{[Byzantine Art [continued]:] The Virgin in Byzantium}[21st February 1991]

[Redbook8:277-279][19910221:1142f]{[Byzantine Art [continued]:] The Virgin in Byzantium}[21st February 1991]

19910221.1142

[continued]

‘This is the panel above the entrance to the narthex* from the south-west vestibule on which are represented an enthroned Virgin and Child who accept an offering of the city of Constantinople from Constantine, and the church of S. Sophia from Justinian. The mosaic makes explicit the Byzantine myth, fully developed by the 7^th century, that the imperial capital was under the special protection of the Virgin.’**

***

*(of S. Sophia)

[Narthex = antechamber or porch separated off by railings]

**{Which raises an old question: where is she [on the circles, presumably]? (ref earlier vol[ume]s}

[cf last previous ts entry but one, [Redbook8:276][19910221:1142e]{Deesis}[21st February 1991]]

***– ibid [Encylopaedia of Visual Art 3:] 378

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