E06047: Mosaics from the 6th c. depicting the Apostles, *Gervasius and Protasius (martyrs of Milan, S00313), and *Vitalis (martyr of Ravenna, S02826) in San Vitale, Ravenna (northern Italy).

Mosaics from San Vitale, Ravenna

Portraits of twelve apostles and Gervasius and Protasius are depicted on the underside of an arch which leads from the presbytery to the nave of the church. The portraits are depicted in highly decorated medallions and are set against a blue background. All figures are dressed in white, are haloed, and their names are given within the medallion.

The order of the portraits is as follows (from the top of the arch to the bottom):

South:

PET RVS (*Peter, the Apostle, S00036).
ANDR EAS (*Andrew, the Apostle, S00288).
IOHAN NIS (*John, the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042).
BARTO LOMEW (*Bartholomew, the Apostle, S00256).
MAT THEV S (*Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist, S00791).
THAD DEVS (*Jude Thaddaeus, Apostle, S00792).
GERB ASIUS (*Gervasius, martyr of Milan, S00313).

North:

[PAV] LVS (*Paul, the Apostle, S00008).
IACO BVS (*James, the Apostle, son of Zebedee, S00108).
PHILI PPVS (*Philip, the Apostle, S00109).
THO MAS (*Thomas, the Apostle, S00199).
IACO BVSA̅L̅ (*James, the Apostle, son of Alphaeus, S01801).
SIM̅O̅ C̅H̅A̅N̅ (*Simon Kananaios, the Zealot, the Apostle, S00835).
PRO TASIV S (*Protasius, martyr of Milan, S00313).

An image in the apse depicts four figures standing in a landscape against a gold background. A beardless Christ sits haloed in the centre on an orb and is flanked by two angels. On the far right, Ecclesius (bishop of Ravenna, 522-532), the only figure represented without a halo, offers up the church to Christ. On the far left, Vitalis is represented as an old man with a halo. Labels are provided for both Ecclesius (ECCLESIVSEPIS) and Vitalis (SCSVITALIS).

Description: Frances Trzeciak.