October 13, 2012. (Romereports.com) The church of Santa Maria Antiqua is undergoing an impressive restoration. So from now until November 4th it will remain open to the public. Visitors can enjoy more than 800 feet of frescoes from the VI century that depict scenes from the Bible.

It's an archaeological treasure that some experts have compared to the Sistine Chapel.  

MARIAROSARIA BARBERA
Archaeological area (Rome)
“It was a way to teach the illiterate, those who had no access to the Bible, to relate to God and know the history of the Church. By seeing these frescoes, one could understand how to approach God and the virtuous example of the saints. So, comparing it to the Sistine Chapel, as a fresh narrative type, is absolutely relevant.”

But back then, several of the Byzantine art was destroyed by the iconoclasts, who opposed religious art.  So now that makes the art inside this church that much more special. Right in the heart of the Roman Forum, it's a true  treasure of the Byzantine era.

MARIAROSARIA BARBERA
Archaeological area (Rome)
“In these frescoes there is a link that connects them to medieval Byzantine art. Sometimes, we tend to compare them to Chinese art, meaning expressionless and motionless, but it's not really the case. From one century to another one begins to see gestures, expressions, the use of the contour line. Then that same image shows movement and is no longer a fixed point as was the case before.”
 
An earthquake that struck in the IX century buried part of the Church. But the frescoes  remained intact and have survived the test of time.


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- PR