t RAVENNA. 261 



and the vault represents, in large mosaic, the emperor, with 

 Theodora and their court. The clmrches.of Ravenna are full 

 of Byzantine remains, and the cathedral contains the font for 

 "total immersion, the ambones, (or two pulpits in which the 

 Epistle and Gospel were read), the Paschal chair, and many 

 remains of the manner in which the interior of the churches 

 was arranged in the primitive ages of Christianity, of which 

 we also find some specimens still existing at Rome. Near 

 Ravenna is the celebrated church of St. Apollinarius, the 

 only building which remains of the ancient town of Classe, 

 formerly the port of Ravenna. In this church we have a 

 series of portraits of all the archbishops of Ravenna, 126 in 

 number, from the first contemporary of St. Peter, to the 

 present time; such as we have at St. Paul's, at Rome, of the 

 Roman bishops and popes. 



ESTHER. 



Is not the tomb of Theodoric also here, of which the dome 

 or roof is composed of a single stone! 



MRS. F. 



It is; and so is that of Dante, a most unworthy monument 

 to so great a man. These are a few of the objects of interest 

 at Ravenna; and when we also recollect, that near it was 

 fought the battle so glorious to France, but so fatal to Gaston 

 de Foix and the flower of French chivalry,* we must admit 

 that Ravenna presents a series of historic recollections, which 

 give a peculiar character and interest to the place. 



. . ESTHER. 



I think that I have heard you mention that on the doors of 

 the cathedral at Ravenna are nailed several planks of the old 

 ones, which they replace; and that these planks, which are of 

 the wood of the vine, are most of them a foot in diameter. 



MRS. F. 



Yes, they are quite as large as you state; an extraordinary 

 size for the vine to attain. 



* Battle of Ravenna, fought on Easter Sunday, 1512. 



