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Pilgrimages and the ''Palestinian'' Iconography : Reconsideration of the Research

Articles

• Γαλάβαρης, Γεώργιος
• ΓΑΛΑΒΑΡΗΣ, Γιώργος

Pilgrimages to the Holy Land had already started in the fourth century. Once the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre was inaugurated in 335, Jerusalem became centre of pilgrimage. The popularity of pilgrimages was due not only to religious fervour but also to political and economical pressures. Gradually, a Palestinian iconography relating to the sacred events developed. A new chapter in the history of this iconography was written by the Empress Eudocia who centered her political ambition on the Holy City (431-460, Cyril of Scythopolis). The texts and their significance for the archaeologist and the art historian. Systematic research of the pilgrims' reports began in the second half of the nineteenth century, eventually leading to the publication of the itineraria and to important studies. More recent publications and translations are cited selectively. The importance of works on the art of the Holy Land is stressed. However, the pilgrims' reports do not provide essential information on monumental art in the Holy Land. Pilgrims wished to come into contanct with relics in whichever form and to take along not only souvenirs of their pilgrimage but sanctified objects with supernatural powers. The problem of monumental art. Ainalov related the images on the phialai-eulogiae of the Holy Land to monumental compositions that decorated buildings at sites of pilgrimages in Palestine. This theory, which had been generally accepted, was oposed by Grabar. According to him the eulogiae were imitations of gold medallions made in Constantinople and could not be derived from one archetype. The answer to Grabar's objection was given by Loerke and Weitzmann, who with strong arguments, based on written sources, iconography and style, reconsider and strongly supported Ainalov's theory. Loerke related certain monumental compositions, reflected in pilgrims' objects and illuminated manuscripts (Rossano, Rabbuia) with the presence of the Empress Eudocia in Jerusalem before her death in 460. His arguments could be further strengthened by considering little known, written sources (e.g. Jacob of Serug) and comparative iconographie material referring mainly to the problem of the Ascension, from the wider area which has preserved some of the earliest traditions of Christendom. In search of a miracle. The dogmatic and liturgical meaning of the representations and their transformation into icons are discussed. The pilgrim's objects with sacred images had the power to protect and heal their owners {Life of St Symeon Stylite the Younger). The wide dissemination of the Palestinian iconography, works of minor arts, reliquaries etc., has created problems of dating and of origin for several works. Its presence, however, remains uninterrupted at Mount Sinai.

• Arts
• History and Archaeology

• Arts and religion

• http://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/deltion/article/view/4192
• http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/dchae.343