About
An ancient, mosaic-lined baptistry built by a heretical Christian group.
The Arian Baptistry is a rare relic of the short period in the late fifth and early sixth centuries when Gothic kings ruled Italy from Ravenna. In gold mosaic, the octagonal structure depicts Christ's baptism, surrounded by apostles and an enthroned cross, constructed by King Theodoric the Great as his royal baptistry. A pagan-influenced representation of the River Jordan is depicted to the left of Jesus by a bearded figure with a crab on his head.
