, based on the author's first hand knowledge is even better, though still imperfect.
Bibliography
Edition:
Duchesne, L., Le Liber pontificalis. 2 vols (Paris: E. Thorin, 1886-1892). (With substantial introduction and commentary).
Translation:
Davis, R., The Book of Pontiffs (Liber Pontificalis) (Translated Texts for Historians 6; 3rd ed.; Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2010).