Extra moenia
Encyclopedia
Extra moenia is a Latin
phrase that means outside the walls or outside the walls of the city.
The phrase is commonly used in reference to the original attributes of a building, usually a church, where it was built outside the original city walls. Hence, when a city expands over time, a church which was originally outside the walls might end up in the center of the larger city; subsequently, to retain the original architectural context, it would be referred to as extra moenia. Two examples of this are the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
in Rome
, and San Gennaro extra Moenia
of Naples
.
The term is also used to indicate an occurrence or activity taking place outside the venue where it would normally be used or reside.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
phrase that means outside the walls or outside the walls of the city.
The phrase is commonly used in reference to the original attributes of a building, usually a church, where it was built outside the original city walls. Hence, when a city expands over time, a church which was originally outside the walls might end up in the center of the larger city; subsequently, to retain the original architectural context, it would be referred to as extra moenia. Two examples of this are the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and San Gennaro extra Moenia
San Gennaro extra Moenia
San Gennaro extra Moenia is a church in Naples, Italy. It is located on the large road that leads up to the Capodimonte museum and is an example of so-called paleo-Christian architecture in the city....
of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
The term is also used to indicate an occurrence or activity taking place outside the venue where it would normally be used or reside.