Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Dietrich von Bern

The Mausoleo di Teodorico ("Mausoleum of Theoderich") was erected in 520 as the future tomb of Theodorich the Great. At that time it was outside the city and surrounded by a Gothic graveyard. The structure of the mausoleum is divided into two decagons, one above the other. Both are made of stones from Istria (today part of Croatia). Its roof is a single 300–ton Istrian stone, 10 meters in diameter! The lower room was probably a chapel for funeral liturgies. In the room above is the porphyry stone tomb, seen here. In this tomb Theoderich was buried, after he had died in 526. When Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, Theoderich´s bones were scattered and his mausoleum was converted to a Christian oratory. Like many structures of that age in Ravenna, the mausoleum was built on soft ground. Finally silting from the river Badareno had partly submerged it. So in the late 19th century the area around was drained, the mausoleum got excavated and restored. Theoderich was remembered in Germanic legend as "Dietrich von Bern". Bern is the Middle High German name for Verona. On the tomb are many small graffiti, maybe dating from the time of Belisarius.

The Mausoleo di Teodorico ("Mausoleum of Theoderich") was erected in 520 as the future tomb of Theodorich the Great. At that time it was outside the city and surrounded by a Gothic graveyard. The structure of the mausoleum is divided into two decagons, one above the other. Both are made of stones from Istria (today part of Croatia). Its roof is a single 300–ton Istrian stone, 10 meters in diameter! The lower room was probably a chapel for funeral liturgies. In the room above is the porphyry stone tomb, in which Theoderic was buried, after he had died in 526. When Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, Theoderich´s bones were scattered and his mausoleum was converted to a Christian oratory. Like many structures of that age in Ravenna, the mausoleum was built on soft ground. Finally silting from the river Badareno had partly submerged it. So in the late 19th century the area around was drained, the mausoleum got excavated and restored. Theoderich was remembered in Germanic legend as "Dietrich von Bern". Bern is the Middle High German name for Verona.

The Mausoleo di Teodorico ("Mausoleum of Theoderich") was erected in 520 as the future tomb of Theodorich the Great. At that time it was outside the city and surrounded by a Gothic graveyard. The structure of the mausoleum is divided into two decagons, one above the other. Both are made of stones from Istria (today part of Croatia). Its roof is a single 300–ton Istrian stone, 10 meters in diameter! The lower room was probably a chapel for funeral liturgies. In the room above is the porphyry stone tomb, in which Theoderic was buried, after he had died in 526. When Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, Theoderich´s bones were scattered and his mausoleum was converted to a Christian oratory. Like many structures of that age in Ravenna, the mausoleum was built on soft ground. Finally silting from the river Badareno had partly submerged it. So in the late 19th century the area around was drained, the mausoleum got excavated and restored. Theoderich was remembered in Germanic legend as "Dietrich von Bern". Bern is the Middle High German name for Verona.

In 488, Byzantine Emperor Zeno encouraged Theoderich to overthrow Zeno´s former ally Odoacer. Odoacer, King of Italy since 476, had supported a rebellious rival of Zeno. Theoderich invaded Italy with his army in 488 and - after a two years siege - took Ravenna in 493. After some negociations, Theoderich and Odoacer signed a treaty that assured both parties would rule over Italy. A banquet was organised in order to celebrate. It was at this party that Theoderic, after making a toast, drew his sword and killed Odoacer. Theoderich so became the first king of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, married Audofleda, sister of Clovis I. He died in 526, at the age of 72, and as "Dietrich von Bern" became a hero of German legend. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was commissioned by Theodoric as his palace chapel. This was an Arian church, consecrated in 504. Starting in 535, the Byzantine Empire invaded Italy under Justinian I. After Byzantine troops had conquered Ravenna the basilica got "remodeled", converted into a Catholic church and finally reconsecrated in 561. Much of the "remodeling" was to get rid of portraits of the former rulers. Here is on the left Theoderich´s palace (= PALA TIUM). In the back is probably this church. To the rights are some details. When the mosaic was created, it had Theoderich the Great in the center and beside him in both sides his family and his court. So now, the spaces between the columns were blacked out and covered up with curtains, but actually the columns stayed unchanged. There are still some hands or at least fingers to find, that once belonged to the Arian Ostrogoths.

In 488, Byzantine Emperor Zeno encouraged Theoderich to overthrow Zeno´s former ally Odoacer. Odoacer, King of Italy since 476, had supported a rebellious rival of Zeno. Theoderich invaded Italy with his army in 488 and - after a two years siege - took Ravenna in 493. After some negociations, Theoderich and Odoacer signed a treaty that assured both parties would rule over Italy. A banquet was organised in order to celebrate. It was at this party that Theoderic, after making a toast, drew his sword and killed Odoacer. Theoderich so became the first king of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, married Audofleda, sister of Clovis I. He died in 526, at the age of 72, and as "Dietrich von Bern" became a hero of German legend. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was commissioned by Theodoric as his palace chapel. This was an Arian church, consecrated in 504. Starting in 535, the Byzantine Empire invaded Italy under Justinian I. After Byzantine troops had conquered Ravenna the basilica got "remodeled", converted into a Catholic church and finally reconsecrated in 561. Much of the "remodeling" was to get rid of portraits of the former rulers. Seen here is the town of Classe and it´s harbour, about 6kms southeast of Ravenna. From there relics were transferred to this church. The space, where the golden wall is now, was probably originally filled with portraits of Theodorich and his court, starting the "translatio". The golden wall is massive and pretty crude. To erase (no longer liked) persons from photos today is done by experienced photoshop-experts. The task here was a bit different.

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona. The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church. When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I. On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138. The façade is striking! It was created in two different stages. The portico and the portal were carved before 1138 by Niccolò (see "Duomo de Verona") and his school. During the second half of the 12th century Master Guglielmo ("Gugliemus") completed the facade. There are four reliefs that are very uncommon and probably connect to Theodoric the Great (+526). The previous upload had the two of the right side, so here are the two of the left side. This is "interpreted" as the fight between Theodoric the Great and his opponent Odoacer during the "Rabenschlacht" (493). Raben (= Ravenna) was held by Odoacer. After a two years siege, Theoderic won the "Rabenschlacht" conquered Ravenna and forced Odoacer to sign a treaty. Only ten days later Odoacer was slain by Theoderich while they shared a meal. This battle as well is echoed" within the Hildebrandslied and the saga of Dietrich von Bern. The lady inbetween the reliefs was added later.