They [the Romans] are sure to have some specious justification with which to cover up their territorial ambitions and will in fact will be pursuing a just claim against you, citing as a precedent men like Marius and Camillus and the majority of the Caesars on the grounds that they had fought in the past against the inhabitants of upper Germany and had occupied all the territory across the Rhine. In this way they [the Romans] will not give the impression of resorting to violence, but of fighting a just war aimed not at the expropriation of a foreign nation but at the recovery of the possessions of their forefathers.

On either side is war and battle, and many cities being captured, some in Italy, some in Libya; and the Emperor Justinian is achieving victories through his General Belisarius, and the General is returning to the Emperor, with his entire army intact, and he offers the emperor booty, both kings and kingdoms and all the other things that men most cherish. In the middle stand the Emperor and the Empress Theodora, both seeming to rejoice and to celebrate victories over the kings of the Vandals and of the Goths, who approach them as captives of war to be led into bondage. They are surrounded by the Roman senate, who are all in a festive mood. This delight is depicted on the mosaic tiles, which on their faces convey joyful exaltation. So, they rejoice and smile as they offer the Emperor divine honours, because of the extent of his achievements.