The Komnenos mosaic in Hagia Sophia : John II, Irene, Alexios, the Theotokos and Child
The mosaic of John II and his wife Irene belongs to the imperial mosaic commissioned by the ruling sovereigns to commemorate themselves and their donations to the Great Church. Realized between 1118 and 1134 in the Hagia Sophia, the cathedral of Constantinople and masterpiece of Byzantine architecture built in the 6th century, it is the only known 12th-century mosaic subsisting in the former Byzantine capital. It was uncovered by Thomas Whittemore between 1935 and 1938.
It is located on the eastern wall of the south gallery, on the second level above the south aisle. This section was reserved traditionally for imperial use during the church services, and was near a doorway connecting Hagia Sophia with the Great Palace. The eastern wall is pierced by a window. The mosaic of John and Irene occupies the panel on its right, while the panel on its left hosts another earlier imperial mosaic depicting empress Zoe and her husband(s), dating from the 11th century.
The general idea of both mosaics is the same. The earthly rulers are represented as donors, offering to the divinity a bag of money (apokombion) and a document, presumably granting benefits to the Great Church. Both the Emperors appear on the left, and the Empresses on the right. They are represented smaller than the divine figure in the middle. However, there are some differences. The characters in the Komnenian mosaic are taller than their counterparts, possibly because they were overseeing an altar.
The lower part of both mosaic panels is lost, while the older one depicting Zoe survives to a greater extent.
The depiction of Emperor John II Komnenos.
John II Komnenos is represented on the left side of the panel. Son of Alexios Komnenos, he ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1118 to 1143.
The inscription around him reads: “John, in Christ the God, faithful king born in the purple, Autocrat of the Romans, the Komnenos.”
His face has been damaged, possibly intentionally, but one can see that he wears a beard and mid-length hair. He was known for being handsome during his time. His head is surrounded by a halo, a common representation for imperial figures. He is wearing a conical crown adorned with a cross on top and with pearl pendants on the sides.
He is also wearing the loros, a long strip of silk cloth embroidered with precious stones, which was draped over the left shoulder and around the waist. Its use was reserved for the emperor and the imperial family for special ceremonies, and was a symbol of power and prestige. It was usually draped over the divetesion, a long silk tunic. John is presenting a bag of money to the Theotokos, for whom he had a particular devotion.
This representation of the emperor is one of the few surviving portraits contemporary to his rule, thus holding great significance. Another, a miniature from a 12th-century manuscript, depicts the emperor and his son, crowned by Christ. John is shown in the same way, wearing a similar outfit and crown, while holding regalia in his hands.
Empress Irene of Hungary.
Originally named Piroska, Irene was the daughter of Ladislas I of Hungary and of Adelaide of Swabia. She was sent to Constantinople at the age of 16 to marry John, and her name was changed to Irene. She gave him eight children, who all reached adulthood. She died in an epidemic which struck the Byzantine army in Bithynia in 1134 and was later revered as a saint.
The inscription on the mosaic reads “Irene, most pious Augusta” which accurately describes her as she was described as being very religious.
She appears as a fair lady, with a paler complexion than her husband and long blond hair. Her head is surrounded by a green nimbus and she is wearing an elaborate gold crown and and pear-shaped earrings.
She is wearing a delmatikon, a female tunic, in red silk, on which she wears the loros, like her husband. She holds a scroll of parchment, like Empress Zoe on the other mosaic panel, symbolizing the donation and benefits granted to Hagia Sophia.
The mosaic is the only known portrait of the Empress.
The co-emperor Alexios, son of John and Irene.
Alexios was the eldest son of John and Irene. At 13 years of age, in 1119, he was crowned co-emperor. However, he died of disease before his father in 1142, leaving only one daughter alive.
On the mosaic panel, located on the other wall next to his mother, he is depicted in a similar fashion to his father, with longer dark hair and a similar crown and attire. However, he holds a scepter pressed close to his chest.
The artistic expression of his character seems more free than his parents’ and his face appears more expressive – and somehow sad to our modern eyes.
The inscription around him reads: “Alexios, in Christ, faithful King of the Romans, born in the purple.” Another known depiction of Alexios comes from the 12th century manuscript where he is represented crown by the Christ with his fater.
The Theotokos with the Child.
The Theotokos (Mother of God) is depicted in the center holding the child Jesus in her hands. Both are shown frontally and serene. This type of representation of Maria is called the Hodegetria (“who guides” or “who leads the way”).
The Theotokos was probably depicted on a small pedestal like in many similar representations, making it taller than the imperial characters to show her divinity. She is wearing a blue maphorion, a mantle dress with a hood which was probably close to the typical dress for Byzantine widows or married women in public spaces.
Some small details…
