In the mosaic cycle of the Monreale Cathedral, the representation of the sovereign, who commissioned the complex, occurs twice: above the wall of the royal throne and on the wall of the archiepiscopal throne. In the second mosaic, the King of Sicily is shown kneeling and offering the Cathedral to th...

In the mosaic cycle of the Monreale Cathedral, the representation of the sovereign, who commissioned the complex, occurs twice: above the wall of the royal throne and on the wall of the archiepiscopal throne. The first mosaic shows the king of Sicily dressed in the classical dalmatic robe, standing ...

Inside the Cathedral, the archiepiscopal throne takes its place before the presbytery and near the pillar that delimits the transept crossing bay, opposite to the royal throne. The latter position was probably not the original one since the cathedra is usually placed in the centre of the apse. The a...

Inside the Duomo, the royal throne takes its place five steps higher than the presbytery and near the pillar that delimits the transept crossing bay, opposite to the royal throne. It was positioned opposite the archiepiscopal throne, crowned by the coats of arms of William II and the Hauteville fami...

Inside the Duomo, the royal throne takes its place five steps higher than the presbytery and near the pillar that delimits the transept crossing bay, opposite to the royal throne. It was positioned opposite the archiepiscopal throne, crowned by the coats of arms of William II and the Hauteville fami...

In the ogival arches of the choir, which, together with the rest of the mosaic cycle, tell the story of salvation in a crescendo, there are images of angels, kings and prophets. The first arch shows representations of the Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel with the tondo of Divine Wisdom in...

The triumphal arch, usually built to commemorate a victory in war or an important event, first appeared in Ancient Rome as a purely celebratory element and was then widely used in the Imperial age. Its shape is that of a large arch-shaped doorway. It may have one or more fornixes, i.e. openings, and...

The triumphal arch, usually built to commemorate a victory in war or an important event, first appeared in Ancient Rome as a purely celebratory element and was then widely used in the Imperial age. Its shape is that of a large arch-shaped doorway. It may have one or more fornixes, i.e. openings, and...

The triumphal arch, usually built to commemorate a victory in war or an important event, first appeared in Ancient Rome as a purely celebratory element and was then widely used in the Imperial age. Its shape is that of a large arch-shaped doorway. It may have one or more fornixes, i.e. openings, and...

Hieratic and solemn, the half-length Christ Pantocrator appears and emerges from a precious golden background, like a casket of divine light. The Pantocrator, from the Greek word for ruler of all things, blesses the faithful with his right hand: the two arched fingers symbolise Christ's dual nature,...