DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0195
144
THESS A LONICA.
A staircase situated at the left end of the narthex conducts to the gynceconitis. This gallery
runs round the nave, and forms large tribunes supported hy columns : this arrangement is
also to he seen in St. Sophia’s at Constantinople.
The same staircase leads into the interior of a small tower in which was placed the
semantron, which was used until the 9th century.
The columns on the ground-floor are of the Corinthian order, and the capitals are similar
to those in the church of St. Demetrius; they are surmounted by a dosseret ornamented with
a cross. (See Plate XXXIX.)
The capitals of the columns of the narthex are of the cubical form invented by the
Byzantines; their faces are adorned with crowns of olives surrounded by a wreath of a character
that reminds one of Greek work. The dosseret is ornamented with a cross. The bases of the
columns are all more than half a diameter high.
The capitals of the upper gallery are Ionic; hut this order was generally stunted and
without grace in Byzantine times. The dosseret is excessively high; it is ornamented with a
simple cross. The imposts and archivolts are ornamented with very simple mouldings, composed
of a cavetto and ogee. The cupola is lighted hy a dozen round-arched windows. The thrust of
the vault is counteracted externally by stone buttresses; it seems to have been strengthened by a
stone basement.
The aisles have waggon-headed vaults outside; they have roofs covered with lead.
The Mosaics.
The dome is adorned with a large mosaic on a gold ground, which covers the whole
surface. The subject represented is the Ascension. In the centre, on a circular medallion, is
the figure of our Saviour, of which only the feet are at present visible, the rest being hid by
an Arabic inscription. The circumference of the dome is occupied by the twelve Apostles and
by the figure of the Virgin between two angels. The figures are all separated from one another
by olive-trees: near the Virgin there are two trees of a fantastic character. (See Plates
XL. XLI.)
The Virgin is clad in a purple chlamys; she is veiled, and her hands are pressed together.
To the right and left of the Virgin are two angels clad in white tunics, and having scarlet
sandals; they have light hair fastened with blue ties; their hands are raised towards heaven,
pointing to the risen Saviour.
Above this group are two other angels supporting the medallion on which is the figure
of Christ. Between the angels and the figure of the Virgin is the following inscription on a
gold ground:—
ANAP€CrAAIAAIOIT!€CTHKAT€€MBA€rONT€C
€ I CTO N OVN O N O VTOCOI CO A N A A H <1>G€ IC A<!> V M W N € IC
TONOyNONOVTWCeA€VC€TAIONTPOPON€OeACAC
0€AVT0Nn0P€V0M€N0N€ICT0N0VN0N
'fAv()psg YolAi\ouoi rl Jcmpcars sgM’KeTrovrsg slg tov oupavov; ovrog o Tytrofig 6 d.va7\rj<p$slg dtp' fyuov sig rov
oupavov, ouTcog sT^sucrerai ov rpoTrov eQsdaraoSs olutov ttopsvogsvov slg rov oopavov.1
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
All these figures have their heads ornamented with nimbi.
Bound the dome are the twelve Apostles assisting at the Ascension. They are all to be
distinguished by their attributes : the Evangelists hold books richly bound; the others hold
rolls or diplomas in their hands. They are all represented in attitudes appropriate to the
grand scene of which they are witnesses. Some support their heads with their hands; others
have their eyes raised to heaven. They are all clothed in the Boman toga, of a blue colour,
with dark shadows. The ground on which they stand does not resemble the earth, but is
a curious collection of rocks of various colours.
1 Acts, i. 11.
THESS A LONICA.
A staircase situated at the left end of the narthex conducts to the gynceconitis. This gallery
runs round the nave, and forms large tribunes supported hy columns : this arrangement is
also to he seen in St. Sophia’s at Constantinople.
The same staircase leads into the interior of a small tower in which was placed the
semantron, which was used until the 9th century.
The columns on the ground-floor are of the Corinthian order, and the capitals are similar
to those in the church of St. Demetrius; they are surmounted by a dosseret ornamented with
a cross. (See Plate XXXIX.)
The capitals of the columns of the narthex are of the cubical form invented by the
Byzantines; their faces are adorned with crowns of olives surrounded by a wreath of a character
that reminds one of Greek work. The dosseret is ornamented with a cross. The bases of the
columns are all more than half a diameter high.
The capitals of the upper gallery are Ionic; hut this order was generally stunted and
without grace in Byzantine times. The dosseret is excessively high; it is ornamented with a
simple cross. The imposts and archivolts are ornamented with very simple mouldings, composed
of a cavetto and ogee. The cupola is lighted hy a dozen round-arched windows. The thrust of
the vault is counteracted externally by stone buttresses; it seems to have been strengthened by a
stone basement.
The aisles have waggon-headed vaults outside; they have roofs covered with lead.
The Mosaics.
The dome is adorned with a large mosaic on a gold ground, which covers the whole
surface. The subject represented is the Ascension. In the centre, on a circular medallion, is
the figure of our Saviour, of which only the feet are at present visible, the rest being hid by
an Arabic inscription. The circumference of the dome is occupied by the twelve Apostles and
by the figure of the Virgin between two angels. The figures are all separated from one another
by olive-trees: near the Virgin there are two trees of a fantastic character. (See Plates
XL. XLI.)
The Virgin is clad in a purple chlamys; she is veiled, and her hands are pressed together.
To the right and left of the Virgin are two angels clad in white tunics, and having scarlet
sandals; they have light hair fastened with blue ties; their hands are raised towards heaven,
pointing to the risen Saviour.
Above this group are two other angels supporting the medallion on which is the figure
of Christ. Between the angels and the figure of the Virgin is the following inscription on a
gold ground:—
ANAP€CrAAIAAIOIT!€CTHKAT€€MBA€rONT€C
€ I CTO N OVN O N O VTOCOI CO A N A A H <1>G€ IC A<!> V M W N € IC
TONOyNONOVTWCeA€VC€TAIONTPOPON€OeACAC
0€AVT0Nn0P€V0M€N0N€ICT0N0VN0N
'fAv()psg YolAi\ouoi rl Jcmpcars sgM’KeTrovrsg slg tov oupavov; ovrog o Tytrofig 6 d.va7\rj<p$slg dtp' fyuov sig rov
oupavov, ouTcog sT^sucrerai ov rpoTrov eQsdaraoSs olutov ttopsvogsvov slg rov oopavov.1
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
All these figures have their heads ornamented with nimbi.
Bound the dome are the twelve Apostles assisting at the Ascension. They are all to be
distinguished by their attributes : the Evangelists hold books richly bound; the others hold
rolls or diplomas in their hands. They are all represented in attitudes appropriate to the
grand scene of which they are witnesses. Some support their heads with their hands; others
have their eyes raised to heaven. They are all clothed in the Boman toga, of a blue colour,
with dark shadows. The ground on which they stand does not resemble the earth, but is
a curious collection of rocks of various colours.
1 Acts, i. 11.