The Arian & Orthodox Baptisteries of Ravenna

Ravenna is lucky enough to have two early Christian Baptisteries, the Orthodox and Arian.

The Orthodox Baptistery of Bishop Ursus

We start with the earliest, the Orthodox, which was built by Bishop Ursus in c 400 AD. on an octagonal plan, although updated c 450-460 by Bishop Neone, who added the dome and completed the decoration. It is now virtually intact, although the lower wall decoration has undergone much restoration.

Close up of the font. Interestingly enough the detail of the side slab shown is incomplete and has been truncated on it's right side. The symbolism in this slab, particularly the solitary lamb, possibly paired with one on the missing right side, looks very like an Arian source. as this format is common on Arian Sarcophogi (See here). It is possible that this font was removed from the Arian baptistery, when it was stripped and turned into an Oratory by Bishop Agnello in c. 559 AD.

The central dome mosaic visible on the day of our visit, part was obscured due to work on conservation. The light patch of mosaic arround the head of John the Baptist has been restored and no-one has any idea of what was originally in this position. The current picture looks very like a copy of the same area in the Arian baptistery, see below!

The central dome mosaic and its relationship to the decoration above the arches of the windows

Close up of two processing figures. There is a lot more evidence of movement in these figures as compared to the Arian Baptistery mosaic.

Detailed picture of restored lower decoration.

Built by the Bishops at the time of Theoderic, 493-500 AD, it was originally joined to the Arian Cathedral, built during the same time, by an ambulatory. At the time of our visit, the latter church was closed and boarded up, probably being restored. Following the recapture of Ravenna by Justinian, the Arian cathedral was converted to an Orthodox Oratory by Bishop Agnello, in 557-570 AD, whilst he also converted the Baptistery also to an Oratory in C. 559 AD. The current bare stone walls of the latter suggest that all other decoration, other than the dome mosaic, was removed at this time, possibly including the transfer of it's font (see above).

The exterior of the Arian Baptistery.

The interior of the Arian baptistery, showing the stripped walls.

The Arian baptistery, dome mosaic.

The Arian baptistery, central area of the dome mosaic. Note the similarity of the Dove of God delivering the water of baptism, to the same restored area in the Orthodox baptistery.

Detail of mosaic, showing throne. The meaning of the capital letters shown on many of the figures clothing has now been lost!