The arch of the Bema depicts the scene of the Annunciation. The archangel Gabriel is depicted on the left half, with the Virgin Mary on the right half. At the top of the arch, the hand of God witnesses the scene. The angel seems to be moving, leaning towards Mary who, in turn, wrapped in a tunic, ho...

The scene of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is very simple and has few characters. On the left-hand side of the arch, Mary is depicted holding the Child in her hands and holding him out, who is pawing, towards Simon, who is symmetrically placed on the right. Simon, dressed in white and blue...

In the Domitio scene, the Virgin Mary, wearing a golden halo, lies on the funeral bed with her hands crossed on her chest, her head bowed and her eyes closed. In a crescendo of pain, she is surrounded by the apostles, including Peter with the thurible in his hands and John, distressed and bent over ...

One of the most important scenes of the entire Martorana mosaic cycle is that of the Nativity, in the western vault of the central space. In the depiction, the Virgin Mary can be seen at the centre, dressed in a blue robe and cloak, holding the baby Jesus, who seems to be almost wrapped in a tight ...

In churches, the transept is a transverse body, inscribed within the perimeter of the building or projecting outwards, which is inserted between the presbytery area and the naves. It derives from the Latin words trans , meaning beyond, and saeptum , meaning enclosure. The transept intersects the lon...

Following the disciples of Christ, eight of the twelve apostles are depicted on the barrel vaults of the northern and southern arms of the cross. On the eastern side are the couples: Peter and Andrew, Paul and James; On the western side are the couples: Thomas and Philip, Bartholomew and Simon....

In the corner niches of the church, the four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are depicted. They emerge from the golden background of the niches as they are engrossed in writing sitting at their desks. Matthew and John are in the south, and Mark and Luke in the west....

Uriel, meaning 'light of God' in Hebrew, is one of the four archangels in the mosaics of Cefalù. Patron of the arts and wisdom, he is often represented with a book or scroll in his hand. While there were seven or even nine angels worshipped in the early Christian centuries, the Catholic Church now ...

The Christ Pantocrator of the dome is surrounded by four archangels, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel, depicted genuflected while adoring the King of kings and dressed in robes and cloaks....

Present in early Christian and Byzantine basilicas, the narthex is a transverse room located in contact with the façade and reserved for catechumens and penitents. The term narthex, in fact, comes from the Greek νάρθηξ (nárthēx), meaning stick or scourge. It is located precisely between the...