Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, John Komnenos and Eirene mosaic

Era 12AD
Location Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Ayasofya Meydanı, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

This panel was placed to the right of Zoe’s panel, on the other side of the window. It shows John II Komnenos (1118-43), his wife, Eirene Piroska and their son, Alexios, all identified by mosaic inscriptions. John and Eirene stand either side of a seated Virgin and Child, who holds out his hand in blessing. The imperial couple offer money and a scroll, just as Constantine and Zoe do. Young Alexios is on a side wall, at 90 degrees to his mother. Quite what donations the panel commemorates are unknown and whether the panel was laid out as one or made in two stages, emperor and empress first, with Alexios added, is disputed

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