Civil basilica

[1] The concept is related to the Greek stoa (στοά), a public covered space designed to shelter various activities from the weather.

These structures typically had an entrance enclosed at the back by a solid wall and opened onto the public space (the agora) at the front, featuring a portico with a colonnade.

Initially designed as a public space providing shelter from the weather, the basilica evolved to serve specific functions, particularly in the administration of justice.

[3] By the early 2nd century BC,[3] this type of building, which provided a spacious and sheltered open area, became a significant feature in Roman cities, with most courts across the Empire utilizing it.

[3][7]The initial basilicas constructed in Rome during the 2nd century BC were influenced by Greek architectural models, reflecting the impact of Roman campaigns in Macedonia and Syria.

[8] By the mid-5th century AD, Polemius Silvius listed eleven basilicas in Rome, highlighting the architectural and cultural significance of these structures in the city.

[9] The floor plan of the Roman civil basilica served as a model for the construction of the first Christian churches in late Antiquity.

Today, the term "basilica" is still used for religious buildings of significant importance that, while not functioning as cathedrals, are granted special privileges.