Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia
The two imperial panels in the south gallery of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople are exceptional as they are the only large-scale 11th- and 12th-century images of rulers preserved in the capital city. One depicts Zoe and Constantine Monomachos, the other John Komneos and Irene. The present article re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Oslo Library
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/5716 |
| _version_ | 1797693018247004160 |
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| author | Bente Killerich |
| author_facet | Bente Killerich |
| author_sort | Bente Killerich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The two imperial panels in the south gallery of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople are exceptional as they are the only large-scale 11th- and 12th-century images of rulers preserved in the capital city. One depicts Zoe and Constantine Monomachos, the other John Komneos and Irene. The present article reviews the mosaics mainly from the point of view of portraiture: how does the visual portrayal of imperial figures comply with the contemporary verbal description, foremost Michael Psellos’ descriptions of Zoe and her three husbands, and Anna Komnene’s portrayals in the Alexias. How did artists distinguish between imperial likeness and holy icon when portraying both within the same space? Another problem addressed is the refashioning of the Zoe panel.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:36:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-939410c21ca1408c9f434ba141b56b13 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0065-0900 2611-3686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:36:29Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Oslo Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| spelling | doaj.art-939410c21ca1408c9f434ba141b56b132023-09-04T14:47:57ZengUniversity of Oslo LibraryActa ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia0065-09002611-36862017-12-01184 N.S.10.5617/acta.5716Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia SophiaBente Killerich The two imperial panels in the south gallery of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople are exceptional as they are the only large-scale 11th- and 12th-century images of rulers preserved in the capital city. One depicts Zoe and Constantine Monomachos, the other John Komneos and Irene. The present article reviews the mosaics mainly from the point of view of portraiture: how does the visual portrayal of imperial figures comply with the contemporary verbal description, foremost Michael Psellos’ descriptions of Zoe and her three husbands, and Anna Komnene’s portrayals in the Alexias. How did artists distinguish between imperial likeness and holy icon when portraying both within the same space? Another problem addressed is the refashioning of the Zoe panel. https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/5716 |
| spellingShingle | Bente Killerich Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| title | Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia |
| title_full | Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia |
| title_fullStr | Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia |
| title_short | Likeness and Icon: The Imperial Couples in Hagia Sophia |
| title_sort | likeness and icon the imperial couples in hagia sophia |
| url | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/5716 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bentekillerich likenessandicontheimperialcouplesinhagiasophia |