The mosaic of Justinian is the most famous and well-known mosaic depiction of a Roman/”Byzantine” Emperor. That is because it is realistically the best depiction of an Eastern Roman Empire we have. In the Byzantine era there would have been other mosaics of multiple Emperors, surely Justinian had some made of himself in Constantinople as well. But, this is what we have, and the mosaics of the San Vitale are all immaculate. The image of Justinian is quite possibly the most iconic image of any Byzantine figure, for example Robin Pearson uses it on his logo for the History of Byzantium podcast(which I love). It also on many book covers, youtube thumbnails, posted on instagram – it is everywhere! His wife Theodora also has own mosaic in the same church.
“The pinnacle of early imperial Byzantine dress is best seen in the mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora at the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy (ca. 547 A.D.). Facing opposite one another in the apse of the church, each mosaic depicts the main figure bedecked in finery and accompanied by a retinue.” -Nazanin Hedayat Munroe
Nazinin is pointing out that mosaics like this also offer us some insight to the dress practices of the imperial court during the 6th century. Of course a mosaic has to show the Emperor and his chosen colleagues in the best most well-represented portrayal possible. They described Justinian’s attire in the following passage:
“Emperor Justinian is shown dressed in a royal purple chlamys and jeweled stemma. He raises his hands in offering as he holds a gold paten, displaying his patterned tablion, a supplemental textile bearing a repeat pattern and most likely produced on a drawloom. He surrounds himself by the more austerely dressed bishops and by his top general, Belisarius. Soldiers at the edge of the frame reinforce the emperor’s military successes and his position as commander.”
Click HERE for an article of a statue head which possibly depicts Justinian
Sources:
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/topical-essays/posts/san-vitale Author: Nazanin Hedayat Munroe
shadowsofconstantinople.com 