Ravena – Galla Placidia
We visited the mausoleum of Galla Placidia (her body may not be buried there). She was the sister, mother, and daughter of Roman Emperors and was enormously influential during her life. At 22, her brother married her off to Ataulf, King of invading Goth tribes. Apparently, their marriage was something of a love match, beginning during the 4 years she was his captive, but it lasted little more than a year. She returned to Rome, a widow, as part of a peace treaty and was forced by her brother Honorius to marry Constantius III, who became co-Emperor of the Western half of the Roman Empire with Honorius. After his death and that of her brother (with whom she was accused of having incestuous relations), she served as regent and then Empress Mother of the Western Empire from 421-450. She was a Chalcedonian Christian and made Ravenna something of a center of culture. The mosaics in this small building are even older than are those in San Vitale and are lovely. However, they are difficult to see, as the room is quite dark. The mosaics depict typical Christian scenes (meaning horrible tortures) as well as Roman life of the period. The gold medallion may actually represent her likeness.
We visited the mausoleum of Galla Placidia (her body may not be buried there). She was the sister, mother, and daughter of Roman Emperors and was enormously influential during her life. At 22, her brother married her off to Ataulf, King of invading Goth tribes. Apparently, their marriage was something of a love match, beginning during the 4 years she was his captive, but it lasted little more than a year. She returned to Rome, a widow, as part of a peace treaty and was forced by her brother Honorius to marry Constantius III, who became co-Emperor of the Western half of the Roman Empire with Honorius. After his death and that of her brother (with whom she was accused of having incestuous relations), she served as regent and then Empress Mother of the Western Empire from 421-450. She was a Chalcedonian Christian and made Ravenna something of a center of culture. The mosaics in this small building are even older than are those in San Vitale and are lovely. However, they are difficult to see, as the room is quite dark. The mosaics depict typical Christian scenes (meaning horrible tortures) as well as Roman life of the period. The gold medallion may actually represent her likeness.
No comments:
Post a Comment