Question

What does the Justinian mosaic in the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna demonstrate?

Answer 1

It depicts political authority. The mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court is one of the most famous images from the Middle Ages that depict political authority located at the church of San Vitale sanctuary in Ravenna, Italy.

Aside from the depiction of the Emperor Justinian’s political power, the mosaic is also a visual testament of Justinian’s reign’s major ambitions which are to heir to the tradition of Roman Emperors and to restore the territorial boundaries of the Roman Empire.

Justinian is a Christian Emperor so he is considering his self as a defender of faith aiming to build religious uniformity throughout the Empire.