An examination of the clerestory window sequence and its role in defining the spatial hierarchy of the nave during the Justinian era. Recent photometric surveys reveal a deliberate calculation in the angling of the lunettes, designed to cast volumetric rays during specific liturgical hours.
Uncovering the mosaics requires a delicate balance of chemical analysis and historic preservation techniques developed over decades. We detail the micro-abrasion process used to lift centuries of soot without damaging the gold tesserae beneath.
Before the great dome of Justinian, an earlier basilica stood on this site. By cross-referencing ancient texts with recent ground-penetrating radar scans, researchers are slowly mapping the foundational footprint of the original 4th-century church commissioned by Constantius II.
An engineering analysis of how lateral thrust is distributed from the main central dome down through the cascading system of exedrae. The genius of Anthemius and Isidore lies not just in scale, but in the fluid transfer of immense loads.
