At the foot of the apse side walls are two famous mosaic panels, executed in 548.

On the
left is a mosaic depicting the Emperor Justinian, clad in purple with a golden halo,
standing next to court officials, Bishop Maximian, praetorian guards and deacons. The
halo around his head gives him the same aspect as Christ in the dome of the apse.
Justinian himself stands in the middle, with soldiers on his left and clergy on this right,
emphasizing that Justinian is the leader of both church and state of his empire. He also
holds a paten and is shown with a 3 day beard to show that too busy to shave since he is
performing his duties as emperor. The gold background of the mosaic shows that
Justinian and his entourage are inside the church and gives off an otherworldly,spiritual
vibe. The figures are placed in a V shape; Justinian is placed in the front and in the
middle to show his importance with Bishop Maximian on his left and lesser individuals
being placed behind them. This placement can be seen through the overlapping feet of the
individuals present in the mosaic.
On the right side is Empress Theodora solemn and formal, with golden halo, crown and
jewels, and a train of court ladies. She is almost depicted as a goddess. As opposed to the
V formation of the figures in the Justinian mosaic, the mosaic with Empress Theodora
shows the figures moving from left to right into the church. Theodora is seen holding the
wine. These panels are almost the only surviving examples of Byzantine secular mosaic
art, and offer a glimpse into the glory, splendor and pomp of the Byzantine world.
Theodora and Justinian were known for ruling as intellectual and political equals, and
Theodora was responsible for much of the reformation of Byzantium. In 528,
construction began on the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, built as an imperial
church on the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire. The basilica's mosaic, completed in 548,
depicts both the emperor and the empress participating in an imperial procession,
signifying her equal role and importance in ruling
the empire.

in Ravenna, Italy completed in 548, depicts both the emperor and the empress
participating in an imperial procession, justinians is on the right of "christ in glory"
stands in the middle wearing a purple robe w/ soldiers on left and clergy on right
emphasizing that he is the leader of the church and state of hs empire.theodora
is on the left also wearing a purple robe her figures moves from left to right into the
church. the similarities between signifies her equal role and importance in
ruling the empire.they were known for ruling as intillectual/political='s. she was resp for
much of the reformation of byzantium.he was byz greatest emperor.
aka as justinian the great.