Jim,
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
(other than the personification of the river Jordan, but that appears in both
baptistries). The stress you mentioned may have been intentional, but it is
not enough to render the picture heretical.
I should, however, in all fairness modify my earlier statements. Arian
"beliefs" may have persisted, especially among the Goths. Yet, this still
does not clearly implicate Theodoric as Arian. As he allowed others to build
(if I remember correctly, he also encouraged Jews to build as well), it would
only seem right that the Arians could also build.
Mark
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