> It took me a while to find pictures of the said baptistries. I can see your
> point although a far clearer manifestation of arian beliefs would be the line
> from the "vacant" throne outside the baptism scene, through the Holy Spirit
> to the top of Jesus' head. Still, there is nothing unorthodox in the picture
Dear Mark,
Might you explain about the empty throne, or if it is not too early
to call it that, the Hetoimasia? Empty thrones can also be seen in
the Orthodox Baptistry at the top of the wall below the "procession"
of Apostles, alternating with Gospel books on altars, but the Arian
version brings it more integrally into relation with the Apostles
and, as you say, creates a relation with the Baptism scene in the
centre of the dome. I'm not sure how correct it might be to impute
terms like "orthodox" or "heretical" to such images. My point was
rather that the Baptism in either case has been interpreted to bring
out different aspects of it, and it seems likely to me that doctrinal
interests have determined those differences.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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