SAN VITALE 

     There is much of the art work in San Vitale that is based on Biblical scripture, most of which is mosaic art. There are mosaics of scenes depicting Moses receiving the Word of God, the representations of the Gospel writers, and other Biblical iconography. “In Justinianic decorations, moreover, there is no strict iconographical scheme to which every detail is subjected.” [7] This meaning that the different icons in San Vitale have no specific rhyme or reason behind them. The icons are so diverse, coming from different books of the Bible and the Old and New Testaments. There are even mosaics of San Vitalis receiving his crown of martyrdom from Jesus, who is seated on a depiction of the world. Some speculate, though, that many of the scenes are setting up the story and background needed to understand the sacrifice of God, being Jesus. Even on the ceiling of the church, there is a scene showing four angels standing of the earth and surrounding a sacrificial lamb. This sacrificial lamb, which is adorned with a halo, is a representation of Jesus. Iconography can even be seen in the architecture of the building. The columns about the church are not like the traditional ancient styles of columns, including doric, ionic, and corinthian. These columns are beautifully cut marble and at the top containing small iconography, including crosses and symbolic representations of Jesus, like the peacock. This could be the Byzantine Christians trying to create their own style of distinctive columns to set them apart from the others.

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7. Lyn Rodley. Byzantine Art and Architecture: An Introduction. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1994.