IX. SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS 333

earth, and the executors of the will of God throughout the universe.”*

The visitor can see for himself how accurately this statement is borne out by the mosaics of the altar-dome. Immediately over the altar, and nearest therefore to the presence of God, is the Cherubim, “the Lords of those that know,”¹ with the words “fulness of knowledge,” “plenitudo scientić,” on his heart; to the left is the Seraphim; to the right the Thrones, “sustaining the seat of the Most High.” Further to the right come the Dominations-an armed angel, holding in one hand a balance, in the other a spear. In one scale of the balance is a man, in the other the book of the law; and this latter scale is being just snatched at by a winged demon, who, grovelling on the ground, turns round to meet the spear of the angel. Opposite the Dominations are the Princedoms or Principalities, another armed angel, wearing a helmet and calmly seated among the stars; and the Powers (“potestates”) with a black devil chained at his feet. The Virtues come next, with a skeleton in a grave below, and at the back a pillar of fire; and, lastly, the Angels and Archangels, “the executors of the will of God throughout the universe,” are seen nearest to the gospel-dome, standing above a rocky cave, in which are three figures. They appear to have various functions in the resurrection; the angel holds out a swathed man to the archangel, who holds a man (perhaps the same man), from whom the grave-clothes are falling. Between them they thus complete the resurrection of the dead.

158. It remains only for the visitor to observe, before leaving the chapel, the manner in which its different parts are related to each other. Upon the arch at the entrance to the gospel-dome are the Four Evangelists; on that which prefaces the altar-dome, with its display of heavenly triumph,

* Mrs. Jameson’s Legendary Art, p. 45.

¹ [See Mrs. Jameson, ch. i., from which the quotations here are taken.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]