Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe
Apollinare in Classe is a church in Classe, one south of the main town situated fraction of Ravenna, Italy.
It is famous above all - as the other Byzantine churches of Ravenna - through the wall mosaics in its interior. Together with seven other ancient monuments in Ravenna Apollinare in Classe was registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
History
The construction of the church was begun under Bishop Ursicinus; on May 9, 549 was consecrated by Bishop Maximian. The rich banker Julian Argentarius financed the construction. The term in Classe comes from the ancient Roman city of Civitas Classis at that time ( here later silted ) port of Ravenna ago, which was built under Emperor Augustus to defend the Adriatic to the second largest naval port of the Roman Empire. The city had a homogeneous population with many immigrants from the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. So also St. Apollinaris in Antioch came in the late 1st or early 2nd century here. He called the first Christian church in Ravenna to life and became its first bishop. The basilica was erected over his grave. In the middle of the 9th century, his remains were transferred to the church of Saint Apollinare Nuovo, since this centrally lay in Ravenna and not in the more remote port area and was easier to protect against looting.
Outside
The outer walls of the church are simple and consist of an array of narrow red bricks (48 × 4 cm ) on white Kalkbett (4 cm), which the Church can appear striped red and white. There is a three-mullioned window above the entrance. The bell tower with mullioned windows and two - and loopholes dates from the 10th century.
Interior
The interior ( 55.58 × 30.30 m) consists of three ships with Byzantine capitals separated by two rows of twelve columns from striped Greek marble. The ceiling was originally made cassette and the bottom of mosaics, which have not survived.
The apse is reached by a wide staircase. In the sanctuary is the grave of St. Apollinaris. The mosaic of the apse shows a representation of the Transfiguration. It is the first Verklärungsdarstellung, is symbolized in Christ with a cross. The three lambs on green meadow ask Peter and the apostles brothers James and John dar. Beneath the cross is a lush, flower-filled landscape with sheep and St. Apollinaris to see in the middle. The bishop is wearing a chasuble and the Bischofspalium. He raises his arms in prayer to heaven. It is surrounded by 12 lambs representing the believers who follow their shepherd.
The great triumphal arch of the pediment was last decorated (some date it back to the 7th century, others to the 9th century ). In the center is a medallion with an image of Christ, blindfolded and frowning is a blessing. In the background, with reddish and blue sky, the symbols of the four Evangelists, the eagle float (symbol of St. John ), the winged man (symbol of Matthew), the lion (symbol of St. Mark ) and the bull (symbol of Luke). At the bottom of exit twelve lambs representing the Apostles, the holy cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem and ascend to Christ. In the bow, two laden with dates palm trees stand out against the night sky. How the Archangels Michael and Gabriel are these figures to representations from the 6th century, during the Evangelist Matthew and Luke, who are also represented persons liable, were probably mapped in the 12th century.
The crypt is semicircular and adheres to the apse wall. The two inputs are each provided with gratings. A central cell located under the main altar houses a sarcophagus of Greek marble, which contained the remains of St. Apollinaris, which now, however, rest in the main altar of the Basilica of Saint Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. In addition to a chapel on the left is a marble ciborium ( or canopy ) from the 9th century, which was dedicated to St. Eleucadio, a bishop of Ravenna, dedicated, the four pillars, the decoration of the capitals and the arc show classic Byzantine motifs, but also already Lombard influence.
On the inner walls of the aisles are ten sarcophagi of Greek marble that are empty, and of those who had been most used for the burial of bishops of Ravenna from the 5th to the 8th century. Among these are
- The former tomb of Bishop Theodor ( 688 ) with motifs such as vines from a vase, peacocks, doves, crosses and monograms of Christ
- Of 0.12 Apostles sarcophagus of Christ shows that Paul passes a legislative role, and the crucified Peter, collecting the key, as well as other apostles
- The decorated with crosses sarcophagus of Archbishop Grazioso ( 788 ), who had received Charles the Great; about a grave stone is let into the wall, which dates from the first half of the 6th century, and the states: if At this place was the ark of the Blessed Apollinaris, before she began the Archbishop Maximilian in the Basilica (since 856 are the bones of the now canonized no longer in this, but in the Basilica of Saint Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna buried )
- The fourth sarcophagus, decorated with reliefs of shells and date palms as well as relief of peacocks who drink from the fountain of eternal life.
In the inner wall of the left aisle, a native of the former convent in Classe wide plaque is embedded on the Latin language to the 40 -day presence of the German -Roman Emperor Otto III. is remembered during the Lent of 1001.
Five other sarcophagi are on the inner wall of the right aisle. The last sarcophagus in the right aisle is the Licina Valeria, Faustina Italica, which rests in peace and only one year, six months and six days old, was sweetest daughter of her anguished parents, dedicated.
- Apse with mosaic
- Nave
- Bishop representations in the aisles