The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe

Apse mosaics of the Basilica of St. Apollinari in Classe dated ca. 549 AD. In the lowest row standing bishops of Ravenna in curtained niches between the windows, in what constitutes the terrestrial zone of this great cosmic conception. In the lower part of the conch, the garden of the paradise, its little trees planted so carefully that they never overlap one another, is depicted quite flat without any suggestion of recession, for in this eternal sphere where there is no time there can be no space.

St Apollinaris, the first bishop of Ravenna, his hands raised in the traditional gesture of prayer (orans) and wearing the eucharistic chasuble of an officiating priest, stands in the centre, with six sheep on either side, representing the 12 apostles. The more sheep are placed at the top of the landscape to symbolize St Peter and the brothers St John and St James witnessing the Transfiguration. The Gospel according to St Matthew states that Christ took them up to a high mountain and was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. In the mosaic two prophets are shown emerging from clouds and blinding glory of Christ is symbolized by a jeweled cross set in dark blue star studded disc. At the very top of the apse the hand of God reaches down through clouds. Iconographically the whole scheme is quite unprecedented.

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