marco carpiceci

Abstract: In the Roman world, at the beginning of the IV century, followed some events that marked the final success of the Christian community. Evidence confirming this sudden conquest was certainly the surprising speed of increase in the Christian population, after a difficult period of co-existence with the heathen world. Therefore, the focal point of our research is the analysis of historical events connected with this phenomenon; events from which the initially very small Christian community increased exponentially right in the place considered the centre of absolute power: the capital of the Roman Empire. The first great Christian basilicas came about due to the small, heterogeneous Christian community which was starting to increasingly acquire spiritual and political predominance in the heathen Roman communities had become incapable of defending and conserving themselves. Constantine and Saint Sylvester were the two most central figures of fundamental importance. After their meeting on Soratte Mountain, world history was to change. The focal point of this research is to re-evaluate the centrality of the charismatic figure of Saint Sylvester, inspirer and co-ordinator of both political and religious events of IV century Rome. Besides historic and literary testimonies, of fundamental importance is the archaeological analysis of the fulcrum sites of that historical period, or rather, the Soratte and Malborghetto in Lazio, the Lateran and Vatican in Rome; places of extraordinary historical importance, even though they yet remain mostly unexplored.