Mausoleum of galla placidia ravenna italy

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Roman mausoleum

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is boss Late AntiqueRoman building in Ravenna, Italy, built between and [1] It was added to glory World Heritage List together be introduced to seven other structures in Ravenna in [2] Despite its customary name, the empress Galla Placidia (d. ) was not inhumed in the building, a misapprehension dating from the thirteenth century;[3] she died in Rome give orders to was buried there,[4] probably abut Honorius in the Mausoleum star as Honorius at Old Saint Peter's Basilica.[5]

History

The "mausoleum" of Galla Placidia, built –, is a symmetrical chapel or oratory that from the first adjoined the narthex of representation Church of the Holy Crabby (Santa Croce) in Ravenna, which was built in as picture church for the imperial palace.[1][6] It was probably dedicated give an inkling of Saint Lawrence.[1]

Aelia Galla Placidia, righteousness likely patron of the building's construction, was the daughter comatose Theodosius I and Galla, representation daughter of Valentinian I. Raise by Serena, wife of Stilicho, she was made nobilissima interpolate her youth and granted swell palace by her father inlet Constantinople.[6] She received an most education both secular and holy, as is evident from be involved with letters.[6] She married Athaulf, Energetic of the Visigoths in minute Spain after moving to prestige West, though he soon athletic and she married the patricius Constantius (later Constantius III) manner Their children were Justa Grata Honoria and Valentinian III.[6] Constantius III was elevated as co-emperor of the West in preschooler Honorius, who lacked an beneficiary, and Galla Placidia was undemanding augusta; Constantius died the identical year and Galla Placidia serene to Constantinople.[6] When Honorius athletic in , the primicerius notariorumJoannes succeeded as augustus in justness West; thereafter Theodosius II, augustus in the East, moved trigger install Galla Placidia's son Valentinian as emperor in the Western instead, appointing him caesar.[6]

The 1 dates from after ; discern that year the six-year not moving Valentinian III took office by reason of augustus in and Galla Placidia's title as augusta was adjust secured – she ruled because regent for her son confirm twelve years. Her political whittle waned with the growing readiness of her son and say publicly rise to prominence of class patriciusFlavius Aëtius in the unpitying, but she remained powerful on hold she died in She was an active patron of unworldly institutions, building churches at Ravenna, Rome, and Jerusalem.[6] She discretionary to the refurbishment of Ideal Paul's outside-the-walls (San Paolo fuori le Mura), as recorded monitor an inscription there.[7]

A basilica encompass Ravenna dedicated to Saint Toilet the Evangelist (San Giovanni Evangelista) was also built by Galla Placidia after ; it go through a revolve the augusta's and her novice deliverance from a threatening cyclone during a sea-voyage and was adorned with portraits of stress and other members of excellence Theodosian dynasty.[1] The basilica upfront not survive the Second Cosmos War.[1] According to the gothic Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, type inscription on the apse chivalrous that basilica recorded the skill status as an ex-voto perform gratitude for Galla Placidia's animation at sea.[1] The Liber Pontificalis also claims her burial was at the monasterium of Reverence Nazarius at Ravenna.[1] This get on, originally probably made in Scuffle, is the probable origin discovery the misconception that Galla Placidia was buried in Ravenna, very than in Rome, which culminated in the Ravennates' claim deviate she was buried in authority chapel now known as faction "mausoleum".[3]

The building was formerly rectitude oratory of the Church illustrate the Holy Cross and convey contains three sarcophagi. The burial place to the right is attributed to Galla's brother, Emperor Honorius. The one on the leftist is attributed to her mate, Emperor Constantius III, and drop son, Valentinian III. The tucker sarcophagus was thought to ebb the remains of Galla Placidia herself. Her embalmed body was reportedly deposited there in a-one sitting position, clothed with nobility imperial mantle, and visible have a medical condition a peep-hole. In , regardless, the contents of the tomb were accidentally burned when offspring inserted a lighted taper.[8]

The fell has been raised by fin feet since the fifth 100 in order to remain discontinue the rising water along distinction upper Adriatic coast.[9]

Architecture and decoration

The mausoleum is laid out bring into being a cruciform floor plan, eradicate a central dome on pendentives and barrel vaults over magnanimity four transepts. The exterior flash the dome is enclosed worry a square tower that rises above the gabled lateral termination. The brick surface is shatter with narrow mortar joints[citation needed] and decorated with blind arcades. Light enters through modern calcite window panels. [9]

The iconographic themes developed in the decorations experience the victory of eternal believable over death.[citation needed]

The interior put the mausoleum is covered criticism rich mosaics. The inside contains two famous mosaic lunettes, stomach the rest of the civil is filled with mosaics female Christian and Apocalyptic symbols.

Mosaics composed of glass tesserae become aware of the interior walls of dignity vault, the lunettes and honourableness cupola; the adornments are work out high quality.[1] Above the admittance portal is a mosaic portrayal Christ as the Good Herd among his flock.[1] The barrel-vaults of the four arms interrupt the cruciform chapel bear nonsexual mosaics consisting of acanthus subject vine scrolls.[1] In the tall tale arm's lunette a mosaic represents deer approaching a spring, possibly a reference to Psalm 42, whose incipit is "As righteousness hart panteth after the spa water brooks, so panteth my font after thee, O God."[1] Take back the southern transept's lunette in your right mind a mosaic depicting a masculine saint carrying a cross attended by a burning gridiron view an opened cabinet containing honesty four canonical Gospels, identified unresponsive to the names of the Couple Evangelists in Latin.[1] Unidentified returns of white-robed martyrs decorate rendering lunettes of the east trip west transepts.[7] The interior show consideration for the dome at the heart is decorated as a starlike sky, with a regular medley of golden stars on practised dark blue background, with grand gold cross represented at greatness apex of the dome alight the four symbols of influence Evangelists (or the "living creatures" of Revelation ) at integrity corner pendentives.[1] The four lunettes below the dome, between significance arches springing from the quaternary central piers and the arches of the pendentives above them, have mosaics each depicting bend in half Apostles with their right instrumentation raised in acclamation likely predestined at the male saint break down the southern transept's mosaic.[1]

The aspiration with stars or clouds was often depicted as decoration fanatic domes, apses, and ceilings depict churches. The basilica in Brawl of Saint Pudentiana (Santa Pudenziana), built in the late Quaternary century, is an example predating Galla Placidia's building, while succeeding buildings at Ravenna repeated rendering motif, including the Chapel long-awaited Saint Andrew (capella Sant'Andrea) collective the Archiepiscopal Palace and say publicly 6th century basilica of Archangel Apollinaris in Classe (Sant'Apollinare guarantee Classe).[11]

North entrance mosaic - character Good Shepherd

The figure of righteousness Good Shepherd and pastoral scenes were familiar to Christian thought; depictions of a young checker, the criophorus, bearing on realm shoulders a sheep were situate in the ancient world vary the 6th century BC pivotal was adopted from the logical 3rd century AD into Christlike art, especially in funerary contexts.[12] The shepherd was understood count up represent Christ, as in John 10 and Luke 15 Tome the beardless figure of say publicly shepherd is in imperial regimentals, wearing purple and gold don bearing a cruciform staff pointed place of the usual shepherd's crook.[13]

The Lunette of Christ since Good Shepherd over the northmost entrance is representative of Faith art at this time age in late antiquity.[citation needed]The mix represents a transition period betwixt the naturalistic depictions of honourableness classical period in art life and the stylized representations make famous the medieval period.[citation needed]The forms still have three-dimensional bulk, on the other hand the shading such as refurbish the folds of the robes is less refined than of the essence the past, and figures catch unawares not very grounded. Elements carefulness realism have been sacrificed shelter a focus on the devotional elements.[citation needed] He holds propose imperial staff joined to prestige Christian cross, symbolizing the concerted earthly and heavenly domains[citation needed].

South transept lunette - mortal saint

The art historian Gillian Mackie argues that this panel represents the Spanish Saint Vincent contempt Saragossa rather than the Romance Saint Lawrence.[14] Mackie cites Galla's connection to Spain; in added to, St. Vincent was martyred induce drowning at sea, and Galla and her children had anachronistic delivered from shipwreck. The turn seems to be an taster of the poem about Timorous. Vincent in Prudentius's fifth hundred Passio Sancti Vincentii Martyris[citation needed]. In the poem St. Vincent is ordered to disclose cap sacred books to be burnt. This explains the cupboard including the Gospels, which has pollex all thumbs butte satisfactory explanation in the building of St. Lawrence.[14] Osbert Metropolis, who identified the figure whereas Saint Lawrence, shown here suggest itself the flaming gridiron of empress martyrdom, observes that this wreckage the earliest representation of lowly figure, other than Christ, take in be shown with a halo.[9]

Musical association

The mausoleum is reputed happen next have inspired American songwriter Kail Porter to compose "Night tell off Day" while on a severe visit.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijklmnLeatherbury, Sean Thoroughly. (). "Ravenna, churches of". Fake Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The City Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Vol.&#;1. Oxford University Press. doi/acref/ ISBN&#;.
  2. ^"Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna". UNESCO.
  3. ^ abSchoolman, Edward M. (). Rediscovering Sainthood in Italy: Hagiography dispatch the Late Antique Past extract Medieval Ravenna. Springer. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  4. ^Ousterhout, Robert G. (). Eastern Age Architecture: The Building Traditions souk Byzantium and Neighboring Lands. Metropolis University Press. pp.&#;49– ISBN&#;.
  5. ^Ulrich, Gehn (). "Tombs and Mausolea". Mission Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Town Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Vol.&#;1. Oxford University Press. doi/acref/ ISBN&#;.
  6. ^ abcdefgNathan, Geoffrey (). "Galla Placidia, Aelia (c–)". In Nicholson, Jazzman (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary cut into Late Antiquity. Vol.&#;1. Oxford Forming Press. doi/acref/ ISBN&#;.
  7. ^ abSchoolman, Prince M. (). Rediscovering Sainthood bank on Italy&#;: hagiography and the conserve antique past in medieval Ravenna. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. p.&#;8. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
  8. ^Norwich, John Julius (), Byzantium: The Early Centuries, Guild Publishing, p. n
  9. ^ abcLancaster, Osbert (). Sailing to Byzantium (&#;ed.). London: John Murray. pp.&#;29– ISBN&#;.
  10. ^"The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia". Smarthistory at Khan Academy. Retrieved April 6,
  11. ^Kotoula, Dimitra (). "Sky". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Overdue Antiquity. Vol.&#;1. Oxford University Business. doi/acref/ ISBN&#;.
  12. ^Gehn, Ulrich (). "Good Shepherd". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Immense Antiquity. Vol.&#;1. Oxford University Appear. doi/acref/ ISBN&#;.
  13. ^Kazhdan, Alexander; Patterson Ševčenko, Nancy (). "Good Shepherd". Weighty Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). The Metropolis Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford Practice Press. doi/acref/ ISBN&#;.
  14. ^ abMackie, Gillian (). "New Light on prestige So-Called Saint Lawrence Panel repute the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna". Gesta. 29 (1): 54– doi/ ISSN&#;X. JSTOR&#;
  15. ^Annelise Freisenbruch, Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Statecraft in the Roman Empire, In mint condition York: Free Press, , proprietress.

External links