In the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna is the mosaic Emperor Justinian and His A
ID: 295583 • Letter: I
Question
In the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna is the mosaic Emperor Justinian and His Attendants. This mosaic symbolized the presence and power of the Emperor during mass. In reality, the Emperor never set foot inside of the finished church. The figuration is indicative of the Byzantine period of the sixth century; flat, frontal and the figures are seen to be floating without weight. Images like this were meant to be symbols of the spirit not a realistic image of the Emperor. The halo a flat disc behind the head of the emperor conveys the power of God and the purple robe that he is wearing is symbolic of the power of the state.
True or False
Explanation / Answer
True
It is not the realistic image of the emperor because the emperor never set foot inside the church. A major theme is this mosaic is the authority of the Emperor and this mosaic establishes the central position of the Emperor dressed in imperial purple robe is a symbol of the power of the state.