Saint Bavo's Cathedral

The Ghent Altarpiece was painted on wooden panels. Only one panel was cut in half to show the front and back during an exhibition in Berlin in the 19th century. It is just this panel (actually two panels) that was stolen. On one side was the image of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of the church that stood on the site of Saint Bavo. On the other side was "The Righteous Judges." The predecessor of St. Bavo's Cathedral, St. John's Church, is depicted on the polyptych. On the central panel there is an octagonal water basin with a fountain, which refers to the source of living water, an expression of baptism. The octagon appears more often in connection with baptism: several medieval baptisteries, including those of Ravenna and St. John Lateran in Rome, had an octagonal shape. The number 8 was also a symbol of Resurrection and eternal life.

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