Peacocks in Toscana : Ravenna

Monday 9th of September 2013

Well, we're back, horribly jet lagged, I've been up since 3:00am, so I'm going to attempt to finish this blog.

We'd intended to go to Ravenna on the way back from Nurit and Yaron's on Sunday, but didn't quite make it. So we traveled back to Aviano where we'd booked lodging on base till the plane back on Thursday morning, intending to spend 2 days at the Venice Biennale (and see a bit of Venice too), and then go to Padua and perhaps Verona. But first I had to see Ravenna and its mosaics.

As Rome's power declined in the Middle Ages, Ravenna became the capitol of the Byzantine Empire, around 400AD, and became renowned for it's early Christian mosaics. The mosaics are truly unique and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photography was a bit tricky - no flash, but we did our best, Dennis's best was better than mine. For anyone who's seeing this for the first time, these are all mosaics, not paintings. I'll stop talking now and show you Ravenna.

San Vitale Basilica 546-556AD

Enterance

The Apse

Apse - Jesus on the globe flanked by angels Michael and Gabriel, a bishop and St Vitale

Sacrifice of Isaac, and the three angels

Abel and Malkiztedek

Justinian panel

Justinian panel - Justinian I flanked by his soldiers and the clergy

Theodora panel - Empress Theodora (wife of Justinian) flanked by her entourage

Dome vault - The Lamb in a wreath held by 4 angels

Peacocks in Ravenna

More peacocks

From the back

Galla Placidia Mausoleum 386-452AD

This tiny cruciform building looks so unassuming

All the iconography represents the Christian notion of resurrection and eternal life.

This strange scene is thought to be of St. Lawrence and his flaming grill, also a bookcase with the 4 gospels.

Jesus portrayed as the good shepherd

Harts approach a pool of water illustrating Psalm 42 "As the hart panteth after the water brooks..." or in the original: כְּאַיָּל, תַּעֲרֹג עַל-אֲפִיקֵי-מָיִם. תהילים מב

Sky with 570 stars

Sant' Apollinare Nuovo Basilica 493- 1st quater of 6th centuryAD

Entrance and bell tower

Upper band left: 13 small mosaics depicting Jesus's miracles and parables, right: 13 mosaics depicting the Passion and Resurrection. Middle band: saints, prophets and evangelists, 16 on each side. Bottom band left: procession of the 22 Virgins led by the 3 Magi from Classe city to the Madonna and Child surrounded by 4 angels, right: procession of 26 Martyrs led by St Martin and St. Apollinaris from Theodoric's Palace to Jesus enthroned amid four angels

3 Magi, Mary, Jesus and 4 Angels

Theodoric's Palace

Classe city

Virgins

Neonian Baptistry 396AD

The baptism of Jesus by Yohanan in the River Jordan personified by the old man. Surrounding the baptism medallion 12 apostles led by Peter and Paul. Surrounding them is a representation of the Christian notion of heaven with 4 thrones referring to the 4 gospels.