E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Basil’ica.
Originally the court of the Athenian archon, called the basileus, who used to give judgment in the stoa basil’ik. At Rome these courts of justice had their nave, aisles, porticoes, and tribunals; so that when used for Christian worship very little alteration was needed. The church of St. John Lat’eran at Rome was an ancient basilica.
. At Rome these courts of justice had their nave, aisles, porticoes, and tribunals; so that when used for Christian worship very little alteration was needed. The church of St. John Lat’eran at Rome was an ancient basilica.
