Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5. MOSAIC ICON OF THE VIRGIN (THE EPISKEPSIS)
This 13th-century mosaic shows the Virgin and Child, with a gold background sym-
bolizing divine light. Mosaic icons are very rare: Only about 40 are known to exist,
all of which, like this one, originate from Constantinople.
6. PRECIOUS ECCLESIASTICAL ARTIFACTS
This case contains a late 14th-century wooden cross covered with silver and embel-
lished with small steatite icons, a 10th-century copper chalice, and a 14th-century
silk stole decorated with holy figures embroidered in metallic and silk thread.
7. WALL PAINTING FROM THE CHURCH OF EPISKOPI
Executed between the 10th and 13th centuries, these paintings depict biblical scenes
in warm, muted hues. They are displayed in the positions as they would have been in
the church, which was based on a “cross in square” plan with a dome and Narthex.
8. DOUBLE-SIDED ICON OF ST GEORGE
Large, double-sided icons were extremely rare in Byzantium. This 13th-century ex-
ample is especially unusual as it is carved in three dimensions and depicts the full
body.
9. TREASURY OF MYTILENE
A collection of 6th-century silver vessels, gold jewellery and coins, discovered in a
sunken ship off the island of Mytilene (Lesvos). Scholars believe the valuables were
brought to the island to be hidden, and were never recovered by their owners.
10. TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS
Take the time to look beyond the permanent collection to the Temporary Exhibitions
Wing. The Orthodox Church works in co-operation with institutions around the
world to borrow and exhibit rarely seen Byzantine artifacts, such as items from the
famous Monastery of St Catherine on Mount Sinai.
