Ravenna - part 2

The main attraction on our trip to Ravenna was the Church of San Vitale. I was going to call it a basilica, but was warned not to by art history persons who shall remain nameless. According to one unreliable website, it is an ecclesiastical basilica even though it is not in the architectural form of a basilica. Whatever. I will let the scholars debate.


Here we see that it is obviously not in the shape of a basilica, but I really liked the way it looked. It was begun in 527 and took about 20 years to complete. That means that it was begun when the barbarian Ostrogoths were in charge of the area and finished after the Byzantine general Belisarius had temporarily retaken Ravenna for Eastern Emperor Justinian.


The church is octagonal and combines Roman and Byzantine elements. It was quite different from the other, later churches I had seen so far.


The upper ambulatory (whatever that means) was reserved for married women (whatever that means).


The dome above.


In the apse we see the famous and very important mosaics. They are probably the most famous mosaics and works of Byzantine art in the world.


Here we see J.C. surrounded by two angels, St. Vitale, and Bishop Ecclesius. Jesus is offering a martyr's crown to St. Vitale. Ecclesius is offering the church to Jesus.


Here we see the right side of the arch. The arch mosaics show pictures of Jesus (at the top), the twelve apostles, and the two sons of St. Vitale (St. Gervasius and St. Protasius, remember them? I don't.).


It is incredibly beautiful, especially in person. The sunlight reflecting off of the mosaics has an amazing effect.


I think these feet and table legs look like an impossible M. C. Escher drawing.


Here is Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor who temporarily reclaimed some of the Western Roman Empire's territory.


Here is his wife, the Empress Theodora. She came from a dubious background. For more information call Sarah Tangeman and insist that she sings the song about her set to the tune of Abba's Dancing Queen. You won't regret it.


Here's a little bit of a close-up on the mosaic tiles. You can kind of see the effect that comes from the tiles being in different directions and depths. It would be better if the picture was larger. It would be better again if you went and saw it in person. Then stop by Florence and buy us dinner.


Again, you can kind of see the arrangement of the mosaic tiles in the light.