Santa Prassede

The church, which you can see now was built between 817 and 824 and it has been rebuilt a few times. Also there’s a mosaic on the apses-vault. The mosaic was made in the thirteenth century and was made in another century than the others and because of that it is different. In the mosaic sits Mary with her Son. He hold a scroll with the words: "Ego sum lux, which means I am the light. Mary sits between Praxedis and Pudenziana.

Zeno-chapel

On the triumphal arch are mosaics from the ninth century. On the mosaic you can see a new theme: the holy Jerusalem, which is described in the Bible. The city has walls with precious stones and towers, they are guarded by archangels. In the centre stands Christ, with the Gospel book in his hand, between two angels. Somewhat below on the left side stands Mary, John the baptist, Paul and five apostles. On the right side stands Praxedis, Peter and five apostles. On top of one of the apostles on the left stands Moses with a table with the inscription "lege" in his hands. Outermost right stands an angel and Elias. Two groups of elected are walking to the gates.

On the apses arch are mosaics from the ninth century. The mosaic points out the lamb of God on a throne with around it seven candlesticks and angels with the symbols of the Evangeligas; namely the face of an angel(Matthew), a lion with a book(Marc), an eagle(John) and a bull (Luke). Under the throne lies the book with the seven seals and stands 24 elders, who are giving theire crowns to the lamb of God.

In the apsis-vault are also mosaics from the ninth century, with the Saviour and above him the hand of God with the bless-crown so you can see that the Saviour is blessing. Below him and the saints the river Jordan flows. Prassede, a women who’s baptised through Peter and Pudenziana, according to a legend the sister of Prassede, are led by Paul and Peter into Paradise. On the left stands Pope Paschalis the first with the model of the church in his hand and the nimbus of life, so you know that he was alive when the mosaic was made. On the right stands the martyr Zeno. The mosaic is bordered on both sides by pictures of Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the walls of the cities are covered with precious stones. In the middle on a meadow stands the lamb of God. The lamb is surrounded by twelve lambs( apostles), who are walking to the lamb of God. Around the mosaic are two date palms and on the left date palm you can see the phoenix, the symbol of resurrection.

On the right in the church is the Zeno-chapel. The mosaics in the chapel are the absolute zenith of Byzantine art in Rome. The floor is an multi-coloured marble inlaid mosaic-floor. The saints on the wall-mosaic are presented in full length. They are in Paradise.

In the lunette over the door is also a mosaic. Here stands the lamb of God on the mountain of Sion. Hinds, the symbols of the religious, are drinking out of the four rivers of Paradise. Below stand the busts of Theodora, Praxedis, Mary and Pudenziana.

In the arch is a mosaic with Christ, in a shining elliptic cloud, upon it and he goes to the purgetory of hell. An angel goes with him. Christ sets free the souls of the patriarchs and the righteous of the purgetory. Behind Christ stands a personification of death, which is fettered by Christ.