Relief arch with peacocks and angles, supported by two pillars with elaborated relief decoration
Relief arch with peacocks and angles, supported by two monolithic relief pillars. The pillars are richly decorated with volutes that enclose animals and birds. The three components consist parts of an elaborated set that contains two more pillars that are now exhibited in the church’s crypte and probably a relief arch that is now walled in the narthex of a post-byzantine church in the city of Kassandra, Chalkidike. The rich plant and animal decoration suggest an artpiece of high quality, equal to the value of the church of the patron saint, Hagios Dimitrios. The set, reflecting live influences from the ancient culture, holds a prominent place in the paleochristian sculpture. It is considered a product of the regional sculpture workshop of Thessaloniki that has also produced other equally important art pieces such the Rotonda’s pulpit that is now in the Archaeological Museum of Constantinople.
Code
ΑG 3170-3172
Type
Relief arch with pillars
Chronology
End of 6th c.
Dimensions
Arch's dimensions: height 92 cm., length 169 cm., thickness 23,5-33,5 cm.
Material of Construction
Marble
Origin
Thessaloniki, church of Hagios Dimitrios