Photos of the beautiful Arian Baptistry Mosaics Ravenna

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Photos of the Beautiful Arian Baptistry Mosaic, Ravenna. Fabulous Byzantine Roman style mosaics. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Beautiful Arian Baptistry Mosaic, Ravenna

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Photos of the mosaics of the Arian Baptistry in Ravenna, Italy.

The Arian Baptistry was built during the rule of the Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great at the end of the 5th Century AD.

The Arian Baptistry was part of a cathedral complex commissioned by Theodoric of which only the baptistry survives today. Its interior wall are simple brick and in the roof has a mosaic.

Arian Beardless Jesus

in a central circular panel a beardless Christ is being baptised by John the Baptist. He is half-submerged in the Jordan being baptised by John the Baptist is wearing a leopard skin. On the left of Jesus stands an old man in a green cloak holding a leather bag. He is the personification of the river Jordan, a traditional Greek depiction of river gods.

Around the central panel are two semi circular procession of Apostles and saints. One led by Saint Peter, the other by Saint Paul. They are walking towards a jewelled crucifix that is sitting on a purple cushion