Santa Sabina

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Map of the Churches of Rome

Basilica di Santa Sabina

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The ancient church of Santa Sabina was built by Peter of Illyria, a bishop from Dalmatia, during the reign of Pope Celestine I (r. 422-32). The church stands on the site of the Titulus Sabinae, the house-church of a Roman matron by the name of Sabina, who is believed to have been martyred during the reign of the emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138). 

​In the early 13th century, Santa Sabina was granted by Pope Honorius III (r. 1216-27) to the newly-created Order of Preachers (Ordo Praedicatorum), also known as the Dominicans, to which it still belongs.

Bas-relief of the 'Crucifixion'

Santa Sabina is, perhaps, most famous for its wooden entrance door. The 18 cypress-wood panels date back to between 420 and 450. One of the panels (top left) depicts what may be the earliest surviving public image of the crucifixion of Christ between the two thieves.

The bas-relief of the Crucifixion is one of eighteen surviving panels; ten or so are missing. The panels are made of cypress wood and date back to between 420 and 450. Although the scene is described as a crucifixion, there is no cross. Christ is simply depicted standing, with his arms outstretched, between two much smaller figures, the thieves Dismas and Gestas. 

​From left to right and top to bottom the panels depict:
1: The Crucifixion. 2: The Women at the empty tomb after the Resurrection. 3: The Adoration of the Magi. 4: Christ with Peter and Paul. 5: Christ raising Lazarus, multiplying loaves and turning water into wine. 6: Moses in the Desert, the Quails, the Manna and Moses striking the rock to produce water. 7: The Ascension of Christ. 8: The Second Coming or Triumph of Christ. 9: Christ appears to his disciples after the Resurrection. 10: Christ appears to the women after the Resurrection. 12: Christ predicting Peter's denial. 12: The prophet Habakkuk and the angel taking him to feed those in the lion's den. 13: Moses receiving the Law, removing his sandals, at the Burning Bush and with the sheep. 14: Acclamation of an important person (?). 15: The exodus of Israelites with the pillar of fire, Pharaoh drowning in the Red Sea and Aaron's rod turning into a snake. 16: Elijah ascending into heaven and Elisha catching his cloak. 17: Pilate washing his hands. 18: Christ before Caiaphas.​

Nave

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The church of Santa Sabina was modelled on the basilicas of Ravenna and its nave was once adorned with mosaics.

Sadly, only the mosaic on the counter-facade survives. The long inscription, which praises Bishop Peter of Illyria, and refers to Pope Celestine I, is flanked by two female figures, personifications of converted Jews (ex-circumcisione) and Gentiles (ex-gentibus).  

The wide nave is separated from the aisles by twenty-four magnificent Corinthian columns, which have been recycled from a nearby building from the second century CE. The arcades are decorated with curious motifs in porphyry and green serpentine. No satisfactory explanation of the meaning of the motifs has been forthcoming. 

Apse

The lost mosaic in the apse was replaced by a fresco (1560), the work of the Mannerist painter Taddeo Zuccari (1529-66) and purportedly based on drawings of the original mosaic. The fresco, which depicts Christ in Glory, was repainted by the Roman Neoclassical painter Vincenzo Camuccini (1771-1844) in 1836.

Tomb Slab of Muñoz de Zamora

The marble floor, which was relaid in the 20th century, has several medieval tomb-slabs. The most important is in the middle of the nave and depicts a Master General of the Dominicans, thought to be Muñoz de Zamora, who died in 1300. Very unusually, the effigy is in mosaic, the only example of its kind left in Rome. 

There are two external side chapels. Off the left aisle is the Cappella di Santa Caterina, also known as the Cappella d' Elci. Off the right aisle is the Cappella di San Giacinto (Chapel of St Hyacinth).

Funerary Monument of Cardinal Ausiàs Despuig

​In the right aisle is the fine 15th century funerary monument to Cardinal Ausiàs Despuig. The inscription declares: VT MORIENS VIVERET VIXIT VT MORITVRVS. (To live after death, he lived as one who was going to die.)

Counter-facade Mosaic

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