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Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The mosaics in the mausoleum are from the year 450. Let that sink in. The year 450. -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The decoration in the dome: starry ceiling and the symbols of the Evangelists. Underneath are the apostles. -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
What an insanely beautiful piece of work! -
Basilica of San Vitale
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Saint Andrew's Chapel
The ceiling in the narthex. Plenty of different birds, most notably the famous ducks, and the white lilies. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Narthex of the chapel depicting Christ dressed as Roman emperor, standing on a lion and a snake (Psalm 91). His book says EGO SVM VIA VERITAS ET VITA - I am the way, the truth, the life. The top part is original mosaic, the bottom part is just painted! -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Apse of the chapel is also painted. Not a mosaic. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Jacob -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time. -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
My favourite part of the ceiling. So intense. Unfortunately, the illumination of the whole mausoleum was almost nonexistent... -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Deer drinking water. At first I thought they were eating watermelons :-) And then there are two more apostles around the chi-rho-alpha-omega sign. -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Either Saint Lawrence or Saint Vincent. And come fantastic decorative mosaics. -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Each side has two apostles and a pair of doves. -
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Above the entrance, there is the mosaic of the Good Shepherd. -
DSC 4622
Abel sacrificing a lamb to God, and the King of Salem, Melchizedek, offering a loaf of bread. And another God's hand coming from the blue and pink clouds. Heh, Abel has a cottage and Melchizedek a palace. -
Basilica of San Vitale
More apostles. And more fish :-) -
Basilica of San Vitale
The apostles, decorated with fish! Fish! -
Basilica of San Vitale
Part of the Sanctuary. -
Basilica of San Vitale
A young Christ, two angles, St Vitalis on the left and bishop Ecclesius on the right. The bishop offers the church to the Christ, while St Vitalis, covering his hands with a veil, receives the crown of martyrdom. Christ holds a scroll closed with the seven seals of the Apocalypse. -
Basilica of San Vitale
Under the arch: Abraham and Sarah feeding the three strangers at Mambre and the Sacrifice of Isaac, with God's hand stopping Abraham from killing Isaac. Over the arch: the prophet Jeremiah, two angels holding a shield, Moses receiving the Law on Mt Sinai. -
The Arian Baptistery
The medallion shows the young Christ in the middle, river Jordan on the left (with red crab claws?) and John the Baptist on the right. Above Christ is a dove (the Holy Spirit). One does not often see a naked Christ. -
The Arian Baptistery
Only the ceiling remains decorated - but what decoration it is! Basically: the baptism of Jesus and twelve apostles. -
The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Andrew -
The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Bartholomew -
The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Jacob -
The Orthodox Baptistery
Lush decorations -
The Orthodox Baptistery
The central image depicts the Baptism of Christ, Saint John the Baptist on the left and a small Jordan on the right. The bearded heads are not original though. And the apostles are named. Funnily, some have golden tunics with white pallium and other vice versa. -
The Orthodox Baptistery
What a masterpiece this is! Multiple circles of mosaic depict the central baptism, followed by the twelve (named!) apostles and the outer circle shows richly decorated thrones and altars. This mosaic is a few decades older than the Arian one. -
The Orthodox Baptistery
Hm, is this an optical illusion? Because sometimes I see birds and sometimes fish. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
The dome is decorated with four angels pointing towards IX, and the four symbols of the evangelists. -
Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
I wonder if the red and blue were always that pale or were they more vibrant. -
Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original). Spring on the left, Autumn with the crown is in the front, Winter in the back and Summer is missing. A personification of Time plays a pan flute. -
Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), the musician. -
Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), Autumn. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The cylindrical campanile dates to the 9th-10th century. -
Classe
The 6th century abse depicts: - a cross on the sky with 99 stars - the hand of God - Elijah and Moses - three lambs representing Saint Peter, Saint James and Saint John.