-- The equestrian statue of Zeno, Ravenna -- From Perkins, "Historical Handbook of Italian Sculpture"

Speranza

The Italians under Gothic rule made no states -- the equestrian group which surrounded the pediment of THEODORIC's palace at RAVENNA was a portrait of the EMPEROR ZENO cast at CONSTANTINOPLE. He wore a shield upon its left shoulder and a lance on its outstretched right hand. BIRDS flew in and out of the distended nostrils of the horse and built their nests in his belly.

---- AGNELLI, "Liber Pontificalis" --