Ravenna, Italy: Basilica of San Vitale: Medallion of Simon the Cananaean
Authors
Sheppard, Beth M.
Issue Date
5/22/2017
Type
Image
Language
Keywords
Italy , Ravenna , Basilica San Vitale , Presbytery , Byzantine Art , Mosaics , Simon in Art
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
One of the fifteen medallion mosaics that line the triumphal arch to the Presbytery in the Basilica San Vitale (Basilica of St. Vitale; Church of Saint Vitale) in Ravenna, Italy is that of Simon. The photo shows the apostle Simon the Cananaean, known today as Simon the Zealot. According to overviewbible.com, "Simon is mentioned occasionally in early church writings, but centuries after the gospels were written, Jerome and others mistranslated Simon�s title, believing that Matthew and Mark referred to him as Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Cananaean. They assumed he was from Cana�a town within Galilee�or possibly even descended from one of the non-Jewish people groups in the area. This mistake led to the idea that Simon was present at the wedding in Cana in John 2, where Jesus performed his first miracle and turned water into wine, and that he was the same person as Simon, the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). Some Bible translations preserve Jerome�s mistake out of respect for tradition, calling Simon 'the Canaanite' or 'the Cananaean' in Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18."
Citation
Publisher
License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0