MAUSOLEUM OF THEODORIC, Presentation

The Mausoleum of Theodoric, the only evidence in Italy of the funerary art of the Ostrogoths, was built near a necropolis around 520 at the behest of King Theodoric.

He died on August 30, 526, and the ruler was buried here, but it is not known what happened to his remains which were removed before the mausoleum was converted to Orthodox Catholic worship in 561.

Seen from the outside, the building is massive and imposing, but softened by arched niches carved along its sides.

The structure has a ground floor with a decagonal base. The upper level has the same base but a smaller diameter, and a round dome.

A special feature of the entire structure is the absence of any kind of glue between its Istrian stone blocks which are interlocked and held together by the enormous weight of the dome.

The latter consists of a single block weighing over two hundred tons. Apparently, the huge stone block was transported here by sea, but it is still unclear how it was lifted into place....