Spolia ( lat.spolia ) - decorative elements, especially columns , which in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages broke out of ancient structures (usually pagan temples) and were used in the construction of new buildings (usually Christian churches).
The use of spills not only saved time and finances, but also compensated for the insufficient experience of the masons of the early Middle Ages. For example, the colonnade in front of the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere was transferred from the term Caracalla , the ancient Roman porphyry columns were used in the chapel of Charles the Great , and the columns for the construction of Hagia Sophia were brought from the temples of Ephesus and Baalbek .
Spills were also actively used in Islamic architecture (for example, in Mesquite ), and in Europe - sometimes also at a later time.
See also
- Palimpsest