Ancient Roman architecture could penetrate through the clerestory windows. The oldest known basilica, the Basilica Porcia, was built in Rome in 184 BC by Cato the Elder during the time he was Censor. Other early examples include the basilica at Pompeii (late 2nd century BC). After Christianity became the official religion, the basilica shape was found appropriate for the first large public churches, with the attraction of avoiding reminiscences of the Greco-Roman temple form. The Roman circus was a large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Roman Empire. The circuses were similar to the ancient Greek hippodromes, although circuses served
Sebastian (name) Sebastian (name) Sebastian is a given name. It comes from the Latin name "Sebastianus" meaning "from Sebastia", which was the ancient Greek name (Σεβάστεια) of the city now known as Sivas, located in the central portion of what is now Turkey. The name of the city is derived from the Greek word σεβαστός ("sebastos"), "venerable", which comes from σέβας ("sebas"), "awe, reverence, dread", in turn from the verb σέβομαι ("sebomai"), "feel awe, scruple, be ashamed". "Sebastos" was the Greek translation of the title "Augustus", which was used for Roman emperors. Sebastian became a widely used name because it was the