Picture Day Friday: Mosaics of Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

Sixth century Byzantine mosaics of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy. It was built in c.504 by the Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great. He was an Arian and dedicated the church to Christ the Redeemer. It was re-consecrated in c.561 to Sanctus Martinus in Coelo Aureo (Saint Martin in Golden Heaven). The basilica was renamed again in c.856 when relics of Saint Apollinaris were brought here.

(Fascinating detail about the Arian sect of Christianity is up on Wikipedia.)


[Image copyrighted by Europe's History.]