Lateran Baptistery

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Map of the Churches of Rome

Lateran Baptistery

The Lateran Baptistery (San Giovanni in Fonte al Laterano) was built in the early 4th century. Its octagonal design was copied in numerous baptisteries throughout the world; in the Bible the number eight represents a new beginning.

Interior

​The eight porphyry columns in the interior were erected by Pope Sixtus III (r. 432-40). They support an architrave, which, in turn, supports eight smaller marble columns. The architrave sports a long inscription in Latin, which runs round all eight sides: 
GENS SACRANDA POLIS HIC SEMINE NASCITVR ALMO QVAM FECVNDATIS SPIRITVS EDIT AQVIS (Here a people and city, intended to be sacred, is born from a nourishing seed, which the spirit brings forth from fertile waters).

MERGERE PECCATOR SACRO PVRGANDE FLVENTO QVEM VETEREM ACCIPIET PROFERET VNDA NOVVM (The sinner is immersed in the sacred cleansing flow, the billow which takes him as old and presents him as new).

NVLLA RENASCENTVM EST DISTANTIA QVOS FACIT VNVM VNVS FONS VNVS SPIRITVS UNA FIDES (The one reborn is at no separation from those made one; one fountain, one spirit, one faith).

​VIRGINEO FETV GENETRIX ECCLESIA NATOS QVOS SPIRANTE DEO CONCIPIT AMNE PARIT (By a virginal reproduction Mother Church has newborns, who are conceived by the spirit of God and born by means of the river). ​

Latin Inscription

INSONS ESSE VOLENS ISTO MVNDARE LAVACRO SEV PATRIO PREMERIS CRIMINE SEV PROPRIO (You wish to be guiltless through being cleansed by this washing, whether oppressed by the parental [Adamic] sin or your own).

FONS HIC EST VITAE QVI TOTVM DILVIT ORBEM SVMENS DE CHRISTI VVLNERE PRINCIPIVM (This is the fount of life which sets all free, taking its origin from the wound of Christ).

COELORVM REGNVM SPREATE HOC FONTE RENATI NON RECIPIT FELIX VITA SEMEL GENITOS (Those reborn by this fountain hope for the Kingdom of Heaven; the happy life does not receive those brought forth only once.)

​NEC NVMERVS QVEMQVAM SCELERVM NEC FORMA SVORVM TERREAT HOC NATVS FLVMINE SANETVS ERIT (Let not the number or type of his sins frighten the one born in this flow, he will be saved).  

Vault

Four of the sections of the beautiful gilded and painted wooden ceiling sport the coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44). The other four sections depict St John the Evangelist, Christ in Majesty, St John the Baptist and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In the corners are images of the sun (Urban VIII's personal device) and an oak tree, above which hover the heraldic bees of the Barberini family, to which the pope belonged. 

The drum of the dome has eight frescoes by Andrea Sacchi (1599-1661), which illustrate events in the life of St John the Baptist. In the centre of the vault is the Dove of the Holy Spirit in glory. It is surrounded by a quotation from the Book of Genesis (1:2): SPIRITVS DEI FEREBATVR SVPER AQVAS (The spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters).

Font

In the centre is the font, an ancient basalt bath. It stands in a circular depression, a reminder of the original baptismal plunge-pool.   

The Burning of the Heretical Books by Carlo Mannoni

The wall frescoes, which depict events in the life of the emperor Constantine the Great (r. 306-337), date mostly from the 17th century. Going anti-clockwise from the entrance, the frescoes are: The Vision of the Cross by Giacinto Gimignani, The Battle of the Milvian Bridge and The Triumphal Entry into Rome, both by Andrea Camassei. Then comes the portico entrance. There follows: The Overthrow of the Idols by Maratta and The Burning of the Heretical Books by Carlo Mannoni. ​

St John the Baptist by Luigi Valadier

The two little 5th century side chapels, which were built during the reign of  Pope St Hilary (r. 461–468), have very similar entrances. Each has a pair of porphyry Corinthian columns supporting a horizontal entablature in grey-veined marble.

The interior of the Chapel of St John the Baptist (right) was entirely remodelled by Giovanni Battista Ceccarelli in 1780. The bronze statue of St John the Baptist is by the Roman goldsmith Luigi Valadier (1726-85). Above the entrance are two inscriptions: ERVNT ASPERA IN VIAS PLANAS (The rough ways shall be made smooth), St Luke 3:5, and HILARVS EPISCOPVS PLEBEI DEI (Bishop Hilary to the people of God). The doors to the chapel, which date back to the 5th century, bear the inscription: IN HONOREM BEATI IOHANNIS BAPTISTAE HILARVS EPISCOPVS CHRIST FAMVLVS OFFERT (Bishop Hilary, the servant of Christ, offers in honour of John the Baptist).

The ancient bronze doors were once famous for the musical sound they made when moved. Unfortunately, this stopped after the Mafia detonated a bomb outside the baptistery on July 27th, 1993. 

Chapel of St John the Evangelist

​The bronze doors (1196) of the Chapel of St John the Evangelist (left) were made by Uberto and Pietro of Piacenza. The inscription above the door reads (without spaces): LIBERATORISVOBEATOIOHANNIEVANGELISTEHILARVSEPISCOPVSFAMVLVSXPI (To his liberator, blessed John the Evangelist, Hilary the bishop, slave of Christ). Below this is a later inscription: DILIGITE ALTERVTRVM (Love one another).

Chapel of St Venantius

The Cappella di San Venanzio (Chapel of St Venantius), which is accessed by a short passage, was added by Pope John IV (r. 640-42). The 7th century mosaics are covered here. 

High Altar

The high altar was designed by the architect Carlo Rainaldi (1611-91). Thankfully, Rainaldi retained the two pairs of beautiful spiral columns, which were part of the original altar. The altarpiece is a 14th century fresco fragment of the Virgin and Child.  ​​

Funerary Monument to Cardinal Adriano Ceva

The high altar is flanked by two funerary monuments, which were also designed by Rainaldi. Executed by Giacomo Antonio Fancelli (1619-71), the one on the left is to Cardinal Adriano Ceva (d. 1655). 

Chapel of St Cyprian and St Justina

The 5th century entrance portico was remodelled by Pope Anastasius IV in 1154. 

​The left chapel was originally dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle and St Lucy, but was re-dedicated to St Cyprian and St Justina when their putative relics were enshrined under the altar. In 1767 the Borgia family of Velletri restored the apse as a mortuary chapel for themselves, but preserved the 5th century mosaic. This is thought to be the oldest apse conch mosaic in Rome. The altarpiece depicts the Martyrdom of St Justina.

Funerary Monument to Alessandro Borgia by Tommaso Righi

Outside the chapel there is a fine Baroque monument to Alessandro Borgia (1767) by Tommaso Righi.

Chapel of St Rufina and St Secunda

The right chapel is dedicated to St Rufina and St Secunda. The altarpiece depicts Christ crowning the two martyrs. In 1757 the Lercari family restored it as a mortuary chapel for themselves. 

Funerary Monument to Nicola Maria Lercari

Outside the chapel are two very good memorials by Righi showing the deceased at prayer. One is to Nicola Maria Lercari (1767) and the other to Nicola Lercari (1784).

Funerary Monument to Nicola Lercari

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