The Arian Baptistry

The first mosaic site we visited is located right behind the building that we stayed in. It is a baptistry, where Christians of the Arian persuasion went to be baptized. Arianism was eventually eradicated by the not-so-tender mercies of the winning theological party (Trinitarians), but the baptistry was preserved. It is a relatively simple and small brick building with a dome covered by a mosaic. In the center is a beardless Jesus, flanked by John the Baptist on the right, and the river Jordan personified on the left. We spent a lot of time looking at the faces of the Apostles; each face is different and you can almost imagine their characters from the way they are depicted.​

The rest of the building is now bare brick, and, like other old buildings in Ravenna, it is sinking. I include a picture of a 'pop-up' gallery just across the alley from the baptistry; they were selling skateboards, 'street' art, and small images like the big red fellow in the picture.