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Exploring the History of Medicine, Part 51: Florence, Part 31
February 1, 2025
The Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni)
The Baptistery of St. John was built in the 11th century, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron
saint of Florence, predating the construction of the Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore, also known
as the Duomo).
Before the Duomo was completed, the Baptistery served as a church and symbol of Florence.
Later, it was renovated and repurposed as a baptistery.
Dante Alighieri, the renowned poet born in Florence, was baptized here.
This octagonal building features bronze relief decorations on its southern, northern, and eastern doors, with the northern and eastern doors being particularly famous:
The Northern Door:
In the early 15th century, after Florence recovered from a devastating plague, a competition was held for a new baptistery door, symbolizing hope for a new era.
Lorenzo Ghiberti's design was chosen over Filippo Brunelleschi’s.
The door, based on the New Testament, depicts scenes from "The Life of Christ" and various saints.
Disheartened by his loss, Brunelleschi left Florence to study architecture in Rome.
He later returned and designed the magnificent dome (cupola) of the Florence Cathedral.
The Eastern Door:
About 20 years after completing the northern door, Ghiberti created the eastern door, later praised as the "Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo.
The door, glowing with golden brilliance from centuries of touch, features ten gilded relief panels illustrating stories from the Old Testament, masterfully incorporating perspective.
About John the Baptist:
John the Baptist, a prophet in the New Testament, baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
Baptism, a Christian ritual, symbolizes cleansing of sin and becoming a child of God by pouring water over the head.
It’s important to note that John the Baptist is distinct from John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ disciples.
The name "John" originates from the Hebrew "Yohanan," meaning "The Lord is gracious."
With the spread of Christianity across Europe, male names derived from "Johannes" (Latin for John) became widespread in various languages:
John (English)
Jean (French)
Juan (Spanish)
João (Portuguese)
Johannes (German)
Ioannes (Latin)
Giovanni (Italian)
Evan (Welsh)
Among these, the English name "John" is considered one of the most common male names worldwide.
Indeed, many famous figures, such as John F. Kennedy and John Lennon, bear this name.
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