Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Theodorich the Great

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 Battistero degli Ariani (Arian Baptistery) was erected by Theodorich the Great, after he had taken Ravenna in 493. The Ostrogoths and their King Theodorich were Arian Christs. The Arian Baptistery is very much like the nearby (catholic/orthodox) Battistero Neoniano ("Baptistery of Neon") completed under Bishop Neon about 50 years earlier, but smaller. After Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, and after the condemnation of the Arian sect, this baptistery was converted into an oratory named Santa Maria. Orthodox monks added a monastery during the period of the Exarchate of Ravenna and further dedicated the structure to Saint Maria in Cosmedin. Over the centuries the octagonal brick structure has sunken about 2,30 meters into the ground.

The Battistero degli Ariani (Arian Baptistery) was erected by Theodorich the Great, after he had taken Ravenna in 493. The Ostrogoths and their King Theodorich were Arian Christs. The Arian Baptistery is very much like the nearby (catholic/orthodox) Battistero Neoniano ("Baptistery of Neon") completed under Bishop Neon about 50 years earlier, but smaller. After Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, and after the condemnation of the Arian sect, this baptistery was converted into an oratory named Santa Maria. Orthodox monks added a monastery during the period of the Exarchate of Ravenna and further dedicated the structure to Saint Maria in Cosmedin. Over the centuries the octagonal brick structure has sunken about 2,30 meters into the ground. Inside the small baptistery the tourists look up to the mosaic of the apse.

The Battistero degli Ariani (Arian Baptistery) was erected by Theodorich the Great, after he had taken Ravenna in 493. The Ostrogoths and their King Theodorich were Arian Christs. The Arian Baptistery is very much like the nearby (catholic/orthodox) Battistero Neoniano ("Baptistery of Neon") completed under Bishop Neon about 50 years earlier, but smaller. After Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, and after the condemnation of the Arian sect, this baptistery was converted into an oratory named Santa Maria. Orthodox monks added a monastery during the period of the Exarchate of Ravenna and further dedicated the structure to Saint Maria in Cosmedin. Over the centuries the octagonal brick structure has sunken about 2,30 meters into the ground. The mosaic of the baptistery´s dome. Seems a bit like a simplified copy of the mosaic of the Battistero Neoniano. Here the the diameter of the dome is smaller, so the composition had to be "simpler". While in the Neonano are two concentruc bands around the central medaillion, here is only one. The center is similar. Christ standing up to his waist in the water of the River Jordan. Christ is young, beardless and - naked. Christ is flanked by John the Baptist and a personification of the River Jordan. The twelve apostles on the band around thie scene are devided in two groups. One group is led by Saint Peter, holding the keys, the other by Saint Paul, holding two scrolls. They are approaching a sumptious throne with an large purple cushion supporting a jeweled cross.

The Battistero degli Ariani (Arian Baptistery) was erected by Theodorich the Great, after he had taken Ravenna in 493. The Ostrogoths and their King Theodorich were Arian Christs. The Arian Baptistery is very much like the nearby (catholic/orthodox) Battistero Neoniano ("Baptistery of Neon") completed under Bishop Neon about 50 years earlier, but smaller. After Byzantine Emperor Justinian's general Belisarius had taken Ravenna in 540, and after the condemnation of the Arian sect, this baptistery was converted into an oratory named Santa Maria. Orthodox monks added a monastery during the period of the Exarchate of Ravenna and further dedicated the structure to Saint Maria in Cosmedin. Over the centuries the octagonal brick structure has sunken about 2,30 meters into the ground. The mosaic of the baptistery´s dome. Seems a bit like a simplified copy of the mosaic of the Battistero Neoniano. Here the the diameter of the dome is smaller, so the composition had to be "simpler". While in the Neonano are two concentruc bands around the central medaillion, here is only one. The center, seen here, is similar. Christ standing up to his waist in the water of the River Jordan. Christ is young, beardless and - naked. He is flanked by John the Baptist and a personification of the River Jordan. Over his head the white dove.

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.