Ravenna Mosaics: When Art Preserved Christian History in Stone and Gold
How the mosaics of Ravenna became one of the most important visual records of early Christian history.
The Ravenna mosaics are among the most significant surviving works of sacred art in Christian history, becoming notable for their role in preserving and communicating Christian identity during a period of dramatic political and cultural change. Created primarily between the late fifth and early sixth centuries AD, these mosaics transformed churches and mausoleums in the city of Ravenna into enduring visual narratives of Christian belief, authority, and historical continuity. Their importance lies not only in their artistic excellence but in how they document Christianity’s transition from a persecuted faith to an established religion woven into imperial and post-imperial society.
