SURVEY, ARCHAEOASTRONOMY AND COMMUNICATION: THE MAUSOLEUM OF GALLA PLACIDIA IN RAVENNA (ITALY)

Abstract

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (built pre-450), is one of Ravenna‟s UNESCO protected monuments,

renowned worldwide for the extraordinary mosaic decorations that cover its internal surfaces. The famous

starry vault profoundly engages and inspires the observer. Its accurate representation of the real sky has

been analysed and described, as has its mystical and symbolic meaning in relation to the iconographic

tradition of the time.

Archaeoastronomical research was carried out on the building by Giuliano Romano, who measured its

orientation. The azimuth value of 180.2° highlights a north-south bearing, unique among the other Byzantine

buildings in Ravenna. This paper also examines other architectural elements beyond the orientation, with

particular attention paid to the building‟s small slit windows, investigating their possible

archaeoastronomical significance.

A functional 3D model was developed from the archaeoastronomical analysis data to display the original

morphology of the building (the floor was about 140 cm lower due to subsidence), and astronomical

phenomena, and to provide a multimedia way of communicating the scientific content produced. This final

part of the contribution forms part of the trials conducted by the research group into interactive and non

interactive multimedia communication based on virtual models as an edutainment tool for the enjoyment of

cultural sites and artefacts.