Basilica di Santi Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio e Protasio


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The mirror is the speculum iustitiae (glass of justice), the rose-bush is the rosa mystica and the door is the porta caeli. Behind the rose is the hortus conclusus, the "garden enclosed" (Song of Solomon 4:12). The tree by the stream to the right is an allusion to the first psalm: "like a tree planted by flowing waters". The palm tree on the left is the palm of En-Geddi (Sirach 24:14), and the lily is the lily of the valley (Song of Solomon 2:1).

(Photo borrowed from internet)
© de Alvaiis