The Biblical Magi, Three Wise Men or Three Kings from the East in a Byzantine mosaic, created in the 500s AD, in the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo at Ravenna, Italy. The inscription at the top of the mosaic, identifying the three men as Balthassar, Melchior and Gaspar, is probably the earliest appearance of their names in Christian art. The mosaic dates from a few years after Ravenna was captured by the Byzantine Empire from the Ostrogoths. The Magi were said to have followed the Star of Bethlehem to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newly born Christ Child.
Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy: the Biblical Magi, Three Wise Men or Three Kings from the East in Byzantine mosaic in the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. The mosaic was created in the 6th century AD, a few years after Ravenna was captured by Byzantium from the Ostrogoths. The Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo was originally an Arian church, founded by Theodoric the Great (454 - 526 AD), king of the Ostrogoths, and dedicated to the Redeemer. It was built between 493, when the Goths entered Ravenna, and 526, when Theodoric died. At some point between 556 and 565 AD, after Ravenna was taken by the Byzantines, and after an edict relating to Arian property issued by Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great, the church was consecrated for Catholic use. The majority of mosaics in the Basilica date to the time of Theodoric and are Ostrogoth. But the mosaic depicting the Biblical Magi or Three Wise Men, together with mosaics depicting Martyrs in procession and female Saints in procession, belong to the time of Justinian and are Byzantine.
Size: 4057px × 2695px
Location: Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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