The opening ceremony was followed by the communication of Professor Athanassios Semoglou ("Aristotle" University of Thessaloniki), "Les visions apocalyptiques paléochrétiennes contre l'oubli. Le cas de la Rotonda à Thessalonique", in which he illustrated the relationship between biblical memory and the Roman history of the Rotonda monument "Saint George" in Thessaloniki and the way in which the intertwinning of memory, oblivion and history offers the believer a release from suffering. The iconographic program is considered to be pagan, highlighting the victory of the Roman emperors and Sol invictus. The professor made a reconstruction of the mosaic on the dome, showing the possible symbolic meanings of the artistic representations, including the phoenix, companion of Sol Invictus, but also a Christian symbol of resurrection.
