Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

Title: Virgin and Child with Emperor John II Komnenos and Empress Irene
Creator:
Description: The Virgin as Theotokos holds the Christ child on her lap. Flanking mother and child are Emperor John II Comnenus on the left and his wife, Empress Irene on the right. Both husband and wife offer items to the Virgin and Christ that symbolize their donations to the church: the emperor presents a purse of coins while the empress proffers a chrysobull, a degree with a golden seal. The emperor wears a rich purple tunic and a loros, and the kamelaukion--the round cross-topped crown. Irene wears a luxurious red garment and a loros, and she also wears a costly necklace composed of jewels and pearls as well as a bejeweled crown.
Source: WikiMedia Commons
Rights: The copyright holder of this work allows anyone to use it for any purpose including unrestricted redistribution, commercial use, and modification.
Subject (See Also): Constantinople/Istanbul- Church of Hagia Sophia Mosaics Theotokos, Epithet of Mary (God-Bearing)
Geographic Area: Eastern Mediterranean
Century: 12
Date: ca. 1122-1134
Related Work:
Current Location: Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, east end, upper south gallery
Original Location:
Artistic Type (Category): Digital Images; Mosaics
Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Glass-paste tesserae; Gold
Donor:
Height/Width/Length(cm): //
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