E01347: The second edition of the Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome between the 530s and 546, in its account of *Symmachus (bishop and confessor of Rome, S00793), lists his extensive work at the basilica of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) in Rome, honouring a number of different saints.

Liber Pontificalis 53

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

The passage on Symmachus' foundations and offerings can be found only in the second edition.


Second edition

Hic fecit basilicam sancti Andreae apostoli apud beatum Petrum, ubi fecit:
tiburium ex argento purissimo et confessionem, pens. lib. CXX;
arcos argenteos III, pens. lib. LX;
oratorium sancti Thomae apostuli ex argento, pens. in confessionem lib. XX;
arcum argenteum, qui pens. lib. XVI;
confessionem sancti Cassiani et sanctorum Proti et Yacinti ex argento, pens. lib. XX;
arcum argenteum, pens. lib. XII;
oratorium sancti Apollinaris ex argento in confessionem cum arcum, pens. lib. XXXI;
oratorium sancti Sossii ex argento confessionem, pens. lib. XX.
Item ad fontem in basilica sancti Petri apostoli:
oratorium sanctae crucis ex argento confessionem et crucem ex auro cum gemmis, ubi inclaudit lignum dominicum; ipsa crux aurea pens. lib. X.
Fecit autem oratoria II sancti Iohannis euangelistae et sancti Iohannis baptistae, in quorum confessiones cum arcos argenteos, pens. lib. XXX; quas cubicula omnes a fundamento perfecta construxit.
Basilicam vero beati Petri marmoribus ornavit.
Ad cantharum beati Petri cum quadriporticum ex opere marmoribus ornavit et ex musivo agnos et cruces et palmas ornavit. Ipsum vero atrium omnem conpaginavit; grados vero ante fores basilicae sancti Petri apostoli ampliavit et alios grados sub tigno dextra levaque construxit. Item episcopia in eodem loco dextra levaque fecit. Item sub grados in atrio alium cantharum foris in campo posuit et usum necessitatis humanae fecit. Et alios grados ascendentibus ad beatum Andream fecit et cantharum posuit.

'He built the basilica of saint Andrew the apostle at St Peter’s, where he provided:
a canopy of finest silver and a confessio weighing 120 lb;
3 silver arches weighing 60 lb;
the oratory of saint Thomas the apostle in silver weighing for the confessio, 20 lb;
a silver arch weighing 16 lb;
the confessio of saint Cassianus and of saints Protus and Hyacinthus, of silver weighing 20 lb;
a silver arch weighing 12 lb;
the oratory of saint Apollinaris: 31 lb weight of silver for the confessio with the arch;
the oratory of saint Sossius: a confessio of silver weighing 20lb.
Also, at the font in the basilica of saint Peter the apostle:
the oratory of the Holy Cross: the confessio of silver, and the cross of gold with jewels in which he enclosed the Lord’s wood—the gold cross itself weighing 10 lb.
And he built 2 oratories, of saint John the Evangelist and saint John the Baptist—30 lb weight of silver for their confessiones and arches; all these chambers he constructed complete from the ground up.
He decorated the basilica of the blessed Peter with marble: at the blessed Peter's fountain with the square colonnade he provided marble adornments, including mosaic lambs, crosses, and palms. He completely enclosed the actual atrium; outside the doors of the basilica of saint Peter the apostle he widened the steps, he built other steps under the awning on right and left, and there he also built episcopal rooms on right and left. He also set up by the steps to the atrium another fountain outside in the open, and he built a convenience for people to use when needed; he built other steps for the climb to the blessed Andrew, and set up a fountain.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 261-262. Translation: Davis 2010, 44, lightly modified.