04-09-2013, 07:40 PM
Hi Eduard, I had a look at the Osprey publication you mentioned and the only source I could find was from this address below with an explanation saying these images were made of steatite or soapstone
http://protostrator.blogspot.com.au/2013...ts-in.html
[attachment=6949]5Steatiteiconwith3militarysaintsStsTheodoreStartelatesGeorgeDemetriosKhersonesos13th-14thcenturyAD.jpg[/attachment]
Below is one of St Demetrius by himself. Holes suggest it was attached to a bookcover or something.
[attachment=6948]1st-demetrius-steatite-1000-2_2013-04-09.jpg[/attachment]
Hope this helps
http://protostrator.blogspot.com.au/2013...ts-in.html
Quote:An interesting category of sculpture artwork are the icons made of steatite, commonly known as "soapstone". They are mainly works of the 10th to 13th century (mainly the komnenian 11th-12th) and the majority of them depicts military saints.For those who don't have access to Osprey book here is pic below
It is probable that many of them belonged to officers and some were used as standards during litanies or battles.
The saints are depicted in detail, armed with arms of their time. This is really useful for the study of the byzantine military, since most of byzantine works of art tend to represent military saints with a more "antique" or "classical" style of arms and armor.
[attachment=6949]5Steatiteiconwith3militarysaintsStsTheodoreStartelatesGeorgeDemetriosKhersonesos13th-14thcenturyAD.jpg[/attachment]
Below is one of St Demetrius by himself. Holes suggest it was attached to a bookcover or something.
[attachment=6948]1st-demetrius-steatite-1000-2_2013-04-09.jpg[/attachment]
Hope this helps
Regards
Michael Kerr
Michael Kerr
Michael Kerr
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"