San Clemente
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Description
The coronation procession followed a pattern. It began in the Vatican for the consecration and then crossed the river to go into the city, the archeological zone, and then the churches. Among others, Pope Innocent III’s coronation procession route stopped at San Clemente. But the basilica was not uncommonly used as part of a processional route.
Inside, underneath the 12th century basilica in the older, underground church, you can see one of the other processions recorded in the church artwork by an eleventh century painter. The fresco, done by an unknown artist, depicts San Clemente’s translation to the Basilica of San Clemente in the 9th century. San Cyril leads the procession. Behind him is a crowd of people, incense hung in thuribles, and the body of San Clemente is carried on a gilt bed and covered in rich fabrics. Next are people carrying crosses and red banners, similar to what would have been seen during the papal coronation of Innocent III. At five stations along the church route, the new pope would scatter coins into the crowd, and then the procession would continue on to the final stop, the Lateran Basilica.
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Spatial Coverage
Description
The coronation procession followed a pattern. It began in the Vatican for the consecration and then crossed the river to go into the city, the archeological zone, and then the churches. Among others, Pope Innocent III’s coronation procession route stopped at San Clemente. But the basilica was not uncommonly used as part of a processional route.
Inside, underneath the 12th century basilica in the older, underground church, you can see one of the other processions recorded in the church artwork by an eleventh century painter. The fresco, done by an unknown artist, depicts San Clemente’s translation to the Basilica of San Clemente in the 9th century. San Cyril leads the procession. Behind him is a crowd of people, incense hung in thuribles, and the body of San Clemente is carried on a gilt bed and covered in rich fabrics. Next are people carrying crosses and red banners, similar to what would have been seen during the papal coronation of Innocent III. At five stations along the church route, the new pope would scatter coins into the crowd, and then the procession would continue on to the final stop, the Lateran Basilica.