Baptism of Christ on the Neonian Baptistery in Ravenna Dome Mosaic

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by Henk Bekker

Baptism of Christ on the Neonian Baptistery in Ravenna Dome Mosaic

The composition of the mosaics in the Orthodox Baptistery is very similar to that of the Arian Baptistery but a notable difference is that Christ in the Neonian Baptistery mosaic is shown with a beard, while in the Arian Baptistery is beardless and clearly younger. Both shows Christ with full frontal nudity, but in the Arian mosaic, Christ is suspended in the water without standing on solid rock. The old man in both mosaics represents the pagan River Jordan god, but he is less prominent in the mosaic of Neone.