Byzantine Treasures Leave Museum Visitors in Awe

Written by Christos Z.

(2003)

     Of all the wonderful cultural events that I have attended this year, the exhibition Byzantium: Faith and Power at the Metropolitan Museum of Art surpasses all of them. This powerful and moving exhibition explores the artistic and intellectual development of the late Byzantine period, 1261-1557 A.D. The display contains a collection of three hundred fifty beautiful icons, mosaics, sculptures, relics, and textiles from thirty different countries.

     As I walked through the exhibition, a solemn mood overtook me and I felt as if I were in an ancient Byzantine Church. Among the many magnificent pieces, the one that stands out is The Man of Sorrows. The viewer is thoroughly moved by this rare icon – a mosaic of the crucified Christ with His hands crossed and His head bowed. Created in the late thirteenth century, this icon is enclosed in a wooden case that contains the relics of saints wrapped in silk and stored in separate compartments. On the reverse side of the icon is an image of Saint Katherine.

     Another exquisite miniature mosaic is that of St. George Slaying the Dragon. It was created in the early fourteenth century and it is mounted on a wood panel. Delicate  and superbly composed, St. George is seen thrusting his lance down the dragon’s throat. This mosaic icon is a fine representation of the talented craftsmanship of the Byzantine period.

     Finally, the immense chandelier-like lighting fixture called a choros drew a tremendous crowd. The term “choros” refers to the circular space below the dome of an Orthodox Church. This huge circular lighting device called choros was hung from the cornice of the dome. It is made up of thousands of pieces including crosses and disks and it holds hundreds of candles. The visitors were awed by the magnificence of this object.

     The Met has done an outstanding job in presenting this period in medieval Hellenism to the public. It is the first time ever that many of these beautiful objects are part of a  major museum exhibition. All New Yorkers should see this extraordinary show.