@forgottenancients-blog / forgottenancients-blog.tumblr.com
I, Mani, the Apostle of Jesus the Friend, by the will of the Father, the true God, of Him, by whom I have become ... Everything that is and everything that was and will be is by His Power. The blessed ones will receive this message, the wise ones understand it, the strong ones will take on the wisdom of the wise ....
http://www.gnosis.org/library/livgosp.htm
The Adoration of the Magi depicted on eulogia tokens Beth Shean and Samaria Byzantine period Pottery D: 3.5 - 4 cm Israel Antiquities Authority
"This outstanding icon has survived in two pieces, unskillfully joined together with wire. It represents the Virgin enthroned, supporting the Child Christ in her lap and flanked by two warrior Saints, the bearded St. Theodore Stratelates on the right and the beardless St. George on the left, both standing in formal pose. Two Archangels are pictured behind the central group, their wide-open eyes staring with awe at the hand of God which descends from heaven emitting a beam of light towards the head of the Holy Virgin. Portrayed frontally, on a slightly larger scale than the rest of the figures composing the icon, the Virgin is seated on the red cushion of the pearl-studded throne, dressed in a dark blue maphorion (veil), her feet in purple shoes resting on a golden footrest adorned with pearls. An intense realism is reflected in the Virgin's white and pink face painted with ample highlights and greed shades, in her strongly accentuated features and large dissimilar eyes with their vivid glance. The Christ Child is pictured seated in a remarkably easy and comfortable pose on His mother's lap. The two Archangels, with their different haloes but otherwise perfectly uniform treatment and classical rendering, form a splendid complement to the central group." From about the 6th century C.E
Merry Christmas to all!
Annunciation to the Virgin, Etchmiadzin Gospel, Armenia, late 6th-early 7th century.
The Crusifixion and iconoclasts, folio 67r, Chludov Psalter, c. 850-75.
Latin Vulgate Gospels
Italy, late 6th or early 7th century
