middle Byzantine Flashcards
Virgin (Theotokos) and Child enthroned, apse mosaic, Hagia Sophia
Jesus’ clothes represented with lines (Byzantine characteristic)
After the repeal of iconoclasm, Basil I dedicated a huge new mosaic in the apse of Hagia Sophia depicting the Virgin and Child enthroned. An inscription says that it replaced one the iconoclasts destroyed.
Katholikon (looking northeast), monastery of Hosios Loukas
Saint Luke
Middle Byzantine churches typically are small and high-shouldered, with a central dome on a drum, and exterior wall surfaces with decorative patterns, probably reflecting Islamic architecture.
Plan of the Church of the Theotokos (top) and the katholikon (bottom), monastery of Hosios Loukas
The plans of the pair of Middle Byzantine churches at the monastery of Hosios Loukas in Greece feature a domed square at the center of a cross with four equal-length vaulted arms (the Greek cross).
Interior of the Church of the Dormition
The Daphni dome rests on an octagon formed by squinches, which play the same role as pendentives in making the transition from a square base to a round dome, but create a different visual effect.
Christ as Pantokrator, dome mosaic in the Church of the Dormition
To create fear
connecting the awestruck worshiper below with Heaven through Christ.
Crucifixion, mosaic in the north arm of the east wall of the Church of the Dormition
The Virgin Mary and Saint John point to Christ on the cross as if to a devotional object.
Christ is bearded
blood is shown (water+blood =he is dead)
Skull (mountain of skulls)
Christ between Constantine IX Monomachos and Empress Zoe, mosaic on the east wall of the south gallery, Hagia Sophia
Zoe, who was the wife of three emperors, here appears with the enthroned Christ and her third husband
Interior of Saint Mark’s
Modeled on a church in Constantinople, Saint Mark’s has a central dome over the crossing, four other domes over the arms of the Greek cross, and 40,000 square feet of Byzantine-style mosaics.
Gold stones
people did not have bibles so these images helped them
Pantokrator, Theotokos and Child, angels, and saints, apse mosaic in the cathedral
Jesus is depicted embracing you, welcoming you in
Striped allude to shading
In centrally planned Byzantine churches, the image of the Pantokrator usually appears in the main dome, but Monreale’s cathedral is a longitudinal basilica. The semidome of the apse is its only vault.
Christ enthroned with saints (Harbaville Triptych)
ivory box
valuable
Represents wealth, status, being a holy person
Gospels holding books
This small three-part shrine (triptych) with hinged wings was used for private devotion. The ivory carver depicted the figures with classical stances, in contrast to the frontal poses of most Byzantine figures.
Lamentation over the dead Christ
People mourning over dead Christ
Jesus is “floating”
the angels are weird (depicted coming flying in)
David composing the Psalms
folio 1 verso of the Paris Psalter
dark man in the corner wearing a Greek wreath
Women are symbolic of creation of music and are not really there, Melody and Echo
Virgin of Compassion icon (Vladimir Virgin)
In this icon, the artist depicted Mary as the Virgin of Compassion, who presses her cheek against her son’s as she contemplates his future. The reverse side shows the instruments of Christ’s passion.
restored multiple time
Anastasis, fresco in the apse of the parekklesion of the Church of Christ in Chora
white apparition surrounded by a luminous mandorla, raises Adam and Eve from their tombs as John the Baptist and Kings David and Solomon look on.
Christ is returning
people are rising from the dead
the devil is in a pit underneath Christ
