All ornament had
resolved itself into surface decoration, or as nearly that as possible.
In 539 Belisarius took Ravenna in the name of the Emperor Justinian, and
to celebrate this event Justinian decided to erect a magnificent
monument in the city. He chose to replace, by a more important
structure, the small church dedicated to S. Vitale, and built by Neon in
the reign of Theodoric.
The wonderful basilica of Sta. Sophia at Constantinople was just
completed, and the novelty of its plan and immense effect Produced by
its dome, a method of construction entirely novel in Roman architecture,
doubtless excited the admiration of the Emperor and led to the adoption
of a similar plan for S. Vitale. S. Vitale 18 by no means a copy of Sta.
Sophia, but unquestionably was strongly influenced by it.
It was founded in 540, and consecrated in 547. It is octagonal in plan,
with an inner structure of eight large piers, arranged in a circle,
connected by arches which support a pendentive dome. Following the
custom then in vogue, its interior is incrusted throughout with
elaborate mosaics in a wealth of color. The most elaborate design and
richest color is used in the apse, which was the centre of display in
all Byzantine churches.
[Illustration: XXI. Capital from the Apse of the Church of S. Vitale,
Ravenna, Italy.
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