Presentation Caveats
Unlike most of the buildings we have looked at so far, the exterior of this building does not open to reveal a highly decorated and complex interior… the exterior is all we have.
We also don't know for sure what this building was, or for whom it was built, so there is a great level of ambiguity surroundings its exact function.
This is my first Art History course ever, so if I mispronounce or misidentify a technical term, please feel free to interrupt and correct me.
As an Art History beginner, I included lots of explanations of technical terms, so majors, just bear with me, and fellow first-timers, we will both be learning something!
The Palace of Theodoric
… or is it
The identity problem of this structure
Theodoric's Actual Palace was:
An elaborate structure, probably located directly behind this site
Built during the reign of Theodoric in Ravenna, sometime in the late fifth century
Sacked by the Byzantines in 539, slowly dismantled by various emperors, and finally destroyed completely in 1295
This structure was:
Probably an annex to the palace or nearby church
Built in the 8th century, sometime after 712
Still partially standing
The Palace in Ravenna
Ruins of the actual palace are located behind this structure (see picture below). Excavation of this area first began in 1908, but was abandoned by 1914. It has been on and off since then. There is excavation work being done at present.
Artifacts from the Actual Palace
As archaeologists continue to excavate the area immediately behind this building and San Apollinare Nuovo, they are finding more and more artifacts they believe are from the true Palace of Theodoric. Examples of their findings are mosaics and pieces of the building – such as this figured capital. The style of this capital is much more elaborate than the style of those on the building we are looking at (see later slides on columns).

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