The artwork titled “Offerta Di Abele E Melchidesech” was created by Byzantine Mosaics around the year 547. It employs the mosaic technique and belongs to the Byzantine and Early Byzantine art movements, which spanned from approximately 330 to 750 CE. This religious painting is part of a series found in the Basilica of San Vitale, located in Ravenna, Italy.
In the artwork, two central figures are depicted: Abel, on the left, draped in simple attire and bearing a red cloak, presenting a lamb as an offering; and Melchisedec, on the right, identifiable by his halo and ecclesiastical garb, making his own offering. They stand on either side of a central altar adorned with a chalice and other sacred items, symbolizing acts of devotion and sacrifice. The background features rich, intricate detailing typical of Byzantine mosaics, with elements such as a tree and an architectural structure enhancing the depth and narrative of the scene. The vibrant and meticulously arranged tesserae capture the solemnity and sacred nature of the moment, reflecting the high religious significance attributed to sacrificial rituals in early Byzantine art.
