The Mosaic of the Ark of the Covenant in the Chapel of Theodulf of Orleans (c. 798)

Near Fleury at his Gallo-Roman villa at Germigny-des-Prés, Theodulf built himself a remarkable chapel around the year 798 in which the apse mosaic depicted the Ark of the Covenant, an extremely rare use of the image. Theodulf was a Visigoth from Spain who had become one of the chief theological advisors to Charlemagne who made him Bishop of Orleans and Abbot of Fleury. What could this singular image mean in this context?

As a theologian, writer, poet and advisor, Theodulf drew creatively on his immense learning in building and decorating his chapel, focussed on the Ark of the Covenant in the apse, just as the Temple was focussed on the Ark in the Holy of Holies. Exploring his use of the Scriptures (in particular the Hebrew Scriptures), his sources (including Bede`s De Templo), his writings (including the Libri Carolini, written for Charlemagne), and related buildings, it will be possible to see the transformation of Temple imagery into a new context and used in contemporary Christian doctrinal and political dispute.

The Catalogue des abbés de Fleury, written about a century after the building of the chapel at Fleury, makes Theodulf`s intention clear: `He vied in this with Charlemagne, who, at this time, had built at his palace of Aachen a church of such splendour that its like could not be found in all of Gaul. ... Theodulf had a master artist represent, above the altar, cherubs covering the mercy seat of Divine glory with their wings.` In what way did the chapel vie with Charlemagne`s church at Aachen? That may help us to see Charlemagne`s church, and his kingship, in a different perspective.