Procession of twenty-two women martyrs
Title of Art: Procession of Women Martyrs (panoramic)
Art Form: Mosaic
Exhibit Institution: Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Exhibit Location: Ravenna, Italy
VM Image #: 0014
Photographer: Shala Graham
Date of Photograph: January 2, 2023
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On north wall of the Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, a massive mosaic depicting procession of twenty-two virgin martyrs, toward the Virgin Mary depicted in the nave. Three magi lead the procession. In this view, all twenty-two women martyrs appear, mostly identical.
Twenty-two female martyrs process toward the Virgin and Child, each dressed in the Byzantine style. They are shown with braided hair, fixed with jewels, and a white veil. A gold halo surrounds their head. Each woman holds a crown, representing her martyrdom. Between each woman is a palm tree, echoing this theme. Their names are listed above their heads; they are Euphemia, Pelagia, Agatha, Agnes, Eulalia, Caecilia, Lucia, Crispina, Valeria, Vincentia, Perpetua, Felicitas, Iustina, Anastasia, Daria, Emerentiana, Paulina, Victoria, Anatolia, Cristina, Sabina, and Eugenia. The women represent a wide swath of society and status, including virgins (e.g., Agnes and Iustina), wives (e.g., Daria and Cecelia), mothers (e.g., Perpetua and Valeria), slaves (e.g., Felicitas) and slave owners (e.g., Euginia).