Plural of basilica; large rectangular public buildings used for assembly and commerce in ancient Rome, or Christian churches built in this style.
From Latin 'basilica,' from Greek 'basilike stoa' (royal porch/building). The plural form basilicae is used in classical Latin texts and historical descriptions of Roman and early Christian architecture.
Basilicae were the shopping malls and town halls of ancient Rome—they were huge, rectangular, and impressive, and when Christians adopted the style for churches, they literally gave the building form of power to their new religion.
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