La représentation conjointe des évêques et des autorités politiques sur les mosaïques de Ravenne (v e-viie siècles)

Abstract

[Bishops and Political Authorities in the Mosaics of Ravenna (5th-7th Centuries)] The joint representation of bishops and political authorities is a particular phenomenon that can be observed in the mosaics of Ravenna, capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402, then of the Ostrogothic Kingdom since 493 and finally of the Ravenna Exarchate from the second half of the sixth century. By analyzing both of the written sources, in particular the Liber Pontificalis Rauennatis of Andreas Agnellus in the ninth century, and the mosaics, the present paper analyses this particular representation, which continues to evaluate, in the various early Christian monuments of Ravenna : San Lorenzo, San Giovanni Evangelista, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, San Vitale et Sant’Apollinare in Classe, from fifth to seventh century. From the middle of the sixth century, as attested by the mosaics of S. Vitale, the ecclesiastical leaders now deserve to appear alongside Sovereigns, as collaborators. This new situation results from the Gothic War. The bishops are represented in image together with the political authorities as the members of the ruling class, in Italy which is about to enter the so-called Byzantine period.