Essay Ravenna - 2674 Words

Located in northeast Italy in the Emilia-Romagna region and the capital of the province bearing its name, Ravenna is internationally celebrated for its stunning ancient mosaics and rich history. Ravennas prosperous past is evident in its wealth of still-standing examples of Byzantine art and architecture. Positioned near the Adriatic Sea on a marshy plain, Ravenna has served as a strategic ?capital three times: of the western Roman Empire, of Theodoric King of the Goths, and of the Byzantine Empire in Europe? (History, par. 1). By delving into Ravenna?s history, as well as its remarkable artistic achievements, the reasoning behind its popularity in tourism becomes clear. Ravenna was formed by the buildup of centuries of silt deposits†¦show more content†¦The surrounding marshes provided a natural line of defense and its location at the crossroads of the northern and southern peninsula made it exceptionally challenging to capture. These were all influences in its allure as a bastion of control. ?The exact date of Roman control remains a mystery, as much of Ravenna?s past, although the first record of a Roman fleet to reach the city was in 82 BC. Caesar chose Ravenna as his headquarters while negotiating with the Senate and later as his base when launching various military campaigns on surrounding areas. While there, he is thought to have begun construction on the port of Classe (initially known as Classis), which served as the catalyst for Ravennas first rise to greatness. Emperor Octavius Augustus oversaw the port?s completion and, realizing its strategic location, made the port the principal base for a fleet, 250 ships strong, to defend the ?Adriatic Sea and the waters of the near eastern Mediterranean (History, par. 9). Augustus also created a canal, known as the Fossa Augusta, linking the port to the southern branch of the Po. This canal permitted waters to flow around the city walls to fortify Ravenna?s defense and through the center of the town to facilitate transport and commerce. With the port as the focus of the city, Ravenna flourished as a town of trade and industry (especially ship building). Though the port?s value waned by the sixth centuryShow MoreRelatedThe San Vitale in Ravenna and The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem753 Words   |  4 PagesMonuments such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and San Vitale in Ravenna, perform a great importance in Byzantine and Islamic architecture. Both of these structures did not exclusively represent the main place of worship, but most importantly as a symbol of achievement and growth within the current times of construction. Starting in 524, under the influence of Orthodox bishop Ecclesius, the development of San Vitale was to represent the achievements of the emperor Justinian. Julius ArgentariusRead MoreThe Church Of San Vitale1003 Words   |  5 Pagesbuilding that should be considered to be turned into an art museum. The building itself is very beautiful on the outside and having replica of th is building would bring beauty and individuality to Stillwater. This oddly shaped church that was built in Ravenna, Italy over 1,000 years ago, should be considered to be used as an art museum. The Church of San Vitale located in Italy is an early Christian church completely made up of bricks, which was built and completed between 538-548. It has an octagonalRead MoreThe Church Of San Vitale1007 Words   |  5 Pagesartwork resulted into increased creativity that saw the commissioning of the Justinian Mosaic collection of designs, including the Justinian and his attendants Mosaic (Mango 13). The artwork was originally displayed in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. 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One such copy represents theRead MoreSnow White And The Huntsman Analysis967 Words   |  4 PagesWhite And The Huntsman Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), seized control of her kingdom by marrying and killing its rightful ruler, needs the life force of young maidens to maintain her beauty. However, to become truly immortal, Ravenna must consume the heart of her stepdaughter Snow White (Kristen Stewart). Snow White escapes, and Ravenna sends a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to capture her. But Snow White and the Huntsman and a rebel army join forces to destroy Ravenna and restore the balance of lifeRead MoreSymbolism In Mirror Mirror1517 Words   |  7 Pageseagerly cheers on. Twisted, vile, and without ethics, Charlize Theron, Ravenna the Evil Queen in the film Snow White and the Huntsman preys on the youthful girls in the kingdom to maintain her magnificent beauty. Subsequent to assuming reign over the realm, the dangerously powerful sorceress diminishes the land to a waste and rules with an iron fist. Nothing like the marginally comical Evil Queen from Mirror Mirror, Ravenna evokes icy menace as the ruler with lots of deranged screaming and nothingRead MoreEssay History of Propaganda in Art861 Words   |  4 Pagesclaims the divine lineage of Venus. Overall, Augustus of Prima Porta is loaded with propagandistic motives that serve to portray him as the divine principate. Later on in time, during the Byzantine era, the Justinian panel is set in San Vitale in Ravenna. At this point in time, the Roman Empire had fallen, but the Byzantines still saw themselves as the successors of the ancient Roman emperors. Although Emperor Justinian and his wife controlled Italy and parts of the west, they lived and ruled fromRead MoreEssay on Early Christian and Byzantine Art720 Words   |  3 Pagesfirst cult to not involve rituals of sacrifice of animals and refused to worship an Emperor causing the Roman Empire to make Christianity illegal. Byzantine art excelled in the Justinian period in the east during 520-540 AD. The art was produced in Ravenna, Byzantine, Venice, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. The difference between Christian and Byzantine is that Christian was earth beyond realism and Byzantine was more spiritual than worldly style. This art period was sectioned off into three different