The Apse Vault in the Euphrasian Basilica: The Virgin Enthroned with Angels and Saints
6th century
Mosaic
Apse vault in the Euphrasian Basilica, Poreč, Croatia
The central composition with the Virgin and Child enthroned between archangels is typical of icons from the 6th century; Weitzmann, The Icon, has a number of similar examples, though the crown held from above by the Hand of God is a western touch.1 In Weitzmann's examples, the angels are identified as Michael and Gabriel either by attributes or by labels. Here each carries the knobbed sceptre that signifies his authority. The Virgin wears the mantle and tucked-in veil typical of portrayals in this period, and the Child blesses the viewer with his fingers in the "Old Believer" configuration.
The haloed figure on the left is St. Maurus, the first bishop of Poreč, offering his martyr's crown to the Virgin and Child. To the left of him is Euphrasius, the bishop who had the church built. Clipei with female saints line the outer edge of the vault to the left and right of the Lamb of God symbol of Jesus Christ. On the far right, unidentified, are two martyrs and another saint.
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View these detail photographs:
Cecilia,
Agnes,
Agatha,
Cecilia,
Valeria,
Basilissa,
Felicity,
Justina, and
the Lamb of God symbol.
View the entire apse.
Read more about images of the Virgin and Child Enthroned, St. Maurus, the Archangel Michael, the Archangel Gabriel, and the lamb symbol.
Photographed at the basilica by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.
