Οι ανεπίγραφοι ανιστάμενοι στην εις Άδου Κάθοδον
Part of : Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας ; Vol.37, 1997, pages 305-318
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305-318
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The Unnamed Resurrected Figures in the Descend into Hell
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Articles
Abstract:
The iconography of the Descent into Hell was influenced not only by the Holy Scriptures but also bythe apocryphal gospel of Nikodemos, the discourse ofPseudo-Epiphanios «On the holy and great Saturday»,the hymns of the Church and other essays of ecclesiastical writers.From the 13th century, when an increase in the figuresrepresented is observed, some unnamed ones aredepicted, who from their attire, facial features and theobjects they hold can be identified with certain personsin the Old Testament. These are mainly the priestsprophets Samuel, Moses and Aaron. Some representations were evidently influenced by the Discourse ofMaximus Planoudis (c. 1260-1300) «On the holy tombof the Lord etc.», in which the offices of the OldTestament persons are classed in triads without beingnamed specifically. A little later Makarios Chrysokephalos (became a monk 1327/8, died 1372 or 1382) inhis Vlllth Discourse «On the Resurrection of Christ»,very clearly interprets and justifies the Lord's three-daystay in the tomb as royal, priestly and prophetic (didactic). He also states that earthly things prefigureheavenly ones. For this reason he chooses Moses, Aaron and Samuel from the many priests, and David, Hezekiah and Joshua from the many kings.Of the three prophets Samuel is the most commonlyportrayed, as in the double-sided icon in Sinai and elsewhere, then comes Moses, as in the Peribleptos at Mystras and elsewhere, and lastly Aaron, as in the Monastery of the Transfiguration at Meteora and elsewhere.In several representations of the Descent into Hades inLate Byzantine and Postbyzantine churches, threekings, three priests-prophets and Saint John the Baptist are depicted in addition to the three principal figures. The inclusion of the three kings and threepriests-prophets is understandable after reading Makarios Chrysokephalos's discourse «On the Resurrectionof Christ».In discussing the «zone of those being resurrected» it ispertinent to mention an evidently unique example ofthe theme of the Descent into Hades, painted in thechapel of the Holy Apostles in the church of SaintNicholas Bolnicki in Ochrid. On the left, behind Samuel and turning towards the risen Christ, is an oldman with sparse beard and his eyes covered by a bandof cloth tied at the back of the head. He is probably anunnamed prophet in ignominy. However, it is equallypossible that the painter wished to depict the popularadage: «How do the blind go to Hell? Seeing oneanother».
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