SAINT PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS

The mosaics in the apse and the triumphal arch are among the few things that were saved by the catastrophic fire that struck in 1823, St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The triumphal arch is known as Galla Placidia (390 - 450), arch, in memory of the Empress daughter of Emperor Theodosius I, who committed the work.

At the center of the mosaic is the Blessing Redeemer, in the upper band are shown the symbols of the Evangelists: the bull of Luke, the angel of Matthew, the eagle of John and the lion of Mark, while in the lower band you can see the 24 seniors of the Apocalypse.
Below, on cobalt blue background, are depicted St Peter and St Paul.
The mosaic of the apse belongs to the time of Pope Honorius III (1216 - 1227), at the sides of the Blessing Christ there are St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. Paul and St. Luke.

The mosaics in the arch of the apse are a work of the great Pietro Cavallini (1240? – 1330?), to the left the Madonna and Child, to the right St. John with his hand on the head of Honorius III, represented on a smaller scale.

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