San Vitale consecrated in Ravenna
Mosaics of Justinian and Theodora
In 547 the basilica of San Vitale was consecrated in Ravenna, recently retaken from the Ostrogoths. Its mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora with their retinues are the most famous portraits of the age and a model of Byzantine art.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 6th century
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Middle East
- 529–534 Code of Justinian — 18 years earlier
- c. 570 Year of the Elephant — 23 years later
Africa
- 533–534 Belisarius destroys the Vandal kingdom — 14 years earlier
Asia
- c. 538 Buddhism reaches Japan — 9 years earlier
- 552 Founding of the First Turkic Khaganate — 5 years later
Alive at the time
- Justinian I (aged 65)
- Aryabhata (aged 71)
- Theodora (aged 47)
- Khosrow I (aged 46)