Βυζαντινή παράσταση Καλού Ποιμένος
Part of : Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας ; Vol.38, 1999, pages 81-86
Issue:
Pages:
81-86
Parallel Title:
Byzantine Depiction of the Good Shepherd
Section Title:
Articles
Abstract:
The upper portion of the door post Τ 180 portrays infrontal view the figure of a shepherd who is walking towardthe right. He is wearing a short-sleeved tunic and on hisshoulders is carrying a large sheep, which he supports withhis two hands. His dog is walking ahead of him in the samedirection and has its head turned around to look at theshepherd. Thick vine tendrils with a few half-leaves coverthe background. In the middle on the left a knotted cordonis interposed among the tendrils but is not intertwined withthem. The knot is a "magic" symbol with supernatural powers of protection believed to have the ability to bind up evilspirits and prevent them from entering buildings. Thepresence of this symbol on the door post reveals the superstitious fear of the owner of the dwelling which bears it, aswell as the change which the meaning of the symbol hasundergone, no longer appearing to have maintained thesalvific content of its ancient prototypes.A number of factors suggest that this bas-relief must beplaced chronologically at the end of the 13th century. Theseinclude the way in which the relief was worked with the useof two planes on the same surface, the boundaries betweenwhich are indistinct and free of rigidity; his slender body andlowered shoulders; and the choice of a model from theearliest period of Christianity.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
