-
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
-
The Arian Baptistery
Another apostle with a very unusual beard - or rather mustache and sideburns. This could be Ostrogothic fashion (it certainly isn't Roman). -
The Arian Baptistery
They look very much alike, but the hair and beards are different. So in principle, one could tell them apart. -
The Arian Baptistery
One of the younger apostles. -
The Arian Baptistery
Could be Saint Andrew. -
The Orthodox Baptistery
The next circle has four Gospels on altars and four empty thrones with crosses and garments. -
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
I told you it was fake. Just painted on the wall. Oh well. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
One of the angels on the ceiling. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Jacob -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Mark's lion holding the thickest Gospel - despite Mark's Gospel being the shortest of all four. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Christ on the throne with four angels. Unfortunately not all is original, Christ's right side and the two right angels are 19th century reconstructions. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
A procession of 26 martyrs, including Saint Apollinaris, led by Saint Martin of Tours. Following are Pope Clements, Pope Sixtus, Saint Laurentius (in gold), Saint Hippolitus, Pope Cornelius (who is pointing towards), Saint Cyprian ... -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Iohannes, his brother Paulus, Vitalis (the basilica Vitalis), Gervasius, Protasius, Ursicinus, Namor, Felix ... -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. Plenty of roses and lilies everywhere and the typical gold Byzantine background. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Walking towards the Madonna is a procession of 22 virgins, led by the Three Magi. These are Saints Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes (with a lamb), Agatha. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
6th century censorship. When the church became Orthodox, they 'erased' the Arians/Goths from the images, leaving only their praying hands. One can still see their halos above the curtains. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Vincentius, Pancratius, Chrysogonus, Protus ... And these are not all of them. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
I love their fashion sense. They all wear Phrygian caps and - quite unusually -fancy trousers. -
Classe
Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe was consecrated on 9 May 549 by the bishop Maximian. -
Classe
I took this picture because of the lion. Then I noticed the bull... Holy cow, what did they do to its face? -
Classe
The Hand of God. In the old times, depicting God was unacceptable, so only his hand was shown. -
Museo Arcivescovile
Throne of Maximianus with his monogram M and X, showing Saint John the Baptist and the four evangelists. -
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. -
Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaics here are just insanely beautiful. -
Basilica of San Vitale
What a difference between the two sides! Separated by the great arch, decorated with fifteen mosaic medallions: Jesus Christ in the centre, the twelve Apostles and Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius, the sons of Saint Vitale. -
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
The richness of the mosaic work in crazy. Down to the tiniest details! -
Basilica of San Vitale
Probably the most famous mosaic in the church: Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian I, holding the Eucharistic vessel. On the right might be Antonina, Belisarius’ wife, and other unnamed women, on the left is a court official and an eunuch. The detailing on the dresses (including the Tree Magi!) is insane. -
Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian, who ruled the Roman Empire between 527 and 565, and his court. On the right side are the bishop Maximian, a deacon with the Bible, and a subdeacon with a thurible. On the left are probably generals Belisarius and Narses, and some soldiers. Justinian wears red and purple shoes, which only emperors were allowed to wear. And he stands on someone's foot :-) -
Basilica of San Vitale
The Lamb of God, supported by four angels standing on blue globes. And plenty of animals, my favourite being peacocks. -
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
More unidentified apostles. Are we supposed to tell them apart based only on their beards? Another mystery are the (greek?) letters on their coats. -
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 Arian Baptistery
Saints Peter and Paul lead a procession of five apostles towards the cross on an empty throne (representing God the Father?). In this Arian baptistery, the Father is above the Christ, possibly indicating the Arian beliefs. Saint Paul on the left, Saint Peter on the right. The rest I don't know. -
The Arian Baptistery
As always, beautiful decorations everywhere. -
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
Another empty throne, awaiting Christ's Second Coming. -
The Orthodox Baptistery
Hm, is this an optical illusion? Because sometimes I see birds and sometimes fish. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Six female martyrs: Daria, Perpetua and Felicitas. On the other side are Eufemia, Eugenia, and Cecilia. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
The dome is decorated with four angels pointing towards IX, and the four symbols of the evangelists. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Depiction of young Christ with Saint Peter and Saint Paul. -
Museo Arcivescovile
Cross of Agnellus, details of the silver medallions. -
Museo Arcivescovile
The cathedral, the baptistry on the right, and the Museo Arcivescovile on the left. -
Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), the musician. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The Three Magi, Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar. They carry the gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) and walk towards the Bethlehem star. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Bottom: Theoderic's palace and the town of Ravenna (PALATIVM and CIVITAS RAVENN). Middle: more unnamed prophets and evangelists. Top: the way of the cross, Resurrection: the women at the tomb, The road to Emmaus, Jesus appearing to the apostles. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Top row is the life of Jesus, middle row the saints, prophets and evangelists, bottom row are the famous processions. Apparently Pope Gregory ordered the mosaics to be blackened, not to distract the worshipers. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The town of Classe (only partially original). Middle: unknown prophets and evangelists. Top: The paralytic at Bethany, The Gerasene Demoniac, The paralytic at Capernaum, The Sheep and the Goats This side shows a much younger beardless Jesus. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Let's go: bottom line: Saints Valeria, Crispina, Lucia, Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes, Agatha, Pelagia and Euphemia. middle: unnamed saints, prophets, evangelists... carrying scrolls or codices. top: the woman at the well, the woman with the flow of blood, Jesus cures the blind, (partial) the calling of Peter and Andrew. -
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The cylindrical campanile dates to the 9th-10th century. -
Classe
Moses in the sea of clouds. -
Classe
A lot of mosaics were ruined (probably by the Venetians), but the apse and arch remained. We're talking 6th century here. On the top is Christ in a medallion with the Evangelists' symbols, underneath twelve lambs and two palms on the sides. -
Classe
Saint Apollinaris praying with 12 little lambs. His coat is covered with golden bees, the symbol of eloquence. Wonderful background decorations, flowers, rocks, plants, birds... -
Classe
What an idyllic scene. -
Classe
Saint Elijah. -
Classe
A 7th century mosaic depicting Abraham, Abel and Melchisedek around an altar. And the Hand. Why are there hinges on the curtains? -
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. -
Classe
Saint Ursus, the bishop of Ravenna ca. 405-431. He built the Orthodox Baptistery.