Baptistery of Neon, Ravenna, Italy, 2018

 Baptistery of Neon, Ravenna, Italy

On our trip last October I attempted to get postcards everywhere we went but for a variety of reasons was not always successful.  I did; however, take lots of pictures.  One of the places we saw and did not get a card from was the Baptistery of Neon.

A view of the Baptistery from the opposite side

The Baptistery of Neon, or sometimes referred to as the Orthodox Baptistery, is the most ancient monument remaining in Ravenna having been built in the late 4th or early 5th century.  And yes, the tower in the background of the picture is leaning.  Not as dramatically as the Tower of Pisa but like many others we saw in this part of Italy it is still tilted.  The building sits on the site of a former Roman bath and has a large octagonal font made of Greek marble.  Like the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia it is a small building with minimal lighting.  The shape is octagonal; with a stone/brick exterior, alabaster windowpanes, and once again is filled with gorgeous mosaics with quite a bit of gold leaf.  The ceiling mosaic is above the font and shows John the Baptist baptizing Jesus waist high in the Jordan River with the Holy Spirit descending like a dove.  The 12 apostles are found proceeding around the center mosaic and ending with Saint Peter meeting Saint Paul.  

Looking directly up at the ceiling

 The reliefs of Old Testament prophets are found between the windows

The center of the ceiling mosaic showing the baptism of Jesus by John the Batpist

Due to settling and sinking the original entrances to the baptistery are now 3 meters below ground.  An attempt at restoration was done in the 19th century and it is thought that there may have been some alterations to the original mosaics.  At the window level there are stucco reliefs of Old Testament prophets.  There are four arched niches in the walls.  In one there is a white urn that is a marble Roman vase. Another has a 6th century altar.  All the decorations have symbolic meanings not all of which are known.

 Roman vase

Pillar and arch decorations

 

The altar

This view shows the small interior

The baptismal font made of Greek marble.  The stairs up to the font on the left are roped off.  The font did not have any water in it.

The small booklet, “Ravenna and its history,” Edizioni Salbaroli that we purchased in lieu of cards provided historical information.