A tile mosaic in San Vitale in Ravenna shows Theodora (third from left), wife of Byzantine emperor Justinian, and attendants.

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Theodora (died 548) was the wife of the Byzantine emperor Justinian. This tile mosaic showing Theodora, third from left, moving with her attendants into the church. Theodora holds a chalice with wine, symbolically for the communion offering. Note how the folds of the garment Theodora is wearing is more three-dimensional than those worn by the other figures. The mosaic decorates an apse in the Cathedral of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, and dates to 548, just before Theodora's death. Accompanying it was a mosaic that showed her husband and his attendants.

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Size: 5166px × 3629px
Photo credit: © Ivy Close Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: ages, byzantine, cathedral, cathedrals, catholic, christian, christianity, church, church., clothes, clothing, dress, east, empire, empress, europe, european, holy, justinian, middle, mosaic, paganism, purple, ravenna, roman, royalty, san, theodora, tyrian, vitale