San Giovanni in Oleo
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San Giovanni in Oleo is a church in Rome, devoted to Saint John the Evangelist, on the place where, according to tradition, his martyrdom was attempted.
According to an ancient tradition, in 92, St. John survived martyrdom through immersion in a vat of boiling oil, attempted by Domitian himself. The old-man survived a long while without even being burnt and the crowd, frightened and convinced he was a powerful wizard, spared him and condemned him to exile to Patmos. There he wrote Revelations and then died in Ephesus. This ancient tradition, and the circular plan of the church support the 5th century origin of this church.
The current church is, however, an octagonal 16th century Renaissance chapel, by the Porta Latina. San Giovanni in Oleo is attributed to Bramante and Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, and was later restored by Borromini, who modified the roof, installing a cross on an orb, decorated with roses and adding a frieze in terracotta with roses and palms. On the door is the coat of arms of the French prelate Benedetto Adam, with the motto "Au plaisir de Dieu".
Inside is a fresco (1716) showing Saint John's attempted martyrdom.
[edit] References
- "San Giovanni in Oleo", by Chris Nyborg.
