The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a Late Antique Roman building in Ravenna, Italy, built between 425 and 450. It was added to the World Heritage List together with seven other structures in Ravenna in 1996. Despite its common name, the empress Galla Placidia (d. 450) was not buried in the building, a misconception dating from the thirteenth century; she died in Rome and was buried there, probably alongside Honorius in the Mausoleum of Honorius at Old Saint Peter's Basilica.

History

thumb|Ceiling

The "mausoleum" of Galla Placidia, built 425–450, is a cruciform chapel or oratory that originally adjoined the narthex of the Church of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce) in Ravenna, which was built in 417 as the church for the imperial palace. It was probably dedicated to Saint Lawrence.

A basilica in Ravenna dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist (San Giovanni Evangelista) was also built by Galla Placidia after 425; it commemorated the augusta<nowiki/>'s and her children's deliverance from a threatening storm during a sea-voyage and was adorned with portraits of her and other members of the Theodosian dynasty.

The floor has been raised by five feet since the fifth century in order to remain above the rising water along the upper Adriatic coast.

Architecture and decoration

thumb|Ceiling mosaic [[Garden of Eden.]]

The mausoleum is laid out in a cruciform floor plan, with a central dome on pendentives and barrel vaults over the four transepts. The exterior of the dome is enclosed in a square tower that rises above the gabled lateral wings. The and decorated with blind arcades. Light enters through modern alabaster window panels.

North entrance mosaic - the Good Shepherd

thumb|[[Good Shepherd|The Good Shepherd]]

The figure of the Good Shepherd and pastoral scenes were familiar to Christian thought; depictions of a young man, the criophorus, bearing on his shoulders a sheep were known in the ancient world from the 6th century BC and was adopted from the late 3rd century AD into Christian art, especially in funerary contexts. The shepherd was understood to represent Christ, as in John 10:11-17 and Luke 15:4-7. Here the beardless figure of the shepherd is in imperial garb, wearing purple and gold and bearing a cruciform staff in place of the usual shepherd's crook.

He holds an imperial staff joined to the Christian cross, .

South transept lunette - male saint

thumb|Southern lunette.

The art historian Gillian Mackie argues that this panel represents the Spanish Saint Vincent of Saragossa rather than the Italian Saint Lawrence. Mackie cites Galla's connection to Spain; in addition, St. Vincent was martyred by drowning at sea, and Galla and her children had been delivered from shipwreck. The panel seems to be an illustration of . In the poem St. Vincent is ordered to disclose his sacred books to be burned. This explains the cupboard containing the Gospels, which has no satisfactory explanation in the story of St. Lawrence.

See also

  • List of Roman domes
  • Ancient Roman architecture
  • Ancient Roman and Byzantine domes
  • Church architecture

References

  • Galla Placidia Mausoleum