The Conversion of St. Paul
12th century with later restoration
Mosaic
Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Sicily
This panel presents the events on Saul's journey to Damascus as narrated in Acts 9:1-9. On the left we see Paul falling to the ground in response to the light sent from Heaven by Jesus, whose act of identifying himself to him is expressed by the Greek letters ihs xcp. Behind him are his two companions. The companion on the left is seen again on the right side of the panel leading the now-blinded Saul the rest of the way to Damascus.
The inscription above says SAULUS CADENS IN TERRAM AUDIVIT VOCEM DICENTEM SAULE SAULE QUID ME PERSEQUERIS, "Falling to the earth, Saul heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me?'"
View this image in full resolution.
View the entire Peter and Paul Cycle in the Palatine Chapel.
Read more about St. Paul.
Photographed in the Palatine Chapel by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.