Symbol of the Blessed in Paradise, a bird perched on a tree branch. Created by Early Christian artists as Christianity spread across the Roman Empire. Detail of vast 300s AD mosaic in the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta at Aquileia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.
Aquileia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy: this bird perched on a branch or twig, symbolising the Blessed in Paradise, was among the vibrant early Christian motifs portrayed in colourful tesserae by mosaic artists working in the ancient city of Aquileia as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire. The vast mosaic pavement of which this design forms a part is now preserved and open to public view within the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, or Basilica of Aquileia. The first church on this site was begun soon after 313 AD, when Roman emperors Constantine and Licinius signed the Edict of Milan. The Edict proclaimed religious toleration throughout the empire and enabled Christian communities to build their first legal places of public worship. The original 4th century church, seat of a bishopric, was built on land in the heart of the Roman metropolis, which once had about 100,000 citizens and was one of the largest cities of the ancient world. Although that building was later destroyed, it was rebuilt four times over several centuries, each time using elements of the previous construction. The present Basilica appears from outside to be built mainly in medieval Romanesque-Gothic style, but inside, the entire pavement is taken up by the colourful 4th century designs revealed between 1909 and 1912. The South Hall pavement, at 750 square metres, is the largest early Christian mosaic in the western world. Visitors can now stand on glass viewing platforms fixed at the level of an 11th century red and white tiled floor that was removed in order to expose the mosaics.
Size: 2848px × 4288px
Location: Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Aquileia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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