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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

The Mosaics of Santa Prassede

10/3/2019

 
Map
9th century mosaics in the church of Santa Prassede, Rome
Santa Prassede

The beautiful mosaics in the church of Santa Prassede were commissioned by Pope Paschal I (r. 817-24). The pope, whose monogram may be seen in the centre of the two arches, appears in the apse mosaic holding a model of the church. He sports a square nimbus, indicating that he was alive when the mosaic was created. 

On the triumphal arch we see the Heavenly Jerusalem. Within its walls are the twelve apostles, with St John the Baptist and Mary on the left and St Praxedes on the right. In the upper left hand corner of the city is a figure holding up a scroll with the word ‘legge’ ('read'). Outside the walls are bands of martyrs waiting to be admitted. 

On the apsidal arch the design follows that of the 6th century church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, but the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is lying, rather than standing, on a throne.  Christ stands in the centre of the mosaic. His head is surrounded by a halo with a blue cross; above, the hand of God the Father emerges from the clouds to crown him. To Christ’s right stands St Paul (the only figure whose tunic carries a monogram), St Praxedes and Pope Paschal I, while to his left we see St Peter, St Pudenziana and St Zeno.

A phoenix, a symbol of birth and rebirth, sits on the branch of a palm tree. Below the feet of the seven figures flows the river Jordan. Standing on a small mound, in the centre of the lower part of the mosaic, is the Agnus Dei, under whose feet flow the four rivers of paradise. The sheep, to either side, symbolise the twelve apostles, while the cities at each end represent Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Mosaics, apse of church of Santa Prassede, Rome
Mosaics in the apse
Mosaic, Santa Prassede, Rome
Pope St Paschal I, St Praxedes & St Paul
Mosaic, church of Santa Prassede, Rome
Triumphal Arch
9th century mosaic, church of Santa Prassede, Rome

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
    small-group walking tours
    of Rome.

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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
      • Pope Innocent VIII
      • Pope Paul III
      • Pope Gregory XIII
      • Pope Gregory XIV
      • Pope Leo XI
      • Pope Urban VIII
      • Pope Alexander VII
      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
      • Pope Pius VII
      • Pope Leo XII
      • Pope Pius VIII
      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque