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Pomposa Abbey
Ah, the apocalypse. One of the seven-headed beasts. But the real beast here is you, Alesso Bersano. -
Pomposa Abbey
The unfortunate ending of Saint Eustace and his family in a brazen bull. Yes, this was a torture device: one was locked in the bronze bull and then fire was lit underneath the bull... -
Museo Arcivescovile
Immortal peacocks on a sarcophagus. -
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
I told you it was fake. Just painted on the wall. Oh well. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Mark's lion holding the thickest Gospel - despite Mark's Gospel being the shortest of all four. -
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 later sarcophagi were decorated with simpler patterns, like these immortal peacocks drinking from the fountain of life. -
Pomposa Abbey
What a lovely peacock. A peacock is apparently considered incorruptible, representing the yearning for heavenly beatitude. -
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. -
Basilica of San Vitale
The apostles, decorated with fish! Fish! -
Basilica of San Vitale
The Lamb of God, supported by four angels standing on blue globes. And plenty of animals, my favourite being peacocks. -
Saint Andrew's Chapel
The dome is decorated with four angels pointing towards IX, and the four symbols of the evangelists. -
Museo Arcivescovile
Pulpit - ambo (597) shows plenty of animals as well as Saints John and Paul. Made out of a reused old sarcophagus. -
Museo Arcivescovile
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Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
The Good Shepherd, depicted as a pretty well-off young man with fancy shoes and stockings. This mosaic was found on a different (older) level that the previous ones. -
Classe
What an idyllic scene. -
Classe
My guess would be that the difference in green background also means the border between the original and restored mosaics. -
Classe
More idyllic scenery. Not all of it is completely original though, but I don't know which part is and which isn't.