Mary-Major Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations
Art History Apse | Altar Baldachin | Central Nave | Tomb Pope Francis | Triumphal Arch Mosaics | Sides Mosaics | Cosmatesque Pavement Nave | Confession Crypt | Baptistery | Paolina Chapel | Sistine Chapel | Portico | Blessings Lodge | Pope's Hall | Treasury

The 5th century Palaeochristian mosaics in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome

These mosaics are the oldest in the church, originally numbering 42, 21 on each side of the nave, but, as a result of the basilica's restructuring and also, given their age, only 27 remain.

They are organised into two groups : on the left, the scenes recounting the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and on the right, the scenes from the lives of Moses and Joshua.

Moses marries Sephora and Moses a shepherd before the burning bush, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Moses marries Sephora, the burning bush
Passage of Israel through the Red Sea, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Passage of Israel through the Red Sea
Sedition of the people of Israel against Moses and Aaron, God speaks to Moses and below, the rain of manna and quails in the desert, Mosaics right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Disdain against Moses, rain of manna
The people of Israel complain of thirst, Moses asks the Lord for help, the Amalekites block Moses, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Israel thirsty, Amalekites block the way
Moses asks the Lord for help and victory over the Amalekites, Mosaics on the right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Moses prays the Lord, victory over Amalekites
Return of the scouts from the land of Canaan and revolt of the people of Israel against Moses Aaron and Joshua, Mosaics right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Return to Canaan, revolt of Israel against Moses
Moses hands over the tablets of the law, death of Moses on Mount Nebo, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Moses hands over tablets of law, death of Moses
Miraculous crossing of the Jordan with the Ark, scouts sent to Jericho, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Jordan crossing, scouts at Jericho
Apparition of the Angel to Joshua, flight of the scouts from Jericho, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Appearance Angel, flight of scouts from Jericho
Joshua facing the leader of the army of the Lord, flight and return of the spies, Mosaics right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Joshua facing leader of Lord's army, return spies
Siege of the Amorites at Gabaon, messengers ask Joshua for help, God appears to Joshua who is marching against Gabaon, Mosaics on the right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Siege of Amorites at Gabaon, God helps Joshua
Victory of Joshua against the Amorites, persecution of the vanquished, Mosaics on the right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Victory of Joshua persecution of the vanquished
Joshua fights the Amorites and stops the sun and the moon, Mosaics on the right side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Josue fights Amorrheans, stops sun and moon
Joshua punishes the Amorrhite kings after their capture, Mosaics right lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Josue punishes Amorrhite kings after capture
Melchisedech offers the bread and wine to Abraham, a gesture noticed by the Lord in the clouds, Mosaics on the left side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Melchisedech offers bread and wine to Abraham
The Lord appears to Abraham in the valley of Mambre, Abraham asks Sarah to prepare three fouaces and offers them to the three men at his table, Mosaics on the left side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
The Lord appears to Abraham who offers fouaces
Abraham and Lot leave each other, two groups of animals with their shepherds, Mosaics left lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Abraham and Lot leaving, shepherd animals
Isaac blesses Jacob in front of Rebecca, Esau presents the fruit of his hunt to Isaac, Mosaics on the left side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Isaac blesses Jacob in front of Rebecca
Rachel announces Jacob's arrival to her father Laban, Laban embraces Jacob and takes him home, Mosaics on the left side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Rachel announces Jacob's arrival to Laban
Marriage of Jacob and Rachel, Mosaics on the left side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Marriage of Jacob and Rachel
Jacob asks Laban for Rachel's hand, wedding of Jacob and Rachel, Mosaics on the left side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Jacob asks Laban for Rachel's hand, wedding
Jacob asks Laban to reward him for his services, the sharing of the flocks, Mosaics left lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Jacob rewarded, sharing of the flocks
God orders Jacob to return to his homeland, Jacob leaves Rachel and Lia, Mosaics left lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
God orders Jacob to go back, Jacob's farewell
Meeting of Jacob and Esau and his companions, Mosaics on the left lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Meeting of Jacob and Esau
Jacob buys the field where the tents are pitched, announcement of the abduction of Dinah Jacob's daughter, Mosaics left lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Jacob buys the field, kidnapping of his daughter
The princes of the city of Shechem deal with Jacob on the marriage of his daughter Dinah and encourage the inhabitants to be circumcised, Mosaics on the left lateral side in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Sichem princes deal with Jacob marriage Dina

Art History Apse | Altar Baldachin | Central Nave | Tomb Pope Francis | Triumphal Arch Mosaics | Sides Mosaics | Cosmatesque Pavement Nave | Confession Crypt | Baptistery | Paolina Chapel | Sistine Chapel | Portico | Blessings Lodge | Pope's Hall | Treasury
Mary-Major Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations


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